Add Optional $return_detailed Parameter to update_post_meta for Enhanced Feedback - #62748

[vk17-starlord]

ISSUE - #62748

Description:

This pull request proposes the addition of an optional $return_detailed parameter to the update_post_meta function in WordPress. This update aims to provide developers with more granular feedback on the status of metadata updates while maintaining backward compatibility for existing implementations.

Key Changes:

• New Optional Parameter:

  • Introduces a $return_detailed parameter to the update_post_meta function.
  • When set to true, this parameter will cause the function to return a detailed response in the form of an associative array containing:
    • status: A string indicating the outcome of the operation (e.g., success, failure, no_change).
    • reason: A string providing a more specific reason for the status (e.g., The value was not updated because it was the same).
  • When set to false (default), the function retains its current behavior, returning a simple true for success or false for failure.

• Backward Compatibility:

  • The default behavior of the update_post_meta function remains unchanged, ensuring no impact on existing codebases using this function without the $return_detailed parameter.

• Use Cases:

  • Developers can now choose to receive detailed feedback on metadata updates, allowing for easier debugging and more informed decision-making in complex use cases.
  • In cases where the metadata value is unchanged, the response will explicitly indicate no update occurred.

Example Usage:

// Using detailed feedback
$result = update_post_meta($post_id, 'meta_key', 'new_value', '', true);
if ($result['status'] === 'no_change') {
    // Handle the case where the metadata value is unchanged
}

Testing:

• Tested with Default Behavior: Ensures that setting $return_detailed to false keeps the original behavior (simple true/false return).
• Tested with $return_detailed set to true: Verifies the detailed array with the status and reason fields.
• Tested for Edge Cases: Includes tests where the metadata value is the same as the existing one, ensuring the reason for no change is correctly returned.

Additional Notes:

• This change provides more flexibility for developers to diagnose issues with metadata updates and ensures that the function's behavior remains predictable and backward-compatible.
• Developers can continue using update_post_meta as they did before, with the added option to enable enhanced feedback when needed.

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[github-actions]

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