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UsersWP Function: uwp_get_usermeta($user_id, $field_key)

5 min read Last Updated: March 26, 2025
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Is there a PHP function / hook like “get_user_meta” to get the values stored in a UsersWP account custom field given the used ID and the field name?

Yes, there is, the
uwp_get_usermeta() function allows developers to retrieve custom user metadata associated with a specific user. This is particularly useful when working with custom fields added via UsersWP registration or profile forms.

If you prefer to use the standard WP get_user_meta() function, then you can 🙂 Simply prefix the field_key with “uwp_meta_” so to get a field `phone_number` you can use get_user_meta( $user_id, 'uwp_meta_phone_number', true );

Function Syntax

uwp_get_usermeta( int $user_id, string $field_key );

Parameters

  • $user_id (int): The ID of the user whose meta data you want to retrieve.
  • $field_key (string): The key (or name) of the custom field you want to access.
  • $default (string): (optional) The default value to return if the value is empty.

Return Value

  • Mixed: Returns the value of the specified user meta field.
  • Returns null if the field does not exist or has no value.

Function Description

The
uwp_get_usermeta() function retrieves the value of a custom user meta field added by UsersWP. Unlike the standard WordPress get_user_meta() function, uwp_get_usermeta() is tailored to handle UsersWP-specific fields, including complex data types and serialized arrays.

Usage Examples

Example 1: Retrieve a User’s Phone Number

Suppose you have a custom field with the key
phone_number added to your registration form.

$user_id = 123; // Replace with the actual user ID 
$phone_number = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'phone_number' ); 
if ( $phone_number ) { 
	echo 'User Phone Number: ' . esc_html( $phone_number ); 
} else { 
	echo 'Phone number not provided.'; 
}

Example 2: Display User Profile Information

Retrieve and display multiple custom fields for a user’s profile page.

$user_id = get_current_user_id(); 
$first_name = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'first_name' ); 
$last_name = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'last_name' ); 
$bio = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'bio' ); 
echo '<h2>' . esc_html( $first_name . ' ' . $last_name ) . '</h2>'; echo '<p>' . esc_html( $bio ) . '</p>';

Example 3: Conditional Content Based on User Meta

Show exclusive content to users with a specific role or meta value.

$user_id = get_current_user_id(); 
$membership_level = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'membership_level' ); 
if ( $membership_level === 'premium' ) { 
	echo 'Welcome to the premium content section!'; 
} else { 
	echo 'Upgrade to premium to access this content.'; 
}

Example 4: Loop Through Users to Display Custom Meta

List all users along with a specific custom field.

$users = get_users(); 
foreach ( $users as $user ) { 
$user_id = $user->ID; 
$company = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'company_name' ); 
echo 'User: ' . esc_html( $user->display_name ) . '<br>'; echo 'Company: ' . esc_html( $company ) . '<br><br>'; 
}

Example 5: Prefill Form Fields with User Meta

When creating forms, prefill fields with existing user data.

$user_id = get_current_user_id(); 
$address = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'address' ); 
?> 
<form method="post" action=""> 
	<label for="address">Address:</label> 
	<input type="text" name="address" id="address" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $address ); ?>"> 
	<input type="submit" value="Update Address"> 
</form> 
<?php

Notes and Best Practices

  • Field Key Accuracy: Ensure that the $field_key matches the exact key used when the custom field was created in UsersWP.
  • Sanitize Output: Always sanitize and escape output to prevent security vulnerabilities.
    $value = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'custom_field' ); 
    echo esc_html( $value );
  • Check for Null Values: The function may return null if the field does not exist. Implement checks to handle such cases.
    $value = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'custom_field' ); 
    if ( $value !== null ) { // Proceed with using $value } else { // Handle the absence of the field }

  • Difference from get_user_meta(): While WordPress’s get_user_meta() retrieve user metadata from the wp_usermeta table of the WordPress database, uwp_get_usermeta() is optimized for UsersWP fields stored in the UsersWP custom database table.

Related Functions

  • uwp_update_usermeta( $user_id, $field_key, $value ): Updates or adds a custom user meta field.
  • uwp_delete_usermeta( $user_id, $field_key ): Deletes a custom user meta field.

Troubleshooting

  • Function Not Working: Ensure that the UsersWP plugin is installed and activated.
  • Incorrect Field Key: Double-check the $field_key for typos or case sensitivity.
  • Permission Issues: Make sure you have the necessary permissions to access the user’s data.

Additional Examples

Example 6: Display User Meta in the Admin Users List

Add a custom column to the WordPress admin users list to display a UsersWP custom field.

// Add a new column to the users table 
add_filter( 'manage_users_columns', 'add_company_column' ); 
function add_company_column( $columns ) { 
	$columns['company_name'] = 'Company Name'; return $columns; 
} 

// Populate the custom column with data 
add_action( 'manage_users_custom_column', 'show_company_column_data', 10, 3 ); 
function show_company_column_data( $value, $column_name, $user_id ) { 
	if ( 'company_name' === $column_name ) { 
		return esc_html( uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'company_name' ) ); 
	} 

	return $value; 
}

Example 7: Fetching Serialized Data

If a custom field stores serialized data (e.g., an array),
uwp_get_usermeta() will handle it correctly.

$user_id = get_current_user_id(); 
$preferences = uwp_get_usermeta( $user_id, 'preferences' ); 
if ( is_array( $preferences ) ) { 
	foreach ( $preferences as $preference ) { 
		echo esc_html( $preference ) . '<br>'; 
	} 
}

Use Cases

  • Profile Pages: Display extended user information on profile or author pages.
  • Custom Dashboards: Build user-specific dashboards based on custom meta data.
  • Form Prefilling: Pre-populate forms with existing user data for updates or edits.
  • Conditional Logic: Adjust content visibility or options based on user meta values.

Further Reading and Resources

By utilizing the
uwp_get_usermeta() function, you can effectively manage and display custom user meta data within your WordPress site, enhancing user profiles and creating a more personalized experience.

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