wp_usermeta

Last updated: February 12, 2026

Key-value storage for user metadata. Stores capabilities, preferences, and custom user data.

Schema

Column	Type	Null	Default	Description
`umeta_id`	bigint(20) unsigned	NO	auto_increment	Unique identifier for the meta entry
`user_id`	bigint(20) unsigned	NO	0	Associated user ID (FK → wp_users.ID)
`meta_key`	varchar(255)	YES	NULL	Meta key name
`meta_value`	longtext	YES	NULL	Meta value (can be serialized)

Indexes

Key Name	Columns	Unique	Purpose
`PRIMARY`	umeta_id	Yes	Primary key
`user_id`	user_id	No	All meta for a user
`meta_key`	meta_key(191)	No	Lookup by key name

Foreign Key Relationships

user_id → wp_users.ID (the user this meta belongs to)

Core Meta Keys

Authentication & Capabilities

Key	Description
`wp_capabilities`	Serialized array of role(s) → true
`wp_user_level`	Deprecated numeric user level (0-10)
`session_tokens`	Active login sessions

Profile Information

Key	Description
`nickname`	User’s nickname
`first_name`	First name
`last_name`	Last name
`description`	Biographical info

Preferences

Key	Description
`admin_color`	Admin color scheme
`use_ssl`	Force SSL on admin
`show_admin_bar_front`	Show admin bar on frontend
`locale`	User-specific locale
`rich_editing`	Use visual editor
`syntax_highlighting`	Code syntax highlighting
`comment_shortcuts`	Keyboard shortcuts for comments

Dashboard & Admin

Key	Description
`dismissed_wp_pointers`	Dismissed admin pointers
`wp_dashboard_quick_press_last_post_id`	Quick Draft post ID
`community-events-location`	Dashboard events location
`closedpostboxes_*`	Collapsed metaboxes
`metaboxhidden_*`	Hidden metaboxes
`screen_layout_*`	Screen column layout

Capabilities Format

// wp_capabilities value (serialized)
a:1:{s:13:"administrator";b:1;}

// Decoded
['administrator' => true]

Common Queries

Get all meta for a user

SELECT meta_key, meta_value 
FROM wp_usermeta 
WHERE user_id = 1;

Get specific meta value

SELECT meta_value 
FROM wp_usermeta 
WHERE user_id = 1 
  AND meta_key = 'first_name';

Get all administrators

SELECT u.* 
FROM wp_users u
JOIN wp_usermeta um ON u.ID = um.user_id
WHERE um.meta_key = 'wp_capabilities' 
  AND um.meta_value LIKE '%administrator%';

Get users with specific meta

SELECT u.*, um.meta_value as custom_field
FROM wp_users u
JOIN wp_usermeta um ON u.ID = um.user_id
WHERE um.meta_key = 'my_custom_field';

Delete orphaned usermeta

DELETE um FROM wp_usermeta um
LEFT JOIN wp_users u ON um.user_id = u.ID
WHERE u.ID IS NULL;

Count users by role

SELECT 
  CASE 
    WHEN meta_value LIKE '%administrator%' THEN 'administrator'
    WHEN meta_value LIKE '%editor%' THEN 'editor'
    WHEN meta_value LIKE '%author%' THEN 'author'
    WHEN meta_value LIKE '%contributor%' THEN 'contributor'
    WHEN meta_value LIKE '%subscriber%' THEN 'subscriber'
    ELSE 'other'
  END as role,
  COUNT(*) as count
FROM wp_usermeta
WHERE meta_key = 'wp_capabilities'
GROUP BY role;

WordPress API Functions

get_user_meta( $user_id, $key, $single ) – Get meta value(s)
add_user_meta( $user_id, $key, $value, $unique ) – Add meta
update_user_meta( $user_id, $key, $value ) – Update meta
delete_user_meta( $user_id, $key, $value ) – Delete meta
get_user_option( $option, $user_id ) – Get user option
update_user_option( $user_id, $option, $value ) – Update user option

Multisite Notes

In multisite, capabilities use the blog prefix:

wp_capabilities → single site or main site
wp_2_capabilities → site ID 2
wp_3_capabilities → site ID 3

The {$prefix}_user_level follows the same pattern.

Performance Notes

Session tokens can grow large with many active sessions
Stale session data should be periodically cleaned
Use get_user_meta() with $single = true when expecting one value