meta_query evaluate “=“ returns nothing when it appears it ought to

Attempting to question primarily based on type submission. One choose on the shape is constructed with:

wp_dropdown_categories( 'title=specialty&taxonomy=specialties&orderby=title&show_option_none=Choose a Specialty&show_none_value=-1&chosen='.$p_specialty );

The specialty worth is then grabbed and an array created:

if (isset($_GET['specialty']) && !empty($_GET['specialty']) && $_GET['specialty'] > 0 ) {
    $specialty = true;
    ++$qs_count;
    $p_specialty = $_GET['specialty'];
    $p_specialty_array = array (
        'key' => 'specialties',
        'worth' => $p_specialty,
        'evaluate' => 'LIKE',
    );
    $term_specialty = get_term($p_specialty);
    $term_specialty = $term_specialty->title; 
}

$p_specialty_array is then utilized in:

$meta_query = array (
        'relation'      => 'AND',
        array (
            'q_last'        => array (
                'key'       => 'provider_name_last_name',
            ),
            'q_first'       => array (
                'key'       => 'provider_name_first_name',
            ),
            'evaluate'       => 'IN',
            $p_fname_array,
            $p_lname_array,
            $p_new_array,
            $p_gender_array,
            $p_clinic_array,
            $p_specialty_array,
        ),
    );

However this causes an issue as a result of the ID of 1 specialty is 20 and one other is 204. When the shape is submitted for specialty=20 utilizing evaluate=LIKE it returns posts the place specialty is both 20 or 204 (moderately than simply 20).

After I change the evaluate to “=“, nothing is returned although there are posts the place specialty=20.

I’ve additionally tried including value_field=‘slug’ to the wp_dropdown_categories, however can’t determine how one can make that work (it could work and I simply don’t know how one can write the array when utilizing the slug).

I would definitely favor a technique the place it solely will get “=“ values rather than “LIKE” to keep away from points like this, however can’t get it to work.

How do I make this work with evaluate "=", or one thing else, the place I get solely the specialty chosen?

Replace

I’ve tried the next only for kicks and all present empty outcomes:

if (isset($_GET['specialty']) && !empty($_GET['specialty']) && $_GET['specialty'] > 0 ) {
    $specialty = true;
    ++$qs_count;
    $p_specialty = $_GET['specialty'];
    $p_spec_minus = $p_specialty - 1;
    $p_specialty_plus = $p_specialty + 1;
    echo 'plus: '.$p_specialty_plus;
    $p_specialty_array = array (
        'key' => 'specialties',
        'worth' => array( $p_spec_minus, $p_specialty_plus),
        'evaluate' => 'BETWEEN',
    );
    $term_specialty = get_term($p_specialty);
    $term_specialty = $term_specialty->title;
}

On this subsequent one I attempted hardcoding the 20, however similar empty outcomes:

if (isset($_GET['specialty']) && !empty($_GET['specialty']) && $_GET['specialty'] > 0 ) {
    $specialty = true;
    ++$qs_count;
    $p_specialty = $_GET['specialty'];
    echo 'plus: '.$p_specialty_plus;
    $p_specialty_array = array (
        'key' => 'specialties',
        'worth' => '20',
        'evaluate' => '=',
    );
    $term_specialty = get_term($p_specialty);
    $term_specialty = $term_specialty->title;
}

I am very confused as to why this is not working.