How to get author details in WordPress

By Atul Rai | Last Updated: July 16, 2020 Previous       Next

In WordPress, we can use the get_the_author_meta(string $field) function to retrieve the author’s details stored in the database object. get_the_author_meta() function return the author’s requested information in string format if available, otherwise, it returns an empty string.

Note: By default, get_the_author_meta() function returns the current page/post author’s details. If you want any specific author details, you have to pass the author/user id e.g. get_the_author_meta( string $field, int $user_id).

1. Get author ID

get_the_author_meta('ID') returns the ID of the author.

$author_id = get_the_author_meta('ID');
echo 'ID: '.$author_id;

Output

ID: 7

2. Get author user name/login id

get_the_author_meta('user_login') returns the username/login name of the author.

$author_username = get_the_author_meta('user_login');
echo 'Username: '.$author_username;

Output

Username: lucy

3. Get author first name

get_the_author_meta('first_name') returns the first name of the author.

$author_first_name = get_the_author_meta('first_name');
echo 'First name: '.$author_first_name;

Output

First name: Lucifer

4. Get author last name

get_the_author_meta('last_name') returns the last name of the author.

$author_last_name = get_the_author_meta('last_name');
echo 'Last name: '.$author_last_name;

Output

Last name: Series

5. Get author display name

get_the_author_meta('display_name') returns the display name of the author.

$author_display_name = get_the_author_meta('display_name');
echo 'Display name: '.$author_display_name;

Output

Display name: Lucifer Series

6. Get author nickname

get_the_author_meta('nickname') returns the nickname of the author.

$author_nickname = get_the_author_meta('nickname');
echo 'Nick name: '.$author_nickname;

Output

Nick name: Dr. Champion

7. Get author description

get_the_author_meta('description') returns the description/bio of the author.

$author_description = get_the_author_meta('description');
echo 'Description: '.$author_description;

Output

Description: Hi!, I'm Lucifer, a Full-Stack Web Application developer. I love Java and other open-source technology, currently working at one of the top MNC in India.

8. Get author level

get_the_author_meta('user_level') returns the level/role of the author.

$author_level = get_the_author_meta('user_level');      
echo 'Level: '.$author_level;

Output

Level: 1

9. Get author URL

get_the_author_meta('user_url') returns the URL/website address of the author.

$author_url = get_the_author_meta('user_url');
echo 'URL: '.$author_url;

Output

URL: https://websparrow.org

10. Get author profile image

get_the_author_meta() can not directly return the author’s profile image. We have to use the get_avatar() function to retrieve the author’s profile image. get_avatar() function returns the <img> tag for an author.

$author_profile_image = get_avatar(get_the_author_meta('ID'), 96);
echo 'Profile photo: '.$author_profile_image;

References

1. get_the_author_meta()- WordPress
2. get_avatar()- WordPress
3. Author Levels