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[Resolved] Custom Fields Privacy

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:

The issue here is that the user wanted to know if a custom field data is available if its not being displayed on the page.

Solution:

No if the custom field isn't added to a template that displays the data then the frontend users won't be able to know what is the value of that custom field.

This support ticket is created 5 years, 6 months ago. There's a good chance that you are reading advice that it now obsolete.

This is the technical support forum for Toolset - a suite of plugins for developing WordPress sites without writing PHP.

Everyone can read this forum, but only Toolset clients can post in it. Toolset support works 6 days per week, 19 hours per day.

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Supporter timezone: America/Jamaica (GMT-05:00)

This topic contains 8 replies, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Ben 5 years, 6 months ago.

Assisted by: Shane.

Author
Posts
#1241825

Ben

How private are custom fields?

For example, if I create a custom field and only display them on a private, or password protected page, are they visible anywhere else? Can the data be extracted from a post?

I hope that makes sense!

#1241898

Shane
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: America/Jamaica (GMT-05:00)

Hi Ben,

Thank you for contacting our support forum.

No once the page is private it cannot be extracted from the post unless the user has backend access to the page itself.

Thanks,
Shane

#1242221

Ben

Thank you for the information Shane.

What about if these fields are used on a public page? Can the date be extracted in any way then if they are not set to display using shortcodes or anything similar?

#1242225

Shane
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: America/Jamaica (GMT-05:00)

Hi Ben,

If the field isn't being displayed then no it cannot be extracted.

If you hide the fields using our Access shortcodes then no they won't accessible. So long as the content is physically on the page then its not accessible to the users from the frontend.

Thanks,
Shane

#1242227

Ben

Thank you Shane.

So just to confirm, if I have a custom field that is not included in search results, and not displayed on the front end anywhere, then the information stored for each post in this field is not visible to anyone without back end access?

#1242239

Shane
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: America/Jamaica (GMT-05:00)

Hi Ben,

Yes that is correct.

If you didn't add the shortcode to display the information on the page, then they wont have access to it. Only the information that you set to display they will have access to.

Thanks,
Shane

#1242246

Ben

Thank you Shane.

And this is the same to a user with considerable technical skill with WordPress?

What I mean to ask is that it's a case of the information from the fields is not present in any way and not just hidden?

#1242253

Shane
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: America/Jamaica (GMT-05:00)

Hi Ben,

That is correct, the information is not hidden. Its just not loaded on the page if the shortcode isn't there.

Thanks,
Shane

#1242263

Ben

Thanks for confirming Shane!

I appreciate your help with this.