MB Custom Table AddOn | Meta Box Custom Table

MB Custom Table is an extension of Meta Box plugin that helps you to save data to custom table instead of the default post/user/term meta table. All meta values are saved in a single row, and each column will be a meta key. This reduces the number of rows in the database which can cause a performance issue when the data grows. And let you have all of your data in one place, so you can easily view, edit, import, export it.

Why custom table for custom fields?

By default, WordPress uses meta tables for storing the meta data (custom fields). In order to satisfy a wide range of needs, WordPress uses a flexible database structure, where each custom field is stored as a row with 4 columns: meta_id, post_id, meta_key and meta_value. While it seems to be fine at first, when your data grows, the number of database rows increases very fast.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THIS METHOD?

• Your database size will reduce
• As all the custom field data is on the same row, your query will be faster and simpler
• You can view all the data at once using any database management tool
• You can export all the data easier by exporting only one table

In order to achieve these goals, MB Custom Table extension is all you need.

MB Custom Table provides a simple API for you to create custom tables and store custom fields to custom tables. It works with all field types of Meta Box plugin as well as all meta types (post, user, term). The extension uses a simple syntax to define the table and you won’t have to change your meta box definition.