Storing PHP Arrays in WordPress User Meta Database

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This should be easy for a PHP expert. I am having trouble storing and pulling arrays in WordPress through the update_user_meta function.

So I have an associative array built like so:

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Array
(
    [film_genres] => Array
        (
            [action] => 50
            [comedy] => 50
            [crime] => 50
            [documentary] => 50
            [drama] => 50
            [family] => 50
            [horror] => 50
            [romantic] => 50
            [sci-fi] => 50
            [thriller] => 50
        )

    [film_types] => Array
        (
            [blockbuster] => 0
            [independent] => 0
        )

    [film_eras] => Array
        (
            [1920s_1940s] => 0
            [1950s_1960s] => 0
            [1970s_1980s] => 0
            [1990s_2000s] => 0
            [post_2010] => 0
            [pre_1920s] => 0
        )

    [last_updated] => 2011-10-12 21:21:28
)

But when I go to update this data in the user meta table via:

update_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value, $prev_value )

The data gets put in the db properly, but when i call the data back and print the new array to screen, it has a nested array key of [0] within the array, like this: 

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [film_genres] => Array
                (
                    [action] => 50
                    [comedy] => 50
                    [crime] => 50
                    [documentary] => 50
                    [drama] => 50
                    [family] => 50
                    [horror] => 50
                    [romantic] => 50
                    [sci-fi] => 50
                    [thriller] => 50
                )

            [film_types] => Array
                (
                    [blockbuster] => 0
                    [independent] => 0
                )

            [film_eras] => Array
                (
                    [1920s_1940s] => 0
                    [1950s_1960s] => 0
                    [1970s_1980s] => 0
                    [1990s_2000s] => 0
                    [post_2010] => 0
                    [pre_1920s] => 0
                )

            [last_updated] => 2011-10-12 21:21:28
        )

)

How can I get it to store the array exactly like my first array? I am pulling the meta value array via the WP command:

$wp_user_film_prefs_arr = get_user_meta( $wp_user_id, $wp_user_film_prefs_key_label, false );

Is there something I’m doing wrong? Thanks in advance!!!

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2 comments

  1. You need to set the last parameter from false to true:

    $wp_user_film_prefs_arr = get_user_meta( $wp_user_id, $wp_user_film_prefs_key_label, true );

    That third parameter is $single:

    (boolean) (optional) If true return value of meta data field, if false return an array.

    Default: false

    That might sound contra-productive in your eyes, but the meta data field can contain multiple values. In your case you don’t need that, but the single value. The single value is your array.

    See as well: get user metaCodex