What is the random string I am seeing when I use get_query_var?

This is a symptom of having a % character in your meta query value. Since 4.8.3 % characters are being escaped (actually replaced by a semi random string) and should be unescaped before executing the sql query.

You should check with the plugin author what would be the best way to handle it, but in your specific case I would say that slight redesign to your code would be a better solution than any unescaping code. LIKE is an expensive operation better be avoided and based on your UI you can just make a strict compare of values instead.

Related Posts:

  1. ACF Relationship Field Search Filtering [closed]
  2. ACF datepicker meta_query Compare Dates in m/d/Y g:i a – Not in Ymd Format
  3. meta_query with array as value
  4. If two first numbers exist in wp_meta_query value
  5. WP_Query meta_query >= date
  6. ACF Date Based wp_query
  7. Custom query based on meta key – Reduce three states to two in results?
  8. Any number in meta key (wp query)
  9. WP_Query with meta_query dosen’t return results
  10. Custom query filter by ACF date custom field
  11. Order WP_Query by meta_key priority when ‘OR’ relation used for multiple meta values
  12. ACF: How to query for a given value count of an array like field? (e.g.: How many rows has a `flexible_content` field?)
  13. WP_Query, ACF field and array
  14. Pre get posts sort by meta key returns no results if meta key does not exist
  15. Slow wp_posts and wp_postmeta query using Advance Custom Fields
  16. Get posts meta_query by repater field
  17. How can I modify standard search query to include also ACF custom fields values?
  18. The sorting of posts by a meta_query with two keys fails while separated as single queries it works
  19. Get posts using multiple values from ACF checkbox as meta query wordpress
  20. How do I subquery with custom meta fields?
  21. Use value from meta key array for use in WP_Query
  22. How to use meta_query to retrieve posts from multiple custom post type
  23. WP_Query filtering in ACF field containing dates
  24. meta_query with meta values as serialize arrays
  25. Use REGEXP in WP_Query meta_query key
  26. How to Compare Two Meta Fields
  27. Is it possible to orderby multiple meta_keys when using meta_value_num?
  28. Getting attachments by meta value
  29. Using custom meta_query with relation not working as expected
  30. Nested query inside Logical operator OR not working in meta_query
  31. What is an efficient way to query based on post_meta?
  32. WP_Query not working as expected for attachments and custom meta_query
  33. WooCommerce: filter by parent product’s taxonomy and product variation’s meta data
  34. How to order a post type with meta_value_num and if meta_value_num does not exist then order by date
  35. How to query ‘posts_per_page’ to display a different blog posts index template?
  36. Order By Multiple Meta Fields
  37. Advanced WP Query hogs the SQL server
  38. How to get user_id from wordpress database inside ajax function?
  39. Can an array be used as a meta_query value?
  40. WP_Query with multiple meta fields filter?
  41. How to combine meta_query and post__in in WP_Query
  42. How to orderby meta_value_num with dollar ($) sign
  43. Multiple taxonomy And acf filter group by
  44. Meta Query Array Error 500
  45. How to do meta_query for attachments?
  46. SQL: What is wrong with the following query (generated by WordPress WP_Query, ordering prices)
  47. Why isn’t my `meta_query` array functioning properly?
  48. Overwrite YoastSEO meta-tags with another page’s [closed]
  49. How to orderby multiple meta fields if some fields are empty
  50. Suggestions on making this query/code more performant
  51. Is it possible to set specific posts to show first in a query?
  52. Order by meta value (numeric value lower to higher)
  53. Large AND OR query timing out
  54. WP_Query with different postmeta filter for each categories
  55. Slow WP_Query with ‘OR’ on meta_query
  56. wordpress ajax relationship query
  57. Query based on custom fields start and end date
  58. Query posts with “non set” meta value
  59. Ordering a mysql style datetime stamp with meta_query
  60. WP User Query with Custom Fields and Search Results
  61. Wp_query with 2 meta keys and array of meta values
  62. meta_query: check if number exists
  63. Event with multiple dates, display events chronologically
  64. WP_Query: apply an SQL function to meta fileld value
  65. WP Query / Meta Query [duplicate]
  66. Query posts by searching for a string in a meta field
  67. Query multiple post types, but different order for each
  68. How to add date_query to meta_query array
  69. Order by the first array within a meta_query
  70. Query ACF relationship field – Comparator IN – Value array
  71. Combine query in WP_User_Query()
  72. Nearby locations using Advanced custom fields, maps?
  73. Multiple nested meta queries
  74. How to _GET multiple value checkbox WP_Query in Custom Toxonomy / Custom Fields
  75. How can I modify the query by adding to the existing query?
  76. create custom shortcode wp and put php code in
  77. WordPress Query custom ordering by temporary variable
  78. Check for not NULL not working in meta query
  79. Comparing Meta Field date in WPQuery using Meta_Query?
  80. How to create better WP_Query to look for date time which is anywhere between two meta values?
  81. Query against multiple locations within single custom post type post
  82. Filtering WP_Query based on wp_postmeta keys values
  83. ACF query-pass field value
  84. Multiple meta_query not working
  85. compare for multiple meta values for same key in wp_query
  86. datetime picker, timestamps and meta queries
  87. WP_Query with meta_query won’t orderby
  88. meta_query only check if both value are set
  89. Wrap group of wp query posts to parent div by date/year
  90. Extending WP Query: Custom geolocation meta values work, but tax_query breaks
  91. Using custom field as ‘orderby’ value causing post grouping by publish date
  92. Wrote a WP Cron Plugin and it triggers a fatal error upon activation
  93. Get the type of an advanced custom field (ACF) in a WP_Query loop [closed]
  94. Looking for a way to exclude frontpage and nav menu from query filter
  95. Creating Custom Query
  96. Get posts by meta value except one post [closed]
  97. WP_Query by meta key not returning any posts
  98. WordPress extremely slow when using get_posts with multiple meta_query relations
  99. I want to place a post before all others from an ACF boleen field
  100. Include custom post type that matches taxonomy field in another custom post type