This is How to Fix Custom Fields Not Showing Any Value in WordPress (Just an Empty Return)
One of the most common issues WordPress developers face is when custom fields they've created are not displaying any data on the front-end of their website. Instead, they're just getting an empty return.
This can be a frustrating problem, especially if you've spent time carefully setting up your custom fields. But don't worry, there are a few potential causes and easy fixes you can try.
In this article, we'll walk through the most likely reasons why your custom fields aren't showing any value, and step-by-step solutions to get them working properly again.
What Causes Custom Fields to Not Display Any Value?
There are a few key reasons why your custom fields might not be displaying any data:
-
Incorrect Field Name: If you've misspelled the field name or are using a different name than what you've defined in the custom fields, WordPress won't be able to find the correct data to display.
-
Improper Field Retrieval: The way you're trying to retrieve the custom field data may not be correct. You need to make sure you're using the right functions and following the proper syntax.
-
Conditional Logic Issues: Your custom fields may only be set to display under certain conditions, so if those conditions aren't met, you won't see any data.
-
Field is Empty: If the custom field you're trying to display doesn't actually have any data entered for that post/page, it will return an empty value.
-
Caching Issues: Caching plugins or your web host's caching system could be preventing the custom field data from updating and showing correctly.
-
Theme or Plugin Conflicts: Incompatibilities between your theme, plugins, or core WordPress files could be interfering with your custom fields.
Let's dive into how to troubleshoot and fix each of these potential causes.
1. Check the Custom Field Name
The first thing to check is whether you're using the correct field name. This is the most common reason custom fields don't display any value.
In your code, you'll likely be using a function like get_field()
or get_sub_field()
to retrieve the custom field data. Make sure the name you've provided in those functions exactly matches the field name you set up in the custom fields area.
For example, let's say you have a custom field named "person_name". Your code to display that field should look like this:
$person_name = get_field('person_name');
echo $person_name;
If the field name is "person_name" but your code uses "personi_ose_institucioni" instead, it won't be able to find the right data.
Double-check your custom fields admin area and your code to ensure the names match up perfectly.
2. Ensure Proper Field Retrieval
Even if you have the field name correct, you still need to make sure you're using the right functions and syntax to retrieve the data.
The most common functions for accessing custom field values in WordPress are:
get_field()
: Use this function to get the value of a top-level custom field.
get_sub_field()
: Use this to get the value of a field within a repeater or flexible content field.
the_field()
: Outputs the value of a custom field directly, without storing it in a variable.
Make sure you're using the right one for your specific field setup. Also ensure you're properly wrapping your field retrieval code in any necessary conditional checks, like:
if( have_rows('dekorime') ):
while( have_rows('dekorime') ): the_row();
$var1 = get_sub_field('personi_ose_institucioni');
echo $var1;
endwhile;
endif;
Another common issue is forgetting to properly escape or sanitize the custom field data before outputting it. This can cause issues if the data contains special characters. Use functions like esc_html()
to prevent this.
3. Check Conditional Logic
Sometimes custom fields are set to only display under certain conditions. This is often done using advanced custom fields or other field plugin features.
For example, you may have a custom field that's only meant to show up for posts with a specific post type, taxonomy term, or other criteria.
If the current page/post doesn't meet those conditions, the custom field simply won't have any data to display.
Review your custom field settings and any conditional logic you have in place to ensure the field is set to display correctly for the current context.
4. Confirm the Field Has Data
Another potential cause is that the custom field you're trying to display simply doesn't have any data entered for the current post or page.
If no value has been saved to the field, it will return an empty string when you try to access it.
You can check this by going to the post/page in your WordPress admin area and looking at the custom fields section. If the field is listed but the value is empty, that's likely why it's not displaying on the front-end.
Make sure content editors are properly filling out your custom fields, or add default/placeholder values if needed.
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5. Address Caching Issues
Caching, both on your web host and through plugins, can sometimes prevent custom field data from updating and displaying correctly.
If you've recently added or updated a custom field, the cached version of the page may still be showing the old data.
Try clearing your site's cache, either through your hosting provider's tools or by deactivating and reactivating any caching plugins you have installed.
You can also try adding a version number or timestamp to your asset URLs to force a refresh of the cached files:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo get_stylesheet_uri() . '?ver=' . filemtime( get_stylesheet_directory() . '/style.css' ); ?>">
6. Check for Theme or Plugin Conflicts
In some cases, incompatibilities between your theme, plugins, and core WordPress files can interfere with custom field functionality.
Try temporarily switching to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One to see if the issue is theme-related. You can also deactivate any non-essential plugins to isolate the problem.
If the custom fields start working correctly in these tests, you know the issue is being caused by a theme or plugin conflict. You'll then need to identify the specific theme or plugin that's causing the problem and either find a compatible replacement or reach out to the developer for a fix.
Bonus Tip: Use the Advanced Custom Fields Plugin
While it's possible to create and manage custom fields using the core WordPress functionality, the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin is a popular and powerful tool that can make the process much easier.
ACF provides a user-friendly interface for building custom fields, including options for field types, conditional logic, and more. It also includes handy functions like get_field()
and get_sub_field()
that simplify the code needed to retrieve custom field data.
If you're struggling with custom fields in WordPress, consider giving ACF a try. It can help eliminate many of the common issues we've covered in this article.
Conclusion
Custom fields are a crucial part of building powerful, flexible WordPress websites. But when they're not displaying any data, it can be a frustrating problem to solve.
By following the troubleshooting steps we've outlined in this article, you should be able to identify and fix the most common causes of the "Custom Fields not showing any value, just empty return" issue.
Remember to double-check your field names, ensure you're using the right retrieval functions, review any conditional logic, and address potential caching or compatibility problems. With a bit of investigation, you can get your custom fields working correctly again.
And if you're looking for an even easier way to manage custom fields in WordPress, be sure to check out the Advanced Custom Fields plugin. It can streamline the whole process and help you avoid many of these common headaches.
Flowpoint.ai can help you identify all the technical errors that are impacting conversion rates on your WordPress website and directly generate recommendations to fix them, including issues with custom fields not displaying properly