WP_Query uses WP_Meta_Query and so I assumed (and thought I understood through research) that it calls the WP_Meta_Query::get_sql() to build the meta query SQL.

Inside WP_Meta_Query::get_sql() is where it applies the filter: get_meta_sql

I can't get this to fire.

I thought it would fire with $var = new WP_Query($args); but it isn't. I need to alter the sql before it is run. A lot of sources specify this hook. I can't get it to work.

The actual code is long/complicated, I can't even get it to fire with dummy code in a blank plugin. Just trying to figure out why this hook won't fire where I'm expecting it to.

Alternatively - any suggestions on how to alter the WP_Query sql before it's run is appreciated.

I'm referencing:

• https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/hooks/get_meta_sql/
• https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/wp_query/
• https://weplugins.com/wordpress/how-to-use-get_meta_sql-filter-in-wordpress/
• Query to get result by Title or Meta along with tax_query parameter
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43734845/how-to-give-or-relation-in-tax-query-and-meta-query-wordpress