Description

The categories-list block does not behave accordingly.

This is in Dutch but should illustrate the problem:

It shows 9 posts as uncategorized (that do not exist). When clicked on this 'niet-gecategoriseerd' (= uncategorized), it shows zero posts, because none are actually uncategorized. 'Show empty categories' setting is also not turned on.

Here we see the category list in admin:

9 posts are said to be uncategorized, but they aren't. Clicking on the numbered link shows no posts.

Empty categories should never show. There should never be a link to an empty uncategorized category archive that nobody wants.

Opinionated remark:

It is 2023, site editor is out of beta, but we need basic functionality like taxonomies to work. This is an age old WP problem: "No category" should mean "no category".

There is no use for a 'uncategorized' category, it defeats the whole purpose of what a category is. This old fallback catch-all mechanism needs to be revised. Make it optional instead of mandatory. Remove it, put it in a filter (wp_use_default_category, __return_true) for those poor souls who actually use it. I'm pretty sure nobody is going to miss it.

Step-by-step reproduction instructions

• Add a couple posts
• Make sure all of them have a category (not uncategorized)
• Add the categories-list block in a category template
• Notice the above described problem (uncategorized seems attached as a hidden category for all posts)

Screenshots, screen recording, code snippet

No response

Environment info

• WordPress 6.2
• No Gutenberg plugin

Please confirm that you have searched existing issues in the repo.

Yes

Please confirm that you have tested with all plugins deactivated except Gutenberg.

Yes