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
