get_the_post_thumbnail_url does not return anything if image size is set

Question

I want to display the post-thumbnail image in the header using get_the_post_thumbnail_url() with defined size, however if I am using it without specifying the size, like get_the_post_thumbnail_url() it is displaying the thumbnail img, but if I am using it like: get_the_post_thumbnail_url('thumbnail') nothing is shown.

my code in the header.php is:

<?php
function vkb_header_style() {
         if (has_post_thumbnail() and is_singular()) {
             $vkb_thumbnail_url = get_the_post_thumbnail_url('thumbnail');
             echo 'background-image: url(' . $vkb_thumbnail_url . ');';
         } else {
            storefront_header_styles(); 
         }
     }
?>

<header id="masthead" class="site-header vkb-header" role="banner" style=" <?php vkb_header_style(); ?>">

Answer 1

The first parameter for get_the_post_thumbnail_url() is the post ID or post object, and not the image size which is actually the second parameter.

So:

// Instead of this:
get_the_post_thumbnail_url( 'thumbnail' )

// You should use:
get_the_post_thumbnail_url( get_the_ID(), 'thumbnail' ) // pass a post ID
get_the_post_thumbnail_url( get_post(), 'thumbnail' )   // or post object

// Or you can pass a null to use the current post:
get_the_post_thumbnail_url( null, 'thumbnail' )