maybe_serialize( string|array|object $data )

Serialize data, if needed.


Description Description


Parameters Parameters

$data

(string|array|object) (Required) Data that might be serialized.


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Return Return

(mixed) A scalar data


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Source Source

File: wp-includes/functions.php

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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Changelog Changelog

Changelog
Version Description
2.0.5 Introduced.


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User Contributed Notes User Contributed Notes

  1. Skip to note 1 content
    Contributed by Codex

    Basic Examples

    ‘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”;}”;

    ?>

  2. Skip to note 2 content
    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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