WordPress Database Structure: Tables Explained

Understanding the WordPress database structure is essential for advanced development. WordPress stores all content, settings, and user data in MySQL database tables with a specific schema.

WordPress Database Tables

WordPress uses multiple tables to organize different types of data:

• wp_posts – Posts, pages, and custom post types
• wp_postmeta – Post metadata and custom fields
• wp_users – User account information
• wp_options – Site settings and configuration

Querying the Database

Use $wpdb global object to safely query the database:

global $wpdb;
$results = $wpdb->get_results(
    "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->posts} 
     WHERE post_status = 'publish' 
     LIMIT 10"
);

Best Practices

• Always use $wpdb->prepare() for queries with variables
• Use WordPress functions when possible
• Never hardcode table names
• Sanitize all input data