PHP Constants Manager

PHP Constants Manager provides a secure and user-friendly interface for managing PHP constants in WordPress. php or theme files to add or modify constants!

Key Features

• Complete Constant Management: Create, read, update, and delete PHP constants from the WordPress admin

• Dual View System: “My Constants” for your custom constants and “All Constants” to view every constant in your WordPress installation

• Native WordPress UI: Built using WP_List_Table with sorting, searching, and bulk actions

• Multiple Data Types: Support for String, Integer, Float, Boolean, and NULL constant types with strict validation

• Real-time Validation: Form fields validate values against selected type with immediate feedback

• Active/Inactive States: Toggle constants on/off without deleting them

• Conflict Detection: Visual indicators show when constants are already defined elsewhere (predefined)

• Screen Options: Customize table views with adjustable items per page and column visibility controls

• Early Loading Option: Optional must-use plugin creation for loading constants before other plugins

• Load Order Awareness: Constants loaded during plugins_loaded action (priority 1) for broad compatibility

• Comprehensive Help: Built-in help system with detailed documentation and best practices

• Administrator Only: Secure access restricted to users with manage_options capability

• Database Storage: Constants stored safely in a custom database table with full audit trail

• Import/Export: Backup and migrate constants using CSV files with detailed error reporting

• WP-CLI Integration: Manage constants, import/export CSV, and toggle early loading from the terminal via wp phpcm... — ideal for automation, CI/CD, and multi-site provisioning

Understanding Predefined Constants

The plugin intelligently detects when constants are already defined by WordPress core, other plugins, or your theme:

* Not Predefined: Your constant is unique and will work normally

* Predefined: The constant exists elsewhere – your definition is saved but won’t override the existing value due to PHP’s constant rules

Use Cases

• Manage environment-specific configuration

• Toggle debug constants without file editing

• Store API keys and configuration values securely

• Create fallback constants for different environments

• Document constant purposes with built-in descriptions

• Audit all constants in your WordPress installation

• Backup constants to CSV files for migration between sites

• Import constants in bulk from properly formatted CSV files

• Automate site setup and deployment pipelines with WP-CLI ( wp phpcm add MY_KEY... )

WP-CLI Commands

When WP-CLI is available, the plugin registers a phpcm command suite that mirrors the admin UI:

• wp phpcm list [--active] [--inactive] [--type=<type>] [--search=<term>] [--format=<format>] — list managed constants

• wp phpcm get <name> — show a single constant (supports --field=<field> )

• wp phpcm add <name> [<value>] [--type=<type>] [--description=<text>] [--inactive] [--porcelain] — create a constant (value can be - to read from stdin)

• wp phpcm update <name> [--value=<value>] [--type=<type>] [--description=<text>] [--active|--inactive] — update fields

• wp phpcm delete <name>... [--yes] — delete one or more by name

• wp phpcm activate|deactivate|toggle <name>... — flip active state

• wp phpcm defined <name> — report whether the constant is currently defined and by whom (this plugin, early-load, or elsewhere like wp-config.php)

• wp phpcm all-defines [--user-defined] [--search=<term>] — inspect every PHP constant present in the process

• wp phpcm status — plugin health summary (table, row counts, early-loading state)

• wp phpcm import <file|-> [--overwrite] — import CSV (file path or stdin)

• wp phpcm export [<file>] [--active] [--inactive] [--type=<type>] — write CSV to a file or stdout

• wp phpcm early-loading enable|disable|status — manage the must-use plugin that loads constants before all other plugins

Run wp help phpcm <subcommand> for detailed usage, flags, and examples.

Developer Information

Database Schema

The plugin creates a custom table {prefix}phpcm_constants with the following structure:

* id – Primary key (auto-increment)

* name – Constant name (unique, varchar 191)

* value – Constant value (longtext)

* type – Data type (enum: string, integer, float, boolean, null)

* is_active – Whether the constant is loaded (tinyint)

* description – Optional description (text)

* created_at – Creation timestamp (datetime)

* updated_at – Last update timestamp (datetime)

WordPress Hooks Used

• plugins_loaded (priority 1) – Early constant loading for maximum compatibility

• admin_menu – Menu registration

• admin_post_* – Form submission handling

• wp_ajax_* – AJAX operations

• WP_CLI::add_command('phpcm',...) – Registers the CLI command when WP-CLI is available

Load Order & Compatibility

Constants are defined during plugins_loaded with priority 1, ensuring they are available to:

* All theme functions and templates

* Other plugins (unless using higher priority)

* WordPress core hooks like init, wp_loaded, etc.

Security Implementation

• Capability requirement: manage_options (administrators only)

• Nonce verification on all form submissions and AJAX requests

• SQL injection prevention with prepared statements

• Input sanitization using WordPress core functions

• Output escaping for all displayed data

Code Standards

This plugin follows WordPress coding standards and best practices:

* PSR-4 autoloading structure

* WordPress database abstraction layer

* Internationalization ready

* WP_List_Table implementation

* Standard WordPress admin UI patterns