Is there a ‘compare’ option when using WP_Query apart from meta_query

Question

I’d like to know if it’s possible to do a compare on another column
in the wp_posts table via WP_Query

In WP_Query, compare is not part of the direct/top-level parameters, and it’s only (by default) used with custom field (or post meta) and date queries (i.e. clauses in meta_query and date_query), and the comment_count parameter.

So basically, the answer is “no”, or not by default.

But it can be made possible using `posts_where` and other hooks in `WP_Query`.

I wrote this first, which works fine

Yes, I believe so.

However, WP_Query provides various hooks for modifying the SQL query, so instead of making the direct SQL query (using $wpdb), you can use hooks like posts_where and posts_clauses.

Here’s an example based on your new WP_Query() call, which queries for posts where the title starts with a specific phrase:

add_filter( 'posts_where', 'my_posts_where', 10, 2 );
function my_posts_where( $where, $query ) {
    if ( $value = $query->get( 'custom_param' ) ) {
        global $wpdb;
        $like = $wpdb->esc_like( $value ) . '%';
        $where .= " AND {$wpdb->posts}.post_title LIKE '$like'";
    }

    return $where;
}

// In your template or code:
$query = new WP_Query( array(
    'custom_param' => 'Daily Task:',
    // .. other args
) );

But of course, you don’t have to use that code or that if you believe direct SQL query is better in your case, then just go with it.

But it can be made possible using posts_where and other hooks in WP_Query.

But it can be made possible using `posts_where` and other hooks in `WP_Query`.