Quick Featured Post Checkbox For WordPress Blog Posts (native 'posts' post type

functions.php

/*
 * Adds a Featured Post meta box to the post editing screen
 */
function blog_featured_meta() {
    add_meta_box( 'blog_meta', __( 'Featured Posts', 'blog-textdomain' ), 'blog_meta_callback', 'post', 'side', 'high' );
}
add_action( 'add_meta_boxes', 'blog_featured_meta' );
 
/**
 * Outputs the content of the meta box
 */
 
function blog_meta_callback( $post ) {
    wp_nonce_field( basename( __FILE__ ), 'blog_nonce' );
    $blog_stored_meta = get_post_meta( $post->ID );
    ?>
 
 <p>
    <span class="blog-row-title"><?php _e( 'Check if this is a featured post: ', 'blog-textdomain' )?></span>
    <div class="blog-row-content">
        <label for="featured-checkbox">
            <input type="checkbox" name="featured-checkbox" id="featured-checkbox" value="yes" <?php if ( isset ( $blog_stored_meta['featured-checkbox'] ) ) checked( $blog_stored_meta['featured-checkbox'][0], 'yes' ); ?> />
            <?php _e( 'Featured Item', 'blog-textdomain' )?>
        </label>
 
    </div>
</p>   
 
<?php
}
 
/**
 * Saves the custom meta input
 */
function blog_meta_save( $post_id ) {
 
    // Checks save status - overcome autosave, etc.
    $is_autosave = wp_is_post_autosave( $post_id );
    $is_revision = wp_is_post_revision( $post_id );
    $is_valid_nonce = ( isset( $_POST[ 'blog_nonce' ] ) && wp_verify_nonce( $_POST[ 'blog_nonce' ], basename( __FILE__ ) ) ) ? 'true' : 'false';
 
    // Exits script depending on save status
    if ( $is_autosave || $is_revision || !$is_valid_nonce ) {
        return;
    }
 
// Checks for input and saves - save checked as yes and unchecked at no
if( isset( $_POST[ 'featured-checkbox' ] ) ) {
    update_post_meta( $post_id, 'featured-checkbox', 'yes' );
} else {
    update_post_meta( $post_id, 'featured-checkbox', 'no' );
}
 
}
add_action( 'save_post', 'blog_meta_save' );