the_posts Hook in WPFTS

The the_posts hook in WordPress is a filter that allows modification of the list of posts retrieved by a WP_Query request before they are displayed on the page. WPFTS utilizes this hook to clean up session data associated with the search query, as well as to clear temporary tables used for relevance calculation.

What WPFTS does when the_posts is called:

1. Recording Query Statistics: WPFTS records the query end time, memory used, and the number of posts found in the $wpq->wpftsi_session. This information is then used for query logging.

2. Calling the WPFTS_QueryLog::FinishSearch() method: This method writes the final query statistics to the database.

3. Clearing the Temporary Table: If a temporary table wpftsi_tp was used for relevance calculation, WPFTS removes entries related to the current query, as well as outdated entries. If a temporary table created within the query itself (wpftsi_trel) was used, no cleanup is performed.

4. Clearing the Session: WPFTS clears the $wpq->wpftsi_session, removing data associated with the current search query. This is done to free up memory and prevent conflicts with subsequent queries.

Important Functions Involved in the_posts Processing:

• WPFTS_Search::index_the_posts()

• WPFTS_QueryLog::FinishSearch()

• WPFTS_DB::query() (for clearing the temporary table)

How to Use This in Addon Development:

Addon developers interacting with WPFTS should understand that the plugin performs data cleanup in the the_posts hook. If your addon also uses this hook, ensure your logic doesn’t conflict with WPFTS logic.

Additional Notes:

• The the_posts hook is called after WP_Query has executed the query and retrieved the results.

• WPFTS uses this hook as a point for cleaning up session data and temporary tables.

• Clearing temporary tables is necessary to prevent database overflow and maintain performance.