Custom queries are used to fetch posts or custom posts (like portfolio items, team members, quotes, products etc). Query format should be always simple as possible.

Simple query example

<?php $the_query = new WP_Query( 'post_type=post&posts_per_page=12' );
if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : $the_query->the_post(); ?>

<h3><?php the_title();?></h3>
<p><?php the_content(); ?></p>

<?php endwhile; endif;	wp_reset_postdata();	?>

More advanced query example

<?php
	$args = array (
		'post_type'              => array( 'post' ),
		'nopaging'               => false,
		'posts_per_page'         => '6',
		'ignore_sticky_posts'    => false,
		'post__not_in'           => array(get_the_ID())
	);

	$the_query = new WP_Query( $args );
	if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : 
	$the_query->the_post(); ?>

		<li>
			<?php get_template_part( 'loop', '' ); ?>
		</li>

	<?php endwhile; endif;	wp_reset_postdata();	?>

Queries & Loops