Save ACF Block Field Values to Post Meta

Documentation ACF Blocks Save ACF Block Field Values to Post Meta

Last updated May 22, 2024

Overview

By default, WordPress stores a block’s field data inside the block’s HTML comment in post_content. This is usually fine, but you may also want to create an ACF Block that saves and reads its data from post meta instead, thus making it easier to query. This doc outlines how to save the content of an ACF Block in post meta instead of post_content.

The ability to save field data from ACF Blocks in post meta was introduced in ACF PRO 6.3. This enables you to, for example, create a custom post type with a locked block template. This lets you replicate an experience similar to the classic editor, where only your block exists to enter specific structured data. This data would then be stored in post meta and allow you to query it easily.

Usage

ACF Blocks default to the WordPress method of storing the block’s data, so you will have to make adjustments to the block.json file to enable storing in post meta.

The usePostMeta: true attribute is added to the ACF key section of your block.json file:

{
    "name": "acf/testimonial",
    "title": "Testimonial",
    "description": "A custom testimonial block that uses ACF fields.",
    "style": [ "file:./testimonial.css" ],
    "category": "formatting",
    "icon": "admin-comments",
    "keywords": ["testimonial", "quote"],
    "acf": {
        "mode": "preview",
        "renderTemplate": "testimonial.php",
        "usePostMeta": "true"
    },
    "supports": {
        "anchor": true
    }
}