Improved meta API

[scribu]

Yes, discussions on the topic can be seen here:

#5183 #2659

But they focus on table structure, not on the api. Hence, the new ticket.

Discussions on the api (as well as the table structure) can be found on wp-hackers: and also on wp-hackers: ​1 ​2

[scribu]

This patch:

• replaces postmeta with a generic meta table

• the meta table has enum as meta_type for better performance

• implements these functions:

register_meta_type($meta_type);

add_metadata($meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $meta_value, $unique = false);

update_metadata($meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $meta_value, $prev_value = '');

delete_metadata($meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key = '', $meta_value = '');

get_metadata($meta_type, $object_id, $key = '', $single = false);

Notice that $meta_key is optional for delete_metadata() and get_metadata().

• maps these functions:

add_post_meta();

update_post_meta();

delete_post_meta();

get_post_meta();

get_post_custom();

[scribu]

plugin for basic testing

[scribu]

first draft

[scribu]

What's still needed is code to migrate data from postmeta to meta.

[scribu]

plugin for basic testing

[scribu]

code to migrate data to new table

[westi]

Some thoughts I wrote a while back:
​http://blog.ftwr.co.uk/archives/2009/07/23/a-better-meta-api-for-wordpress/

[scribu]

We now have a generic meta API. How do we make it more flexible?

[ryan]

Closing since we're not doing generic meta.