Where Custom Checkout Field Data Is Stored (Order Meta Reference)

When a customer submits an order, Custom Checkout Fields for WooCommerce saves each field value into the order as order meta. This reference explains the WooCommerce order meta keys it writes, the consolidated data array it also keeps, and the helper functions for reading and updating that data in code.

The per-field meta key #

Each enabled field with a submitted value is stored under its own order meta key in this shape:

_<section>_<fields_id>_<field_number>

• section is the field’s Section: billing, shipping, account, or order.
• fields_id is the value of the Fields ID option (alg_wc_ccf_key), default alg_wc_checkout_field.
• field_number is the field index, starting at 1.

So the first field, left in the Billing section with the default Fields ID, is stored under:

_billing_alg_wc_checkout_field_1

For a field set to Duplicate per product, each duplicate adds a suffix to the key so the copies do not collide.

The consolidated data array #

Alongside the individual keys, the plugin stores one array under the meta key _alg_wc_ccf_data. This array holds one entry per saved field, and it is what the order, email, and admin displays read from. Each entry includes:

Duplicate fields also carry _key_suffix and _label_suffix so each copy keeps its own key and label.

Helper functions #

Two functions give you safe access to the consolidated array. They work with both classic post-based orders and HPOS custom order tables, because they go through wc_get_order().

Read every custom field value on an order #

$fields = alg_wc_ccf_get_order_fields_data( $order_id );
if ( ! empty( $fields ) ) {
    foreach ( $fields as $field ) {
        $value = is_array( $field['_value'] ) ? implode( ', ', $field['_value'] ) : $field['_value'];
        echo esc_html( $field['label'] . ': ' . $value );
    }
}

Read a single value directly by its meta key #

$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );
$value = $order->get_meta( '_billing_alg_wc_checkout_field_1' );

Note: if you change the Fields ID option after orders exist, new orders use the new key while older orders keep the key they were saved with. Read historical orders through alg_wc_ccf_get_order_fields_data(), which carries each order’s original key in _value_meta_key.

Need a hand? #

Our team answers every ticket on the Custom Checkout Fields support forum.