WP_Query does not accept post_status argument as an array. Codex says it does.

[goto10]

I was having problems with WP_Query returning posts that had the trash status even though I was only specifying publish and pending in my post_status array param:

$args = array (
	'post_type'      => 'my_post_type',
	'author'         => $current_user->ID,
	'post_status'    => array ( 'publish', 'pending' ),
	'paged'          => $paged,
);  
$my_query = new WP_Query ( $args );

I found ​this forum post where other folks had the same issue.

I headed over to #wp-dev, where contributor greuben pointed out that an array cannot be used for the value of post_status. I found the following in the current release of 3.1:

query.php line 2369 $q_status = explode(',', $q['post_status']);

(greuben pointed out that it's on line 2374 in trunk)

I was able to get the results I wanted by using a comma separated string for the value of the post_status arg (thanks greuben):

'post_status'    => 'publish,pending',

I did double check the Codex, and it states that either a ​string or an array can be used:

"post_status (string / array) - use post status. Retrieves posts by Post Status, default value is 'publish';"

So, not sure if the Codex is wrong or the core, but I did want to bring attention to the issue.

The Codex is wrong. It only accepts comma-delimited. I'd like to change that, cause it's lame. Marking as a future enhancement.

As it was just reported again (Related: #17014), I added a warning to the codex page.

one-liner

(In [17689]) Allow WP_Query 'post_status' parameter to accept an array, as well as a singular value and comma separated list. Fixes #16824

In [18047]:

Allow WP_Query 'post_status' parameter to accept an array, as well as a singular value and comma separated list. Fixes #16824