search for custom post on AJAX response in WORDPRESS

I search for a post with certain $value in posts of custom post type with custom field in AJAX response. Custom field is provided by ACF plugin. When button is clicked then AJAX request is send and posts are searched through. If custom_field of a post equals $value then I get id of that post if $value doesn't exist in any of custom posts then post is created and I get id of newly created post. Every post of custom_post contains custom_field. When I refresh page it works and post is not created for second time after second click. Otherwise the another click doesn't find a post so it is created again. I don't know why refresh helps.

$value

custom_field

$value

id

$value

id

custom_post

custom_field

In content-page.php I call a function from my functions.php that generates links with:

content-page.php

functions.php

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
jQuery( "body" ).click(function( event ) {
var clicked = jQuery(event.target).prop("tagName");
if (clicked == "BUTTON"){
...
$.ajax({
... // here are created links


I send AJAX request when link got clicked with:

$.ajax({ // this is response for clicked link
url: example_ajax_obj.ajaxurl,
data: {
...
},
success:
...


It works - the request is processed and I got response data back. I use following function defined in functions.php for a search:

functions.php

function searchForPost($value){
$args=array(
'post_type' => 'custom_post',
'meta_query' => array (
array (
'key' => 'custom_field',
'value' => $value,
)
)
);
$id = 0; //I use 0 later on as indicator of 'post not found'
$post = new WP_Query( $args );

if ( $post->have_posts() ) {
while ( $post->have_posts() ) {
$post->the_post();
$id = $post->post->ID ;
}
wp_reset_postdata();
}
return $id;
}


If post with certain value doesn't exist then it is created - it works (as 0 is default value).
When I click link another time, search doesn't find a post so it is created again.

AJAX response function is also in functions.php.

functions.php

Are you looking for a collection of posts or just one? Your code and some of your language makes it seem like you only want one post. I would recommend removing the ajax aspect temporarily and do some var_dumps to see what posts you do find and what value you search for
– Orlando P.
18 mins ago

I want to search for $value in all posts of custom_type. Every post of custom_type contains custom_field field. In the end I don't want $value duplicates.
– otakon
6 mins ago

$value

custom_type

custom_type

custom_field

$value

give me an example what is the actual value you are searching for, what is the name of the custom_post_type and what is the name of the custom_field? Also so I am clear you only one want to return one result.
– Orlando P.
1 min ago

value

custom_post_type

custom_field

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