wp_get_current_user()WP 2.0.3

Retrieve the current authorized user data (WP_User object). Sets current user, if not set yet.

Sets the current user, the first time the function is called, then the result is stored in the global variable $current_user. If the user is not authorized, an empty user will be sets: wp_set_current_user( 0 ).

This function can be used starting from plugins_loaded action. If you call it earlier, you will get fatal error.

Returns 0 if used in an unauthorized REST request. One way to authorize a REST request is to specify nonce code. Read more about REST authorization.

If you really need to call this function before the plugins_loaded action, you should first enable the dependencies. However, you should do this with a full understanding of how authorization works.

// Dependencies
wp_cookie_constants();
require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/pluggable.php';

$cuser = wp_get_current_user(); //> WP_User object

Use get_current_user_id() when you need to get the user ID.

$current_user_id = get_current_user_id();
$current_user = wp_get_current_user();

The ID of the current user is defined by the functions:

Pluggable function — this function can be replaced from a plugin. It means that this function is defined (works) only after all plugins are loaded (included), but before this moment this function has not defined. Therefore, you cannot call this and all functions depended on this function directly from a plugin code. They need to be called on plugins_loaded hook or later, for example on init hook.

Function replacement (override) — in must-use or regular plugin you can create a function with the same name, then it will replace this function.

1 time — 0.00001 sec (speed of light) | 50000 times — 0.03 sec (speed of light)

No Hooks.

Return

WP_User. Current WP_User instance.

WP_User Object
(
	[data] => stdClass Object
		(
			[ID] => 1
			[user_login] => alex
			[user_pass] => $P$B/NlqweHhtrD6HthgjF5UYOMdT77.x0
			[user_nicename] => alex-1
			[user_email] => [email protected]
			[user_url] =>
			[user_registered] => 2010-03-26 09:27:40
			[user_activation_key] => 1987530484:$P$ByO33dFHn3aWu.Pe4Uw.MUhGGT59zc1
			[user_status] => 1646545990
			[display_name] => Alex
		)

	[ID] => 1
	[caps] => Array
		(
			[administrator] => 1
		)

	[cap_key] => wp_capabilities
	[roles] => Array
		(
			[0] => administrator
		)

	[allcaps] => Array
		(
			[switch_themes] => 1
			[edit_themes] => 1
			[activate_plugins] => 1
			[edit_plugins] => 1
			[edit_users] => 1
			[edit_files] => 1
			[manage_options] => 1
			[moderate_comments] => 1
			[manage_categories] => 1
			[manage_links] => 1
			[upload_files] => 1
			[import] => 1
			[unfiltered_html] => 1
			[edit_posts] => 1
			[edit_others_posts] => 1
			[edit_published_posts] => 1
			[publish_posts] => 1
			[edit_pages] => 1
			[read] => 1
			[level_10] => 1
			[level_9] => 1
			[level_8] => 1
			[level_7] => 1
			[level_6] => 1
			[level_5] => 1
			[level_4] => 1
			[level_3] => 1
			[level_2] => 1
			[level_1] => 1
			[level_0] => 1
			[edit_others_pages] => 1
			[edit_published_pages] => 1
			[publish_pages] => 1
			[delete_pages] => 1
			[delete_others_pages] => 1
			[delete_published_pages] => 1
			[delete_posts] => 1
			[delete_others_posts] => 1
			[delete_published_posts] => 1
			[delete_private_posts] => 1
			[edit_private_posts] => 1
			[read_private_posts] => 1
			[delete_private_pages] => 1
			[edit_private_pages] => 1
			[read_private_pages] => 1
			[delete_users] => 1
			[create_users] => 1
			[unfiltered_upload] => 1
			[edit_dashboard] => 1
			[update_plugins] => 1
			[delete_plugins] => 1
			[install_plugins] => 1
			[update_themes] => 1
			[install_themes] => 1
			[manage_downloads] => 1
			[manage_database] => 1
			[democracy_admin] => 1
			[update_core] => 1
			[list_users] => 1
			[remove_users] => 1
			[promote_users] => 1
			[edit_theme_options] => 1
			[delete_themes] => 1
			[export] => 1
			[edit_artic] => 1
			[read_artic] => 1
			[delete_artic] => 1
			[edit_artics] => 1
			[edit_others_artics] => 1
			[publish_artics] => 1
			[read_private_artics] => 1
			[delete_artics] => 1
			[delete_private_artics] => 1
			[delete_published_artics] => 1
			[delete_others_artics] => 1
			[edit_private_artics] => 1
			[edit_published_artics] => 1
			[manage_woocommerce] => 1
			[view_woocommerce_reports] => 1
			[edit_product] => 1
			[read_product] => 1
			[delete_product] => 1
			[edit_products] => 1
			[edit_others_products] => 1
			[publish_products] => 1
			[read_private_products] => 1
			[delete_products] => 1
			[delete_private_products] => 1
			[delete_published_products] => 1
			[delete_others_products] => 1
			[edit_private_products] => 1
			[edit_published_products] => 1
			[manage_product_terms] => 1
			[edit_product_terms] => 1
			[delete_product_terms] => 1
			[assign_product_terms] => 1
			[edit_shop_order] => 1
			[read_shop_order] => 1
			[delete_shop_order] => 1
			[edit_shop_orders] => 1
			[edit_others_shop_orders] => 1
			[publish_shop_orders] => 1
			[read_private_shop_orders] => 1
			[delete_shop_orders] => 1
			[delete_private_shop_orders] => 1
			[delete_published_shop_orders] => 1
			[delete_others_shop_orders] => 1
			[edit_private_shop_orders] => 1
			[edit_published_shop_orders] => 1
			[manage_shop_order_terms] => 1
			[edit_shop_order_terms] => 1
			[delete_shop_order_terms] => 1
			[assign_shop_order_terms] => 1
			[edit_shop_coupon] => 1
			[read_shop_coupon] => 1
			[delete_shop_coupon] => 1
			[edit_shop_coupons] => 1
			[edit_others_shop_coupons] => 1
			[publish_shop_coupons] => 1
			[read_private_shop_coupons] => 1
			[delete_shop_coupons] => 1
			[delete_private_shop_coupons] => 1
			[delete_published_shop_coupons] => 1
			[delete_others_shop_coupons] => 1
			[edit_private_shop_coupons] => 1
			[edit_published_shop_coupons] => 1
			[manage_shop_coupon_terms] => 1
			[edit_shop_coupon_terms] => 1
			[delete_shop_coupon_terms] => 1
			[assign_shop_coupon_terms] => 1
			[edit_shop_webhook] => 1
			[read_shop_webhook] => 1
			[delete_shop_webhook] => 1
			[edit_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[edit_others_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[publish_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[read_private_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[delete_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[delete_private_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[delete_published_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[delete_others_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[edit_private_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[edit_published_shop_webhooks] => 1
			[manage_shop_webhook_terms] => 1
			[edit_shop_webhook_terms] => 1
			[delete_shop_webhook_terms] => 1
			[assign_shop_webhook_terms] => 1
			[ure_edit_roles] => 1
			[ure_create_roles] => 1
			[ure_delete_roles] => 1
			[ure_create_capabilities] => 1
			[ure_delete_capabilities] => 1
			[ure_manage_options] => 1
			[ure_reset_roles] => 1
			[edit_blocks] => 1
			[edit_others_blocks] => 1
			[publish_blocks] => 1
			[read_private_blocks] => 1
			[read_blocks] => 1
			[delete_blocks] => 1
			[delete_private_blocks] => 1
			[delete_published_blocks] => 1
			[delete_others_blocks] => 1
			[edit_private_blocks] => 1
			[edit_published_blocks] => 1
			[create_blocks] => 1
			[administrator] => 1
		)

	[filter] =>
	[site_id:WP_User:private] => 1
)

If the user is not authorized, an empty object will be returned! Therefore. you SHOULD NOT use this function to determine if the user is authorized!

if( wp_get_current_user() ){
	echo 'It will always be printed!';
}

// You need to do so:
if( wp_get_current_user()->exists() ){
	echo 'Authorized!';
}

// Or so:
if( is_user_logged_in() ){
	echo 'Authorized!';
}

Usage

wp_get_current_user();

Examples

1

#1 Get current user data

And display it.

$current_user = wp_get_current_user();

echo 'Username: '     . $current_user->user_login     . '<br />';
echo 'email: '        . $current_user->user_email     . '<br />';
echo 'first name: '   . $current_user->user_firstname . '<br />';
echo 'last name: '    . $current_user->user_lastname  . '<br />';
echo 'Display Name: ' . $current_user->display_name   . '<br />';
echo 'ID: '           . $current_user->ID             . '<br />';
0

#2 Get the user ID

Use get_current_user_id() when you need to get the user ID.

$current_user_id = get_current_user_id();
$current_user = wp_get_current_user();
0

#3 Determine whether the user is logged-in (authorized)

This is a bad example of how you can use this function. If the user doesn't exist, his ID will zero (0):

$current_user = wp_get_current_user();

if( $current_user->ID ){
	// Authorized.
}
else {
	// Unauthorized.
}

But it's better to use is_user_logged_in() instead.

Notes

Changelog

Since 2.0.3 Introduced.

wp_get_current_user() code WP 6.4.3

function wp_get_current_user() {
	return _wp_get_current_user();
}