How to verify user authentication status in WordPress

[elizabeths]

I’m still learning WordPress development and need help with user authentication checks. I’m trying to create a conditional menu system in my theme where certain navigation elements only appear for authenticated users.

Currently, I’m working in my header.php template file and want to add logic that detects whether someone has an active login session. The goal is to show different content based on their authentication status.

Here’s what I’m trying to achieve:

<?php if (user_authentication_check()) { ?>
    <nav class="member-menu">
        <ul>
            <li><a href="/dashboard">Dashboard</a></li>
            <li><a href="/profile">My Profile</a></li>
            <li><a href="/logout">Sign Out</a></li>
        </ul>
    </nav>
<?php } else { ?>
    <div class="guest-options">
        <a href="/login">Login</a>
        <a href="/register">Register</a>
    </div>
<?php } ?>

What’s the correct WordPress function to check if someone is currently logged into their account? Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

[FlyingStar]

You should use is_user_logged_in(); it’s the core WordPress function that reliably checks if a user is logged into their account. Your current logic is on the right track, just replace user_authentication_check() with is_user_logged_in(). I have implemented similar setups in the past without issues, but be cautious with caching plugins as they can interfere with user-specific displays. If you require detailed user information inside those conditionals, utilize wp_get_current_user(), as it provides comprehensive user data when logged in.

[CharlieLion22]

just use is_user_logged_in() - that’s wordpress’s standard auth check. your code structure’s already solid, you’ve got it right except for the function name. one tip though: use wp_logout_url() for your logout link instead of hardcoding /logout. it handles redirects and security automatically.

[lucasg]

You should use is_user_logged_in(), which returns true if a user is logged in. It works perfectly for conditional menus like the one you’re creating. Just ensure it’s called after WordPress has fully loaded, as functions invoked too early may yield incorrect results. Additionally, remember to include nonces with any logout buttons to safeguard against CSRF attacks. If you’re checking login status multiple times on the same page, consider caching the result for efficiency.