maybe_serialize( string|array|object $data ): mixed

Serialize data, if needed.

Contents

Parameters

$data string|array|object Required
Data that might be serialized.

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Return

mixed A scalar data.

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More Information

  • Data might need to be serialized to allow it to be successfully stored and retrieved from a database in a form that PHP can understand.
  • Confusingly, strings that contain already serialized values are serialized again, resulting in a nested serialization. Other strings are unmodified.
  • A possible solution to prevent nested serialization is to check if a variable is serialized using is_serialized() 
    if( !is_serialized( $data ) ) {
    $data = maybe_serialize($data);
}

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Source

File: wp-includes/functions.php. View all references 

function maybe_serialize( $data ) {
	if ( is_array( $data ) || is_object( $data ) ) {
		return serialize( $data );
	}

	/*
	 * Double serialization is required for backward compatibility.
	 * See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/12930
	 * Also the world will end. See WP 3.6.1.
	 */
	if ( is_serialized( $data, false ) ) {
		return serialize( $data );
	}

	return $data;
}

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Used By

Used By
Used By Description
WP_Customize_Manager::import_theme_starter_content() wp-includes/class-wp-customize-manager.php

Imports theme starter content into the customized state.
update_network_option() wp-includes/option.php

Updates the value of a network option that was already added.
add_network_option() wp-includes/option.php

Adds a new network option.
update_usermeta() wp-includes/deprecated.php

Update metadata of user.
update_option() wp-includes/option.php

Updates the value of an option that was already added.
add_option() wp-includes/option.php

Adds a new option.
delete_metadata() wp-includes/meta.php

Deletes metadata for the specified object.
update_metadata_by_mid() wp-includes/meta.php

Updates metadata by meta ID.
add_metadata() wp-includes/meta.php

Adds metadata for the specified object.
update_metadata() wp-includes/meta.php

Updates metadata for the specified object. If no value already exists for the specified object ID and metadata key, the metadata will be added.
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Changelog

Changelog
Version Description
2.0.5 Introduced.

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User Contributed Notes

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    Contributed by Codex —

    Basic Examples

    <?php

// Strings are returned untouched.
$data = 'Hello World!';
echo maybe_serialize( $data );
// Hello World!

// Integers, floats and boolean values are also returned untouched.
$data = 55;
echo maybe_serialize( $data );
// 55

$data = 4.560
echo maybe_serialize( $data );
// 4.560

$data = true;
$data = maybe_serialize( $data );
// $data = true;

$data = null;
$data = maybe_serialize( $data );
// $data = null

// An array or object will be returned as a serialized string.
$data = array( 1 => 'Hello World!', 'foo' => 'bar' );
echo maybe_serialize( $data );
// a:2:{i:1;s:12:"Hello World!";s:3:"foo";s:3:"bar";}

// A serialized string will be serialized again.
$data = 'a:2:{i:1;s:12:"Hello World!";s:3:"foo";s:3:"bar";}';
echo maybe_serialize( $data );
// s:50:"a:2:{i:1;s:12:"Hello World!";s:3:"foo";s:3:"bar";}";

?>

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