maybe_unserialize( string $data )

Unserialize data only if it was serialized.

Parameters

$data

(string) (Required) Data that might be unserialized.

Return

(mixed) Unserialized data can be any type.

More Information

Data might need to be serialized to allow it to be successfully stored and retrieved from a database in a form that PHP can understand.

Source

File: wp-includes/functions.php 

function maybe_unserialize( $data ) {
	if ( is_serialized( $data ) ) { // Don't attempt to unserialize data that wasn't serialized going in.
		return @unserialize( trim( $data ) );
	}

	return $data;
}

Uses

Uses Description
wp-includes/functions.php: is_serialized()

Check value to find if it was serialized.

Used By

Used By Description
wp-includes/meta.php: get_metadata_raw()

Retrieves raw metadata value for the specified object.
wp-includes/user.php: wp_user_personal_data_exporter()

Finds and exports personal data associated with an email address from the user and user_meta table.
wp-includes/class-wp-customize-manager.php: WP_Customize_Manager::import_theme_starter_content()

Import theme starter content into the customized state.
wp-includes/option.php: get_network_option()

Retrieves a network’s option value based on the option name.
wp-admin/includes/template.php: _list_meta_row()

Outputs a single row of public meta data in the Custom Fields meta box.
wp-includes/option.php: wp_load_core_site_options()

Loads and caches certain often requested site options if is_multisite() and a persistent cache is not being used.
wp-includes/option.php: get_option()

Retrieves an option value based on an option name.
wp-includes/user.php: count_users()

Count number of users who have each of the user roles.
wp-includes/ms-functions.php: wpmu_activate_signup()

Activate a signup.
wp-includes/meta.php: get_metadata_by_mid()

Retrieves metadata by meta ID.

Changelog

Version Description
2.0.0 Introduced.

© 2003–2021 WordPress Foundation
Licensed under the GNU GPLv2+ License.
https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/maybe_unserialize