Meta Box – A Framework for Dynamic Websites vs Get Custom Field Values

This plugin provides a powerful widget, shortcode (with shortcode builder tool), and template tags for easily retrieving and displaying custom field values for posts or pages. The power of custom fields gives this plugin the potential to be dozens of plugins all rolled into one. This plugin allows you to harness the power of custom fields/meta data. Use the “Get Custom Field” widget, the [custom_field] shortcode (which has a post editor sidebar widget to help you build the shortcode), or one of six template tags to retrieve and display custom fields. Find a custom field for the current post, a specified post, a recent post, or randomly. And for the custom field values found by the plugin, you may optionally specify text or HTML to appear before and after the results. If nothing is found, then nothing is display (unless you define text to appear when no results are found). If multiple results are found, only the first will be displayed unless you specify a string to be used to join the results together (such as “,”), in which case all will be returned. Visit the Examples section to see how this plugin can be cast in dozens of different ways. There are six template tags provided by this plugin. Here they are, with an explanation of when they are appropriate for use: c2c_get_custom() : Use this inside “the loop” to retrieve a custom field value for a post c2c_get_current_custom() : This is only available on the permalink post template (single.php) and page template (page.php). Can be used inside or outside “the loop”. Useful for using custom field to define text you want to include on a post or page’s header, footer, or sidebar. c2c_get_post_custom() : Useful when you know the ID of the post whose custom field value you want. c2c_get_random_custom() : Retrieve the value of a random instance of the specified custom field key, as long as the field is associated with a published posted, non-passworded post (you can modify a setting in the plugin file to search passworded posts as well). c2c_get_random_post_custom() : Retrieves the value of random custom field(s) from a post when you know the ID of the post you’re interested in. c2c_get_recent_custom() : Retrieves the most recent (according to the associated post’s publish date) value of the specified custom field. You can filter the custom field values that the plugin would display. Add filters for ‘the_meta‘ to filter custom field data (see the end of the code file for commented out samples you may wish to include). You can also add per-meta filters by hooking ‘the_meta_$sanitized_field‘. $sanitized_field is a clean version of the value of $field where everything but alphanumeric and underscore characters have been removed. So to filter the value of the “Related Posts” custom field, you would need to add a filter for ‘the_meta_RelatedPosts‘. Links: Plugin Homepage | Plugin Directory Page | GitHub | Author Homepage Developer Documentation Developer documentation can be found in DEVELOPER-DOCS.md. That documentation covers the numerous template tags, hooks, and shortcode provided by the plugin. As an overview, these are the template tags provided the plugin: c2c_get_custom() : Template tag for use inside “the loop” and applies to the currently listed post. c2c_get_current_custom() : Template tag for use on permalink (aka single) page templates for posts and pages. c2c_get_post_custom() : Template tag for use when you know the ID of the post you’re interested in. c2c_get_random_custom() : Template tag for use to retrieve a random custom field value. c2c_get_random_post_custom() : Template tag for use to retrieve random custom field value(s) from a post when you know the ID of the post you’re interested in. c2c_get_recent_custom() : Template tag for use outside “the loop” and applies for custom fields regardless of post. These are the hooks provided by the plugin: c2c_get_custom_field_values_shortcode : Filter to customize the name of the plugin’s shortcode. c2c_get_custom_field_values_post_types : Filter to customize the post types that should support the shortcode builder metabox. get_custom_field_values/can_author_use_shortcodes : Filter to customize if post author can make use of the ‘custom_field’ shortcode. get_custom_field_values/show_metabox : Filter to customize if the shortcode builder metabox is shown. The shortcode provided is [custom-field], which has a number of attributes to customize its behavior and output.

You want to add events, team members, testimonials, or listings to your WordPress site. But the standard editor only handles posts and pages. You need something more, but you don’t want to overcomplicate things or slow down your site. Meta Box gives you everything you need to build dynamic WordPress sites – with over 40+ field types for adding custom fields to posts, pages, custom post types, taxonomies, settings pages, users, and comments. It’s lightweight (no bloat), flexible (works with any theme or plugin), and fast (uses native WordPress storage). No lock-in, no extra baggage. Any type of custom fields, anywhere Add custom fields to any part of WordPress: Posts & Pages – Add extra fields to regular content Custom post types – Use with our free CPT UI plugin to create custom post types and taxonomies Taxonomies – Categories, tags, and custom taxonomies via MB Term Meta Settings pages – Theme/plugin options via MB Settings Page Users – Profile fields via MB User Meta Comments – Comment fields via MB Comment Meta 40+ field types (and you can add your own) Meta Box ships with 40+ built-in field types: text, textarea, WYSIWYG, image, file upload, post select, checkbox, radio, date/time picker, taxonomy, user, oEmbed, and more. You can also create custom field types. Most fields support cloning and repeatable groups. Developer-friendly by design Lightweight API – Won’t bloat your site Modular – Add only what you need Native storage – Uses WordPress meta tables by default for speed and compatibility, and can be extended to custom tables for advanced setups Composer support – Integrates with modern PHP workflows Hooks – Extensive actions and filters for customization Integration-ready – Works with any theme or plugin Get more with Meta Box Meta Box Lite is the UI version of Meta Box that helps you manage everything visually – custom fields, post types, taxonomies, and more – without touching code. Meta Box AIO is an all-in-one plugin that bundles all free and premium extensions, giving you everything from conditional logic to frontend submissions, custom tables to Gutenberg blocks – all in one package. Documentation Full documentation and tutorials are available to get you started: Introduction Custom post types Custom fields Field settings Displaying fields You might also like If you like this plugin, you might also like our other WordPress products: Slim SEO – A fast, lightweight and full-featured SEO plugin for WordPress with minimal configuration. Falcon – A lightweight companion for making WordPress faster, cleaner, and more secure. GretaThemes – Free and premium WordPress themes that clean, simple and just work. Auto Listings – A car sale and dealership plugin for WordPress. External services This plugin may connect to third-party services when you use certain features. No data is sent until those features are used. Google Maps The map field uses the Google Maps JavaScript API to show maps and look up addresses. When a map field is displayed in the admin or on the frontend, the browser loads the Google Maps script. Address searches and map coordinates are sent to Google. You must supply your own Google Maps API key. This service is provided by Google: terms of use, privacy policy. OpenStreetMap The OSM field uses OpenStreetMap tiles to show maps and Nominatim to look up addresses. When an OSM field is displayed, the browser requests map tiles from OpenStreetMap. Address searches are sent to Nominatim. This service is provided by the OpenStreetMap Foundation: terms of use, privacy policy. Nominatim usage is also covered by the Nominatim usage policy.