[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #38323: Reconsider $object_subtype handling in `register_meta()`

[WordPress Trac]

#38323: Reconsider $object_subtype handling in `register_meta()`
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 Reporter:  flixos90            |      Owner:
     Type:  enhancement         |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal              |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Options, Meta APIs  |    Version:
 Severity:  normal              |   Keywords:  needs-patch
  Focuses:                      |
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 While `register_meta()` was originally planned to support object subtypes
 (e.g. post types in the case of post meta, taxonomies in the case of term
 meta), this feature was dropped in [changeset:38095], mainly because it
 needed further thought.

 I think we should continue to think how we can implement this feature.
 Many plugins use meta in ways that are specific to a subtype, so it
 doesn't make sense for them to use `register_meta()` now because it would
 mean that for example some e-commerce plugin's product data would suddenly
 be exposed on any post type. The current implementation can also lead to
 conflicts very easily: Imagine one plugin registers an `email` meta key
 for a custom post type, and another plugin registers an `email` meta key
 for another post type, and the metadata has a different structure - such
 thing can raise several issues.

 I really like the new enhanced way `register_meta()` works, but without
 subtype handling it is still useless for many occasions. Therefore let's
 continue work on that function.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/38323>
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