Field Types

BuddyPress Profile Pro gives you 14 field types to capture the right kind of information for each profile field. When you add a field in the Field Settings tab, you pick its type from a dropdown. The type determines what the member sees on their profile form and how the data is stored and displayed.

The 14 Field Types

1. Textbox

A single-line text input. Use it for short, free-form answers: a job title, a company name, a username on another platform.

Members type a single line of text.
Stored as plain text in user meta.
In profile search, supports: contains, is, is like.

2. Textarea

A multi-line text area. Use it when the answer might be longer than a sentence: a bio excerpt, a work description, a short personal statement.

Members can write multiple lines.
Stored as plain text.
In profile search, supports: contains, is, is like.

A single-choice dropdown. You define the options when creating the field. Members pick exactly one.

Common uses: employment status, industry, department, preferred language.

You provide the list of options (one per line in the Field Options area).
Stored as the selected option string.
In profile search, supports: is (exact match only).

A pre-built dropdown that lists years. No option list to configure — the plugin generates the year range automatically.

Use it for start year, graduation year, or any other year-based answer. Often paired inside a repeater group alongside another year field (From Year / To Year).

Members pick a year from the list.
Stored as a four-digit year string.
In profile search, renders as a year select.

Two inputs side by side: a free-text box and a dropdown. The pair is stored together as a JSON-encoded pair ({"text":"…","dropdown_val":"…"}).

A practical example: a salary field where the member types a number and picks a currency from the dropdown.

You define the dropdown options for the second half.
In profile search, supports: match any (searches either the text or the dropdown value).

6. Google Place Autocomplete

A text input backed by the Google Places API. As the member types a location, the browser shows matching place suggestions. When they pick one, the full place name is stored.

This is the field type to use when you want reliable, consistent location data rather than free-form text.

Requirement: You must enter a valid Google API key on the General settings tab and click Verify before this field type works. Without a verified key, the field falls back to a plain text input.

Stored as the full place string returned by Google.
In profile search, renders as a text input with autocomplete if the API key is configured.
Supports: contains, is, is like.

See Google Places Autocomplete for how to add your API key.

7. Calendar

A date-picker input. Members click the field and a calendar widget opens so they can select a date.

Use it for birthdate (if you collect it), availability dates, or any field where a specific date matters.

Stored as the date string the member selected.
In profile search, renders as a calendar input. Supports: contains, is, is like, range.

8. Selectize (Multi-Select)

A multi-value select input with a search box, powered by the Selectize.js library. Members can pick more than one option from the list you define.

Good for skills, interests, languages spoken, or any category where multiple values make sense.

You define the options when creating the field.
Selected values are stored as a comma-separated string.
On the profile display, values are separated by |.
In profile search, supports: match any, match all.

9. Checkbox

A list of checkboxes. Members can tick one or more options from the list you define.

Similar to Selectize but displayed as a traditional checklist instead of a styled multi-select.

You define the options.
Checked values are stored together.
In profile search, supports: match any, match all.

10. Radio Button

A list of radio buttons. Members pick exactly one option from the list you define.

Use it instead of a dropdown when you want all choices visible on screen rather than hidden in a dropdown menu.

You define the options.
The selected value is stored as a string.
In profile search, supports: is (exact match).

11. Email

A text input that validates for email format.

The member enters an email address.
On the profile display it renders as a mailto: link.
In profile search, supports: contains, is, is like.

12. Phone Number

A text input for a phone number.

On the profile display it renders as a tel: link so mobile visitors can tap to call.
In profile search, supports: contains, is, is like.

13. URL

A text input for a web address.

On the profile display it renders as a clickable link that opens in a new tab.
In profile search, supports: contains, is, is like.

14. Image / File Upload

A file upload input. Members can upload an image or a document.

Accepted files:

Images: displayed inline at 150×150 px.
PDF, DOC/DOCX, XLS/XLSX, ZIP, CSV: displayed as a labelled download link with a matching file-type icon.

Files are uploaded to the WordPress media library and stored as attachment IDs in user meta.

Note: Image fields are excluded from profile search — you cannot filter members by an uploaded file.

Which Field Type to Pick

You want to capture	Use
Short free text (name, title)	Textbox
Longer free text (bio, description)	Textarea
One option from a fixed list	Select (Dropdown) or Radio Button
Multiple options from a fixed list	Selectize or Checkbox
A year	Year Dropdown
A specific date	Calendar
A location with autocomplete	Google Place Autocomplete
A number + a category (e.g. salary + currency)	Textbox and Dropdown Combination
An email address	Email
A phone number	Phone Number
A web address	URL
An uploaded image or document	Image/File Upload

Field Options (for choice-based types)

Select, Selectize, Checkbox, Radio Button, and Textbox-Dropdown all require you to provide a list of options. You add these when creating or editing a field:

Go to WB Plugins > Profile Pro > Field Settings.
Open the field you want to edit (click the cog icon).
In the Field Options row, click the + button to add each option.
Click the trash icon to remove an option.
Save.

The options you enter are exactly what members see in the dropdown, checklist, or radio group on their profile form.

Empty State

If no fields have been configured yet, the Extended Fields tab on member profiles shows:

“Please set profile fields from plugin settings.”

This message appears until at least one field is created and set to Display.