28 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
28 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
---
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post_title: Data storage primer
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menu_title: Data storage
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tags: reference
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---
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When developing for WordPress and WooCommerce, it's important to consider the nature and permanence of your data. This will help you decide the best way to store it. Here's a quick primer:
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## Transients
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If the data may not always be present (i.e., it expires), use a [transient](https://developer.wordpress.org/apis/handbook/transients/). Transients are a simple and standardized way of storing cached data in the database temporarily by giving it a custom name and a timeframe after which it will expire and be deleted.
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## WP Cache
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If the data is persistent but not always present, consider using the [WP Cache](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/wp_object_cache/). The WP Cache functions allow you to cache data that is computationally expensive to regenerate, such as complex query results.
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## wp_options Table
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If the data is persistent and always present, consider the [wp_options table](https://developer.wordpress.org/apis/handbook/options/). The Options API is a simple and standardized way of storing data in the wp_options table in the WordPress database.
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## Post Types
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If the data type is an entity with n units, consider a [post type](https://developer.wordpress.org/post_type/). Post types are "types" of content that are stored in the same way, but are easy to distinguish in the code and UI.
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## Taxonomies
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If the data is a means of sorting/categorizing an entity, consider a [taxonomy](https://developer.wordpress.org/taxonomy/). Taxonomies are a way of grouping things together.
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## Logging
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Logs should be written to a file using the [WC_Logger](https://woocommerce.com/wc-apidocs/class-WC_Logger.html) class. This is a simple and standardized way of recording events and errors for debugging purposes.
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Remember, the best method of data storage depends on the nature of the data and how it will be used in your application.
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