An advanced meta_query looking for multiple custom field values

• jack1

• December 20, 2015 at 3:39 am

I have two custom fields:

1) custom_field (text field)
2) custom_checkbox (checkbox)

I don’t want posts to be returned if A) custom_field is NOT filled in, or B) if custom_checkbox is ticked.

So far I have successfully achieved this with the following custom query:

            $meta_query = array(
                'meta_query' => array(
                array(
                    'key' => 'custom_field',
                    'value'   => '',
                    'compare' => 'NOT IN'
                ), array(
                    'key' => 'custom_checkbox',
                    'value'   => true,
                    'compare' => 'NOT LIKE'
            )));    
            $query->set('meta_query', $meta_query);
            $query->set( 'posts_per_page',-1 );
        }

However, I now have two more fields to throw into the equation:

1) custom_field_2
2) custom_checkbox_2

I now don’t want posts to be returned if A) both custom_fields are NOT filled in, or B) if both custom_checkboxes are ticked.

For example, if custom_checkbox is ticked but custom_checkbox2 is not, I’d still like the post to be returned. And vice versa.

But if both checkboxes are ticked, that post should not be returned.

Any guidance much appreciated.

• James

• January 8, 2016 at 4:49 pm

Hi @jack1,

I believe you can use this query:

$meta_query = array(
    'meta_query' => array(
        'relation' => 'OR',
        array(
            'relation' => 'AND',
            array(
                'key' => 'custom_field',
                'value'   => '',
                'compare' => 'NOT IN'
            ),
            array(
                'key' => 'custom_field2',
                'value'   => '',
                'compare' => 'NOT IN'
            ),
        ),
        array(
            'relation' => 'AND',
            array(
                'key' => 'custom_checkbox',
                'value'   => true,
                'compare' => 'NOT LIKE'
            ),
            array(
                'key' => 'custom_checkbox2',
                'value'   => true,
                'compare' => 'NOT LIKE'
            ),
        ),
    ),
);    

To learn more about meta_query, please take a look at this page: https://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query#Custom_Field_Parameters

I hope this helps.