Hey everyone, I’m working on a phone order system for WordPress and I’ve hit a snag. I need to figure out how to check a user’s role using just their ID. The tricky part is that these users aren’t logged in, so the current_user_can() function won’t work here.
Our system uses an admin account to place orders on behalf of other people, so we can’t rely on the current user’s permissions. Does anyone know a way to grab a user’s role when they’re not the active user?
I’ve been searching for a solution, but most methods I’ve found only work for logged-in users. Any ideas or suggestions would be super helpful! Thanks in advance for your input.
hey Pete_Magic, i’ve dealt with similar stuff before. try using get_userdata() function with the user ID. it returns an object with user info, including roles. something like:
$user_info = get_userdata($user_id);
$user_roles = $user_info->roles;
hope that helps!
I’ve been in your shoes, Pete_Magic. When I was developing a multi-vendor marketplace for WordPress, I ran into the same issue. What worked for me was using the get_user_meta() function. It’s a bit more direct than some other methods:
$user_roles = get_user_meta($user_id, ‘wp_capabilities’, true);
if (!empty($user_roles)) {
$roles = array_keys(array_filter($user_roles));
// Now $roles contains an array of the user’s roles
}
This approach bypasses the need for the user to be logged in and gives you direct access to their capabilities. Just remember to validate and sanitize that $user_id before using it. Also, keep in mind that some plugins might modify how roles are stored, so always test thoroughly in your specific environment.
I’ve encountered this scenario in a custom plugin I developed. The get_user_by() function is a reliable alternative for retrieving user data, including roles, without requiring the user to be logged in. Here’s a concise approach:
$user = get_user_by(‘id’, $user_id);
if ($user && !is_wp_error($user)) {
$user_roles = $user->roles;
// Process roles as needed
}
This method is efficient and works regardless of the user’s login status. Remember to sanitize the $user_id input to prevent potential security issues. Also, consider caching the results if you’re making frequent role checks to optimize performance.