[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #53320: Why delete_metadata and update_metadata slow performance?

[WordPress Trac]

#53320: Why delete_metadata and update_metadata slow performance?
----------------------------+------------------------------
 Reporter:  cjj25           |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect (bug)    |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal          |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Database        |     Version:
 Severity:  normal          |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  needs-dev-note  |     Focuses:  performance
----------------------------+------------------------------

Comment (by vizvizka):

 It seems like you're delving deep into the inner workings of WooCommerce
 and WordPress metadata handling, which is great for optimizing performance
 and understanding how things work under the hood.
 You're correct that the default behavior of delete_metadata() querying to
 see if the metadata exists before running the DELETE operation is a
 safeguard to ensure data integrity. However, for cases where you're
 absolutely certain about the existence of metadata and want to bypass this
 lookup for performance reasons, you can indeed implement a custom
 solution.

 One approach, as you suggested, is to hook into the
 delete_{$meta_type}_metadata filter and return false to prevent the
 default behavior, then run the DELETE operation yourself. While this might
 seem like it could break in future updates, it's relatively stable as long
 as you're aware of potential changes to WooCommerce or WordPress core.

 Another approach could be to extend the WooCommerce core functionality by
 creating a custom plugin or modifying the existing WooCommerce codebase.
 This approach gives you more control over the behavior of metadata
 handling. You could introduce your own methods for deleting metadata
 without the initial lookup, while still ensuring data integrity in other
 parts of your code.

 However, whenever you're modifying core functionality or implementing
 custom solutions, it's essential to thoroughly test your changes to ensure
 they don't introduce unexpected behavior or security vulnerabilities.
 Additionally, keep in mind the implications of your optimizations in terms
 of future updates and compatibility with other plugins or themes.

 In summary, while there isn't an out-of-the-box solution provided by
 WooCommerce for bypassing the initial metadata lookup in
 delete_metadata(), you have the flexibility to implement custom solutions
 tailored to your specific requirements. Just be mindful of the trade-offs
 and potential maintenance overhead involved.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/53320#comment:1>
WordPress Trac <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/>
WordPress publishing platform