get_metadata() – Function | Developer.WordPress.org

Retrieves the value of a metadata field for the specified object type and ID.

Description

If the meta field exists, a single value is returned if $single is true, or an array of values if it’s false.

If the meta field does not exist, the result depends on get_metadata_default() .
By default, an empty string is returned if $single is true, or an empty array if it’s false.

Parameters

$meta_typestringrequired: Type of object metadata is for. Accepts 'post', 'comment', 'term', 'user', or any other object type with an associated meta table.
$object_idintrequired: ID of the object metadata is for.
$meta_keystringoptional: Metadata key. If not specified, retrieve all metadata for the specified object.
Default:''
$singlebooloptional: If true, return only the first value of the specified $meta_key.
This parameter has no effect if $meta_key is not specified.
Default:false

mixed An array of values if $single is false.
The value of the meta field if $single is true.
False for an invalid $object_id (non-numeric, zero, or negative value), or if $meta_type is not specified.
An empty array if a valid but non-existing object ID is passed and $single is false.
An empty string if a valid but non-existing object ID is passed and $single is true.
Note: Non-serialized values are returned as strings:

false values are returned as empty strings ('')
true values are returned as '1'
numbers (both integer and float) are returned as strings Arrays and objects retain their original type.

Source

function get_metadata( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key = '', $single = false ) {
	$value = get_metadata_raw( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $single );
	if ( ! is_null( $value ) ) {
		return $value;
	}

	return get_metadata_default( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $single );
}

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Uses	Description
get_metadata_default()`wp-includes/meta.php`	Retrieves default metadata value for the specified meta key and object.
get_metadata_raw()`wp-includes/meta.php`	Retrieves raw metadata value for the specified object.

Used by	Description
get_site_meta()`wp-includes/ms-site.php`	Retrieves metadata for a site.
WP_REST_Meta_Fields::update_value()`wp-includes/rest-api/fields/class-wp-rest-meta-fields.php`	Updates meta values.
WP_REST_Meta_Fields::get_value()`wp-includes/rest-api/fields/class-wp-rest-meta-fields.php`	Retrieves the meta field value.
get_registered_metadata()`wp-includes/meta.php`	Retrieves registered metadata for a specified object.
get_term_meta()`wp-includes/taxonomy.php`	Retrieves metadata for a term.
get_user_meta()`wp-includes/user.php`	Retrieves user meta field for a user.
get_post_meta()`wp-includes/post.php`	Retrieves a post meta field for the given post ID.
get_comment_meta()`wp-includes/comment.php`	Retrieves comment meta field for a comment.

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Changelog

Version	Description
2.9.0	Introduced.

User Contributed Notes

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thenbrent 8 years ago

You must log in to vote on the helpfulness of this noteVote results for this note: 4You must log in to vote on the helpfulness of this note

If the meta value does not exist and true == $single the function will return an empty string (''). If false == $single an empty array is returned.

If ! is_numeric( $user_id ) or ! absint( $user_id ), boolean false is returned.

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Sylvain Schellenberger 6 years ago

You must log in to vote on the helpfulness of this noteVote results for this note: 1You must log in to vote on the helpfulness of this note
Example of returned array for post metadatas :
```
array (
  '_pingme' => array (
    0 => '1',
  ),
  '_encloseme' => array (
    0 => '1',
  ),
  'custom key 1' => array (
    0 => 'custom value 1',
    1 => 'custom value 2',
  ),
  'custom key 2' => array (
    0 => 'custom value 3',
  ),
)
```
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get_metadata( string $meta_type, int $object_id, string $meta_key = '', bool $single = false ): mixed

In this article

Description

See also

Parameters

Return

Source

Changelog

User Contributed Notes