How to Save Checkout Values in WooCommerce Yourself: A DIY Guide
Are you frustrated with WooCommerce losing customer data during the checkout process? Perhaps a customer gets distracted, the internet connection drops, or they simply need to come back later to complete their purchase. Losing that data can mean lost sales. While plugins offer solutions, sometimes you need more control or prefer a do-it-yourself approach. This article will guide you through saving WooCommerce checkout values yourself, empowering you to improve customer experience and recover potentially lost revenue.
Why Save Checkout Values Manually?
WooCommerce offers a fantastic platform for e-commerce, but its default behavior doesn’t automatically save checkout information. This can lead to:
- Abandoned Carts: Customers leaving without completing their purchase when they encounter issues.
- Data Re-entry: Requiring customers to fill in forms multiple times, causing frustration.
- Lost Sales: Ultimately, impacting your bottom line.
- Customization: Tailor the saving mechanism to your specific needs.
- Control: Understand and manage the data storage process.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Avoid recurring plugin costs.
- Learning Opportunity: Deepen your knowledge of WooCommerce and WordPress development.
- `woocommerce_checkout_process`: This hook fires *before* the order is created, allowing you to validate and sanitize the checkout fields.
- `woocommerce_checkout_update_user_data`: This hook fires *after* the checkout form is submitted but before the order is processed, allowing you to update the user’s data.
- `woocommerce_after_checkout_billing_form`: This hook fires after the billing form in the checkout page.
- `woocommerce_after_checkout_shipping_form`: This hook fires after the shipping form in the checkout page.
While many plugins address this issue, building your own solution offers several advantages:
Implementing Your Checkout Value Saving System
Here’s a breakdown of how to save WooCommerce checkout values manually. This involves hooking into WooCommerce’s checkout process and utilizing WordPress’s user meta to store the data.
1. Understanding the WooCommerce Checkout Process
Before diving into the code, it’s crucial to understand the key WooCommerce hooks involved in the checkout process. We’ll primarily focus on:
2. Saving Data to User Meta
We’ll use WordPress’s `update_user_meta()` function to store the checkout data. Here’s a code example demonstrating how to save the billing address:
/**
function save_checkout_fields_to_user_meta( $customer_id ) {
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_first_name’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_first_name’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_first_name’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_last_name’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_last_name’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_last_name’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_company’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_company’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_company’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_address_1’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_address_1’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_address_1’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_address_2’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_address_2’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_address_2’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_city’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_city’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_city’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_postcode’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_postcode’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_postcode’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_country’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_country’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_country’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_state’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_state’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_state’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_phone’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_phone’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_phone’] ) );
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘billing_email’] ) ) {
update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_email’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_email’] ) );
}
}
Explanation:
- `add_action( ‘woocommerce_checkout_update_user_data’, ‘save_checkout_fields_to_user_meta’ );`: Hooks our function `save_checkout_fields_to_user_meta` to the `woocommerce_checkout_update_user_data` action.
- `$customer_id`: The ID of the user placing the order.
- `$_POST[‘billing_first_name’]`: Accesses the value of the “billing_first_name” field from the checkout form.
- `update_user_meta( $customer_id, ‘billing_first_name’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘billing_first_name’] ) );`: Updates the user meta field ‘billing_first_name’ with the sanitized value from the form. Sanitization is crucial to prevent security vulnerabilities. `sanitize_text_field()` is a good starting point, but consider more specific sanitization functions depending on the field type.
You’ll need to repeat this process for all the checkout fields you want to save (shipping address, order notes, etc.). Remember to use the correct field names from the `$_POST` array and choose appropriate user meta keys.
3. Pre-Populating Checkout Fields
Now that you’re saving the data, you need to pre-populate the checkout fields on subsequent visits. Use the `woocommerce_checkout_fields` filter for this:
/**
function populate_checkout_fields( $fields ) {
$user_id = get_current_user_id();
if ( $user_id ) {
$billing_first_name = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_first_name’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_first_name ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_first_name’][‘default’] = $billing_first_name;
}
$billing_last_name = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_last_name’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_last_name ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_last_name’][‘default’] = $billing_last_name;
}
$billing_company = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_company’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_company ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_company’][‘default’] = $billing_company;
}
$billing_address_1 = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_address_1’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_address_1 ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_address_1’][‘default’] = $billing_address_1;
}
$billing_address_2 = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_address_2’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_address_2 ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_address_2’][‘default’] = $billing_address_2;
}
$billing_city = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_city’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_city ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_city’][‘default’] = $billing_city;
}
$billing_postcode = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_postcode’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_postcode ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_postcode’][‘default’] = $billing_postcode;
}
$billing_country = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_country’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_country ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_country’][‘default’] = $billing_country;
}
$billing_state = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_state’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_state ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_state’][‘default’] = $billing_state;
}
$billing_phone = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_phone’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_phone ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_phone’][‘default’] = $billing_phone;
}
$billing_email = get_user_meta( $user_id, ‘billing_email’, true );
if ( ! empty( $billing_email ) ) {
$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_email’][‘default’] = $billing_email;
}
}
return $fields;
}
Explanation:
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_checkout_fields’, ‘populate_checkout_fields’ );`: Hooks our function `populate_checkout_fields` to the `woocommerce_checkout_fields` filter.
- `$fields`: An array containing all the checkout fields.
- `$fields[‘billing’][‘billing_first_name’][‘default’] = $billing_first_name;`: Sets the default value of the “billing_first_name” field to the value retrieved from user meta.
Again, repeat this for all fields you wish to pre-populate, using the correct field names from the `$fields` array and the corresponding user meta keys.
4. Important Considerations
- Session Storage: For non-logged-in users, user meta won’t work. You’ll need to use PHP sessions or cookies to temporarily store the data. This is more complex and requires careful management of session lifetime and security.
- Security: Always sanitize and validate data before saving it. Consider escaping data when displaying it to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
- Performance: Excessive user meta can impact database performance. Evaluate your needs and consider alternatives if necessary.
- GDPR Compliance: Ensure you’re transparent about data collection and storage, and provide users with the ability to access and delete their data.
Where to Place the Code
Place the above code snippets in your theme’s `functions.php` file or, preferably, in a custom plugin. Avoid directly editing core WooCommerce files, as your changes will be overwritten during updates.
Conslusion: Is DIY Right for You?
Implementing your own checkout value saving system in WooCommerce can be a rewarding experience. It grants you fine-grained control over the process and avoids reliance on third-party plugins. However, it requires a solid understanding of PHP, WooCommerce hooks, and WordPress user meta.
Benefits:
- Full Customization: Tailor the solution to your exact requirements.
- No Plugin Costs: Save money on recurring plugin subscriptions.
- Learning Experience: Enhance your development skills.
Drawbacks:
- Development Time: Requires significant coding effort.
- Maintenance: You’re responsible for maintaining and updating the code.
- Complexity: Can be challenging for beginners.
If you’re comfortable with coding and need a highly customized solution, then a DIY approach is a viable option. However, if you’re short on time or lack the necessary technical skills, consider using a reputable WooCommerce plugin designed for saving checkout information. Choose the option that best suits your needs and resources. Remember to always prioritize security and user experience regardless of the chosen method.
