rewrite rules - What is the `rewrite_rules` option the options table in the WordPress database?

I'm troubleshooting an issue with permalinks. As part of my troubleshooting, I discovered that this row in the table wp_options is changing:

+-----------+---------------+----------------+----------+
| option_id | option_name   | option_value   | autoload |
+-----------+---------------+----------------+----------+
|   1725617 | rewrite_rules | a:323:{...}    | yes      |
+-----------+---------------+----------------+----------+

(I put ... in the value of the third field for brevity.)

What does the rewrite_rules option do? When is it used? How is it modified? What could modify it? Is there any documentation for this option? I haven't found documentation for it, yet.

I'm troubleshooting an issue with permalinks. As part of my troubleshooting, I discovered that this row in the table wp_options is changing:

+-----------+---------------+----------------+----------+
| option_id | option_name   | option_value   | autoload |
+-----------+---------------+----------------+----------+
|   1725617 | rewrite_rules | a:323:{...}    | yes      |
+-----------+---------------+----------------+----------+

(I put ... in the value of the third field for brevity.)

What does the rewrite_rules option do? When is it used? How is it modified? What could modify it? Is there any documentation for this option? I haven't found documentation for it, yet.

• rewrite-rules

Share Improve this question asked Dec 24, 2022 at 15:02 FlimmFlimm 71077 silver badges2525 bronze badges

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2 Answers 2

Sorted by: Reset to default 1

I found some documentation here. It looks like this is accessed when saving the permalink settings under Settings->Permalinks. It looks like this works in conjunction with the rules stored in .htaccess.

In WP Platform , the rewrite_rules option in the database perform important role in handling permalink structures and generating rewrite rules for WP URLs

rewrite_rules option stores an array of rewrite rules used by WordPress to parse incoming requests and determine what action to take based on the URL structure.

plugins and themes can also modify rewrite rules programmatically using functions like add_rewrite_rule() and flush_rewrite_rules()

Changing the permalink structure in WordPress settings.

Activating, deactivating, or updating plugins/themes that register custom rewrite rules.

Programmatically adding or removing rewrite rules in plugin or theme code