Database Integration

Understanding how AI Section Builder stores and manages data helps you make informed decisions about backups, migrations, and site management. This guide explains the database structure and provides practical information for site administrators and developers.

Database Storage Overview

WordPress-Standard Data Storage

AI Section Builder follows WordPress best practices for data storage:

Custom fields (postmeta) for all section content
Options table for global settings and configuration
No custom database tables - everything uses standard WordPress structures
Full compatibility with WordPress backup and migration tools

Why This Approach Matters

Benefits of WordPress-standard storage:

Reliable backups with any WordPress backup plugin
Easy migrations using standard WordPress tools
No database corruption risks from custom tables
Future-proof design that works with WordPress updates
Developer-friendly integration with other plugins

Section Data Structure

Page-Level Storage

Each page with AI sections stores:

Post Meta Key: _aisb_sections
Data Structure:
[
  {
    "id": "unique-section-id",
    "type": "hero",
    "content": {
      "eyebrow_heading": "Welcome",
      "heading": "Your Main Headline",
      "content": "<p>Your description content</p>",
      "buttons": [
        {
          "text": "Get Started",
          "url": "/contact",
          "style": "primary"
        }
      ],
      "theme_variant": "light"
    }
  },
  {
    "id": "another-section-id", 
    "type": "features",
    "content": {
      // Features section data
    }
  }
]

Additional meta fields:

_aisb_has_sections: Boolean flag for quick page identification
_aisb_last_modified: Timestamp of last section update
_aisb_version: Plugin version when sections were last saved

Global Settings Storage

Options table entries:

Option Name: aisb_global_settings
Data Structure:
{
  "primary_color": "#3b82f6",
  "text_color": "#1f2937",
  "background_color": "#ffffff",
  "heading_font": "Open Sans",
  "body_font": "Open Sans",
  "smart_accessibility_colors": true,
  // Additional global settings
}

Other plugin options:

aisb_plugin_version: Current plugin version
aisb_user_preferences: User-specific editor settings
aisb_ai_settings: OpenAI API configuration (if configured)

Data Volume and Performance

Typical Storage Requirements

Per page with sections:

Simple page (3-5 sections): 5-15 KB
Moderate page (6-10 sections): 15-35 KB
Complex page (11-15+ sections): 35-75 KB
Very efficient compared to traditional page builders

For comparison:

WordPress post content: Usually 2-20 KB
AI Section Builder sections: Similar size to rich content
Total overhead: Minimal impact on database size

Performance Optimization

Efficient data handling:

Single database query retrieves all page sections
Lazy loading for edit interface components
Minimal queries for page rendering
Caching-friendly data structure

Database query optimization:

-- Single query gets all section data for a page
SELECT meta_value FROM wp_postmeta 
WHERE post_id = 123 AND meta_key = '_aisb_sections'

-- Very efficient compared to multiple row queries

Backup and Recovery

What Gets Backed Up

Standard WordPress backups include:

All section content (stored in postmeta table)
Global settings (stored in options table)
User preferences (stored in options table)
Plugin configuration (stored in options table)

Backup Verification

Check your backup includes:

Database tables: wp_postmeta and wp_options
Plugin files: The AI Section Builder plugin directory
Global settings: Can be verified in WordPress admin
Section content: Visible in page editor after restore

Manual Backup Commands

For direct database access:

-- Export all AI Section Builder data
SELECT * FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key LIKE '_aisb_%';
SELECT * FROM wp_options WHERE option_name LIKE 'aisb_%';

-- Count pages with sections
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key = '_aisb_has_sections';

Migration Strategies

Standard WordPress Migration

Using WordPress export/import:

WordPress admin → Tools → Export
Select "All content" or specific pages with sections
Download export file (.xml format)
On new site: Tools → Import → WordPress
Upload and run the import process

What transfers automatically:

All section content and configuration
Page layouts and section arrangements
Individual section settings and content
Custom field associations

What needs manual setup:

Plugin installation and activation
Global settings (colors, fonts, etc.)
OpenAI API configuration (if used)
User preferences and editor settings

Database-Level Migration

For developers and advanced users:

-- Export section data from source site
mysqldump -u username -p database_name wp_postmeta wp_options > backup.sql

-- Import to destination site (after installing plugin)
mysql -u username -p destination_database < backup.sql

Post-migration checklist:

Large Site Migration

For sites with many pages:

Use professional migration tools (WP Engine, Kinsta, etc.)
Migrate in batches if database is very large
Test with staging site before live migration
Verify section functionality after migration
Update any hardcoded URLs in section content

Database Maintenance

Regular Maintenance Tasks

Recommended monthly:

Backup verification: Ensure backups include section data
Database optimization: Use tools like WP-Optimize
Cleanup unused revisions: Remove old page revisions
Monitor database size: Track growth over time

Automated maintenance:

Set up automated backups that include custom fields
Use plugins like WP-Optimize for automatic cleanup
Monitor site performance for database-related slowdowns
Keep WordPress and plugins updated

Data Cleanup

Removing unused sections:

Deleting pages automatically removes associated section data
WordPress cleanup plugins can remove orphaned custom fields
Old revision data is automatically managed by WordPress
No manual database cleanup typically required

Database optimization queries:

-- Find pages with sections
SELECT p.ID, p.post_title 
FROM wp_posts p
JOIN wp_postmeta pm ON p.ID = pm.post_id
WHERE pm.meta_key = '_aisb_has_sections' AND pm.meta_value = '1';

-- Check section data size
SELECT LENGTH(meta_value) as size_bytes, post_id
FROM wp_postmeta 
WHERE meta_key = '_aisb_sections'
ORDER BY size_bytes DESC;

Security Considerations

Data Protection

AI Section Builder implements:

Input sanitization before database storage
Capability checks before data modification
WordPress nonces for form security
SQL injection prevention through WordPress APIs

Security best practices:

Keep WordPress and plugins updated
Use strong database passwords
Limit database access to necessary users
Regular security scans and monitoring

Access Control

Database access levels:

Administrators: Full access to all section data
Editors: Can edit section content on pages they can edit
Authors: Limited to their own pages
Custom roles: Can be configured with capability-based access

Troubleshooting Database Issues

Common Problems

Sections not saving:

Check user permissions for editing posts and custom fields
Verify database connectivity and table integrity
Check server memory limits for large section configurations
Look for plugin conflicts affecting custom field saving

Data corruption or loss:

Restore from recent backup if available
Check WordPress revision system for recoverable content
Verify database table integrity with hosting provider
Contact support with specific error details

Performance issues:

Monitor database query performance with plugins like Query Monitor
Check for slow queries related to custom fields
Optimize database tables with maintenance plugins
Review server resources and hosting performance

Diagnostic Queries

Check section data integrity:

-- Verify section data structure
SELECT post_id, LENGTH(meta_value) as data_size
FROM wp_postmeta 
WHERE meta_key = '_aisb_sections' 
AND meta_value NOT LIKE '[%' -- Find malformed JSON

Performance monitoring:

-- Find largest section configurations
SELECT p.post_title, pm.post_id, LENGTH(pm.meta_value) as size
FROM wp_postmeta pm
JOIN wp_posts p ON pm.post_id = p.ID
WHERE pm.meta_key = '_aisb_sections'
ORDER BY size DESC
LIMIT 10;

Developer Integration

Custom Data Access

Reading section data:

// Get all sections for a page
$sections = get_post_meta($post_id, '_aisb_sections', true);

// Check if page has sections
$has_sections = get_post_meta($post_id, '_aisb_has_sections', true);

// Get specific section by type
function get_sections_by_type($post_id, $type) {
    $sections = get_post_meta($post_id, '_aisb_sections', true);
    if (!is_array($sections)) return [];
    
    return array_filter($sections, function($section) use ($type) {
        return $section['type'] === $type;
    });
}

Modifying section data:

// Add custom data to sections before saving
add_filter('aisb_before_save_sections', function($sections, $post_id) {
    foreach ($sections as &$section) {
        $section['custom_timestamp'] = current_time('timestamp');
    }
    return $sections;
}, 10, 2);

Database Hooks

Available WordPress hooks:

// Before section data is saved
do_action('aisb_before_save_sections', $sections, $post_id);

// After section data is saved  
do_action('aisb_after_save_sections', $sections, $post_id);

// Filter section data before rendering
apply_filters('aisb_render_section_data', $section_data, $section_type);

Monitoring and Analytics

Usage Tracking

Monitor section usage:

-- Count pages using AI Section Builder
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT post_id) as pages_with_sections
FROM wp_postmeta 
WHERE meta_key = '_aisb_has_sections' AND meta_value = '1';

-- Most popular section types
SELECT 
  JSON_EXTRACT(meta_value, '$[*].type') as section_types,
  COUNT(*) as usage_count
FROM wp_postmeta 
WHERE meta_key = '_aisb_sections'
GROUP BY section_types;

Performance Monitoring

Track database performance:

Monitor query times for pages with many sections
Watch for slow queries in hosting control panels
Use performance plugins to track database impact
Monitor overall site speed and user experience

Next Steps

Now that you understand database integration:

Review your current backup strategy to ensure section data is protected
Learn about Performance Optimization for faster loading
Explore Advanced Features for enhanced functionality
Consider your migration strategy if planning site moves

Need More Help?

Review Custom Fields Integration for WordPress-level data management
Check Working with Themes for integration context
Contact hosting provider for database-specific questions
Read FAQ for common database questions

Remember: AI Section Builder's WordPress-standard database integration ensures your content is secure, portable, and future-proof while providing excellent performance and compatibility!

Database Integration

Database Storage Overview​

WordPress-Standard Data Storage​

Why This Approach Matters​

Section Data Structure​

Page-Level Storage​

Global Settings Storage​

Data Volume and Performance​

Typical Storage Requirements​

Performance Optimization​

Backup and Recovery​

What Gets Backed Up​

Backup Verification​

Manual Backup Commands​

Migration Strategies​

Standard WordPress Migration​

Database-Level Migration​

Large Site Migration​

Database Maintenance​

Regular Maintenance Tasks​

Data Cleanup​

Security Considerations​

Data Protection​

Access Control​

Troubleshooting Database Issues​

Common Problems​

Diagnostic Queries​

Developer Integration​

Custom Data Access​

Database Hooks​

Monitoring and Analytics​

Usage Tracking​

Performance Monitoring​

Next Steps​

Need More Help?​