WordPress.DB.SlowDBQuery.slow_db_query_meta_key
slow db query meta key
A query pattern is likely to be slow on larger WordPress sites.
Why It Shows Up
The scan found query arguments such as broad meta queries, tax queries, or unindexed lookups that commonly become expensive as content grows.
Why It Matters
A query that feels fine on a small test site can become a production bottleneck on large stores, membership sites, or publishers.
How to Fix
- Avoid broad `meta_query`, `tax_query`, and unindexed searches on front-end requests when possible.
- Cache expensive results with transients, object cache, or precomputed data.
- Add narrower constraints, pagination, and indexes when custom tables are appropriate.
References
Affected Plugins
| Rank | Plugin | Score | Errors | Warnings | Installs | Added | Updated | Top Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1251 | HivePress Authentication | 98 | 1 | 5 | 1k+ | Missing Version | ||
| #1252 | HTML Page Sitemap (Block and Shortcode) | 98 | 3 | 4 | 10k+ | wp function not compatible with requires wp | ||
| #1253 | WP Customer Reviews | 98 | 11 | 20k+ | slow db query meta query | |||
| #1254 | Easy Actions Scheduler Cleaner | 99 | 2 | 3 | 700 | wp function not compatible with requires wp | ||
| #1255 | WP Taxonomy Order | 99 | 6 | 1k+ | trademarked term |
