meta_query displays all results and none, my query is wrong

Question

I´ve read almost this articles but unfortunately my query is no working, I think i´m very close but could be so far away.

I´m trying to get metadata using a custom form with method get,

$rob = $_GET['rob'];  
$bedrooms = $_GET['beds'];  
$bathrooms = $_GET['baths'];  

the array is:

$args = array(
    'meta_query' => array(
        array(
            'key' => 'beds_value',
            'value' => '$bedrooms',
            'compare' => 'LIKE'
        ),
        array(
            'key' => 'baths_value',
            'value' => '$bathrooms',
            'compare' => 'LIKE'
        ),
        array(
            'key' => 'rob_value',
            'value' => '$rob',
            'compare' => 'LIKE'
        ),          
    ),
);
    
$args = array_merge( $args , $wp_query->query );
query_posts( $args );

depending on final query the results are diferent

this display none, seems to be this clean the query

$args = array_merge( $args , $wp_query->query );
query_posts( $args );

but if is used $query = new WP_Query( $args ); I get all results without any filter. but I can see the query data Ex 2 beds, 2 baths

Do I need to write something more?

Answer 1

I believe the problem is that you are using single quotes in passing values to query (e.g. 'value' => '$bedrooms'), but this way the variables are not expanded (see http://php.net/manual/en/language.types.string.php). Simply use 'value' => $bedrooms.