How to use determine_current_user filter in WordPress

determine_current_user filter

The default filters use this to determine the current user from the request’s cookies, if available.

To use determine_current_user filter, first you have to register it using add_filter. You can write this code into functions.php of your activated theme or in a custom WordPress Plugin.

We at WePlugins always prefer to create a custom WordPress Plugin while using hooks so nothing breaks when you update your WordPress Theme in the future.

In the below live example, we have defined a function weplugins_modify_determine_current_user_defaults which takes 1 parameter and we registered using add_filter. The first parameter determine_current_user is the name of the hook, the second parameter weplugins_modify_determine_current_user_defaults is the name of the function which needs to be called, the third parameter is the priority of calling the hook if the same hook is used multiple times, and the last parameter is the number of arguments (if any) to be passed in the registered function.

Sometimes, you have to remove a registered hook so you can use remove_filter to remove determine_current_user filter.

Parameters

Below, the 1 parameter is required to use this hook.

• $user_id : (int|false) User ID if one has been determined, false otherwise.

Live Example 1

Below is an example of how you can use this hook.

    function weplugins_modify_determine_current_user_defaults($user_id) { 
        // Update the $user_id variable according to your website requirements and return this variable. 
        // You can modify the $user_id variable conditionally too if you want.
        return $user_id; 
    }
    // add the filter
    add_filter( "determine_current_user", "weplugins_modify_determine_current_user_defaults", 10, 1 );
    

Live Example 2

Below is an example of how you can use this hook for a specific condition.

    function weplugins_modify_determine_current_user_for_admin($user_id) { 
        // Suppose we want to set a specific user ID for admin requests.
        if ( is_admin() ) {
            $user_id = 1; // Admin user ID
        }
        return $user_id; 
    }
    // add the filter
    add_filter( "determine_current_user", "weplugins_modify_determine_current_user_for_admin", 10, 1 );
    

Live Example 3

To remove a hook callback, use the example below.

    remove_filter( "determine_current_user", "weplugins_modify_determine_current_user_defaults", 10, 1 );
    

Please make sure to provide the same callback function name, priority, and number of arguments while removing the hook callback.