Sharing User Database Across Two WordPress Sites with Separate Databases

WordPress is a powerful content management system, and its multi-site capabilities allow for a shared user database across multiple sites. However, in some cases, you might want to have two WordPress sites with separate databases but share the user database. This article will explore an elegant solution to achieve this, ensuring a seamless user experience across both sites.

The Challenge and Why This Matters

Imagine you have a business where you want to manage multiple websites for different brands or products. Each website needs to have its own database to store specific content, such as products or categories, but you also want users from one site to be able to log in and interact with the other site. This is a common requirement for e-commerce platforms, membership sites, or portfolio websites.

Preliminary Solutions: Multi-Site and Custom Plugins

Option 1: Multi-Site Setup

One straightforward solution is to use WordPress's built-in multi-site feature. This feature allows you to manage multiple sites from a single installation and share the user database. However, this might not be the most elegant solution for all scenarios, especially if you have different branding or content management requirements for each site.

Option 2: Custom Plugin or Development

A more elegant approach involves custom development or using a plugin that allows for database synchronization and user management across multiple sites. While you might not have tried this with WordPress before, it is a solution that is gaining popularity and is likely to become more prevalent in the near future.

Elegant Solution: Using Custom Plugins or Development

As mentioned, there are plugins and custom solutions that can help you achieve the desired functionality. These solutions typically involve setting up separate databases for each site but sharing a user database. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Setup Separate WordPress Installations

Create separate WordPress installations for each site. Each installation will have its own database, allowing you to manage content and settings independently. However, both sites will reference a single user database.

Step 2: Configure the User Database

Ensure the user database is configured to allow users to access multiple sites. This can be achieved by setting up the database tables to include a site ID or domain-specific prefix for content.

Step 3: Implement Database Synchronization

Use a custom plugin or develop a custom solution to synchronize user data between the two databases. This can be done through hooks, cron jobs, or an API. The plugin or custom code should handle the following:

Establishing a communication mechanism between the two sites. Syncing user information, such as login details, roles, and custom fields. Handling user activity logs and notifications.

Step 4: Testing and Maintenance

Thoroughly test the solution to ensure that users can log in and interact seamlessly between both sites. Regular maintenance and updates are crucial to keep the system running smoothly and secure.

Conclusion

Sharing a user database across two WordPress sites with separate databases is a valuable solution for businesses with diverse branding or content management requirements. While the built-in multi-site feature provides a simple solution, custom plugins or development offer a more elegant approach. By implementing a custom solution, you can ensure a seamless user experience and centralized management of user information.

Given the increasing demand for such functionality, it's likely that more plugins and tools will emerge in the near future, making it easier to achieve this setup.