7 Useful WordPress Features That Go Unnoticed

WordPress is a powerhouse, powering millions of websites because of its ease of use and extendability. It has something in store for everyone, from seasoned developers to fresh bloggers, who create and manage their site with ease. However, among the long list of capabilities, some very useful features slip under the radar, often overshadowed by more well-liked tools and plugins.

This blog focuses on 7 such features within WordPress Website that most don’t use, or aren’t even aware they could help with. By simplifying content management all the way to site optimization, the following underdogs in hidden gems are also effortless yet effective to deploy into action. Now let’s uncover these unnoticed features and reveal how they could enhance the work experience in WordPress even further.

Best WordPress Features You Need to Start Using

1. Database Query Logging (SAVEQUERIES)

• What it does: Logs all database queries during a request for performance debugging.
• Why it’s useful: Helps identify slow or unnecessary queries.
• How to use:

define('SAVEQUERIES', true);

Pro Tip: Use it for local/staging environments, not production, due to performance impact.

2. Transients API for Caching

• What it does: Stores cached data with expiration times.
• Why it’s useful: Speeds up site performance by reducing server load.
• How to use:

$data = get_transient('key');
if (false = = = $data) {
    	$data = some_expensive_function();
    set_transient('key', $data, 12 * HOUR_IN_SECONDS);
}

Pro Tip: Combine with object caching (Redis, Memcached) for large-scale sites.

3. WordPress Cron Jobs (Real Cron)

• What it does: WordPress runs cron jobs on page load by default.
• Why it’s useful: Improves reliability and reduces unnecessary load.
• How to use: Disable WordPress cron and set up a server-side cron job:

define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);

Pro Tip: Use wp-cron.php to run cron jobs externally on your server.

4. Custom WP-CLI Commands

• What it does: Extend the command line interface with custom commands.
• Why it’s useful: Automates tasks like content updates and batch processing.
• How to use:

if (defined('WP_CLI') && WP_CLI) {
    WP_CLI::add_command('myplugin greet', function() {
        WP_CLI::success('Hello, Developer!');
    });
}

Pro Tip: Use wp-cli for tasks like database backups, imports, or even complex theme/plugin management.

5. Custom User Role Management with map_meta_cap

• What it does: Customize capabilities for specific roles.
• Why it’s useful: Provides granular control over user permissions.
• How to use:

function custom_map_meta_cap($caps, $cap, $user_id, $args) {
  	  if ('edit_post' === $cap) {
      	  // Add custom logic
        	$caps[] = 'edit_posts';
 	}
 	   return $caps;
}
add_filter('map_meta_cap', 'custom_map_meta_cap', 10, 4);

Pro Tip: Use for creating custom permission systems for membership sites or user-generated content.

6. Media Upload Filtering (wp_handle_upload_prefilter)

• What it does: Filters or validates media uploads before they are saved.
• Why it’s useful: Ensures correct file types, sizes, or names before upload.

How to use:

function custom_upload_prefilter($file) {
   	 if ($file['type'] !== 'image/jpeg') {
        	$file['error'] = 'Only JPG images allowed.';
    }
    	return $file;
}
add_filter('wp_handle_upload_prefilter', 'custom_upload_prefilter');

Pro Tip: Combine with custom fields or post types to manage specific file types efficiently.

7. Advanced API Interactions with wp_remote_request()

• What it does: Makes custom HTTP requests to external APIs.
• Why it’s useful: Integrates third-party APIs securely (payment gateways, CRMs, etc.).

How to use:

$response = wp_remote_request('https://api.example.com', array(
  	  'method'    => 'POST',
    	'body'      => json_encode(['key' => 'value']),
    	'headers'   => ['Content-Type' => 'application/json'],
));

Pro Tip: Always sanitize and validate external API responses to ensure security.