Now Days WordPress is a popular blogging platform which have many inbuilt functions.For fetching wordpress categories, wordpress provide lots of inbuilt functions like get_categories(), wp_list_categories(), wp_dropdown_categories().
A. get_categories()
Using This function we can fetch wordpress categories.
Fetching categories in string format.
<?php
get_categories(style=list&hide_empty=1);
?>
Fetching categories in object format.
<?php
$options = array('style' => 'list','hide_empty' => 1,);
get_categories($options);
?>
B. wp_list_categories()
Using This function we can fetch wordpress categories in html format.
Fetching categories in string format.
<?php
wp_list_categories(style=list&hide_empty=1);
?>
Fetching categories in object format.
<?php
$options = array('style' => 'list','hide_empty' => 1,);
wp_list_categories($options);
?>
C. wp_dropdown_categories()
Using This function we can fetch wordpress categories in dropdown list box.
Fetching categories in string format.
<?php
wp_dropdown_categories(style=list&hide_empty=1);
?>
Fetching categories in object format.
<?php
$options = array('style' => 'list','hide_empty' => 1,);
wp_dropdown_categories($options);
?>
Enjoy.