diff --git a/src/wp-includes/comment.php b/src/wp-includes/comment.php
index 2762b77593308..00bda2615d930 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/comment.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/comment.php
@@ -432,7 +432,13 @@ function get_comment_count( $post_id = 0 ) {
  *
  * @param int    $comment_id Comment ID.
  * @param string $meta_key   Metadata name.
- * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Must be serializable if non-scalar.
+ * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Arrays and objects are stored as serialized data and
+ *                           will be returned as the same type when retrieved. Other data types will
+ *                           be stored as strings in the database:
+ *                           - false is stored and retrieved as an empty string ('')
+ *                           - true is stored and retrieved as '1'
+ *                           - numbers (both integer and float) are stored and retrieved as strings
+ *                           Must be serializable if non-scalar.
  * @param bool   $unique     Optional. Whether the same key should not be added.
  *                           Default false.
  * @return int|false Meta ID on success, false on failure.
@@ -481,6 +487,11 @@ function delete_comment_meta( $comment_id, $meta_key, $meta_value = '' ) {
  *               False for an invalid `$comment_id` (non-numeric, zero, or negative value).
  *               An empty array if a valid but non-existing comment ID is passed and `$single` is false.
  *               An empty string if a valid but non-existing comment ID is passed and `$single` is true.
+ *               Note: Non-serialized values are returned as strings:
+ *               - false values are returned as empty strings ('')
+ *               - true values are returned as '1'
+ *               - numbers are returned as strings
+ *               Arrays and objects retain their original type.
  */
 function get_comment_meta( $comment_id, $key = '', $single = false ) {
 	return get_metadata( 'comment', $comment_id, $key, $single );
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/meta.php b/src/wp-includes/meta.php
index 6f6dd928e0498..4d8c49bfd11dd 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/meta.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/meta.php
@@ -23,7 +23,13 @@
  *                           or any other object type with an associated meta table.
  * @param int    $object_id  ID of the object metadata is for.
  * @param string $meta_key   Metadata key.
- * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Must be serializable if non-scalar.
+ * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Arrays and objects are stored as serialized data and
+ *                           will be returned as the same type when retrieved. Other data types will
+ *                           be stored as strings in the database:
+ *                           - false is stored and retrieved as an empty string ('')
+ *                           - true is stored and retrieved as '1'
+ *                           - numbers (both integer and float) are stored and retrieved as strings
+ *                           Must be serializable if non-scalar.
  * @param bool   $unique     Optional. Whether the specified metadata key should be unique for the object.
  *                           If true, and the object already has a value for the specified metadata key,
  *                           no change will be made. Default false.
@@ -570,6 +576,11 @@ function delete_metadata( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $meta_value = '', $
  *               or if `$meta_type` is not specified.
  *               An empty array if a valid but non-existing object ID is passed and `$single` is false.
  *               An empty string if a valid but non-existing object ID is passed and `$single` is true.
+ *               Note: Non-serialized values are returned as strings:
+ *               - false values are returned as empty strings ('')
+ *               - true values are returned as '1'
+ *               - numbers (both integer and float) are returned as strings
+ *               Arrays and objects retain their original type.
  */
 function get_metadata( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key = '', $single = false ) {
 	$value = get_metadata_raw( $meta_type, $object_id, $meta_key, $single );
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/ms-site.php b/src/wp-includes/ms-site.php
index b1d50940a245b..2a2b1474c5d61 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/ms-site.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/ms-site.php
@@ -1026,7 +1026,13 @@ function clean_blog_cache( $blog ) {
  *
  * @param int    $site_id    Site ID.
  * @param string $meta_key   Metadata name.
- * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Must be serializable if non-scalar.
+ * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Arrays and objects are stored as serialized data and
+ *                           will be returned as the same type when retrieved. Other data types will
+ *                           be stored as strings in the database:
+ *                           - false is stored and retrieved as an empty string ('')
+ *                           - true is stored and retrieved as '1'
+ *                           - numbers (both integer and float) are stored and retrieved as strings
+ *                           Must be serializable if non-scalar.
  * @param bool   $unique     Optional. Whether the same key should not be added.
  *                           Default false.
  * @return int|false Meta ID on success, false on failure.
@@ -1071,6 +1077,11 @@ function delete_site_meta( $site_id, $meta_key, $meta_value = '' ) {
  *               False for an invalid `$site_id` (non-numeric, zero, or negative value).
  *               An empty array if a valid but non-existing site ID is passed and `$single` is false.
  *               An empty string if a valid but non-existing site ID is passed and `$single` is true.
+ *               Note: Non-serialized values are returned as strings:
+ *               - false values are returned as empty strings ('')
+ *               - true values are returned as '1'
+ *               - numbers (both integer and float) are returned as strings
+ *               Arrays and objects retain their original type.
  */
 function get_site_meta( $site_id, $key = '', $single = false ) {
 	return get_metadata( 'blog', $site_id, $key, $single );
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/post.php b/src/wp-includes/post.php
index 98b9092f16f1f..009287916d7bb 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/post.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/post.php
@@ -2558,7 +2558,13 @@ function get_posts( $args = null ) {
  *
  * @param int    $post_id    Post ID.
  * @param string $meta_key   Metadata name.
- * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Must be serializable if non-scalar.
+ * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Arrays and objects are stored as serialized data and
+ *                           will be returned as the same type when retrieved. Other data types will
+ *                           be stored as strings in the database:
+ *                           - false is stored and retrieved as an empty string ('')
+ *                           - true is stored and retrieved as '1'
+ *                           - numbers (both integer and float) are stored and retrieved as strings
+ *                           Must be serializable if non-scalar.
  * @param bool   $unique     Optional. Whether the same key should not be added.
  *                           Default false.
  * @return int|false Meta ID on success, false on failure.
@@ -2615,6 +2621,11 @@ function delete_post_meta( $post_id, $meta_key, $meta_value = '' ) {
  *               False for an invalid `$post_id` (non-numeric, zero, or negative value).
  *               An empty array if a valid but non-existing post ID is passed and `$single` is false.
  *               An empty string if a valid but non-existing post ID is passed and `$single` is true.
+ *               Note: Non-serialized values are returned as strings:
+ *               - false values are returned as empty strings ('')
+ *               - true values are returned as '1'
+ *               - numbers (both integer and float) are returned as strings
+ *               Arrays and objects retain their original type.
  */
 function get_post_meta( $post_id, $key = '', $single = false ) {
 	return get_metadata( 'post', $post_id, $key, $single );
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php b/src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
index bebf55ec79bfa..1af1b5a76b70d 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
@@ -1386,7 +1386,13 @@ function get_terms( $args = array(), $deprecated = '' ) {
  *
  * @param int    $term_id    Term ID.
  * @param string $meta_key   Metadata name.
- * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Must be serializable if non-scalar.
+ * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Arrays and objects are stored as serialized data and
+ *                           will be returned as the same type when retrieved. Other data types will
+ *                           be stored as strings in the database:
+ *                           - false is stored and retrieved as an empty string ('')
+ *                           - true is stored and retrieved as '1'
+ *                           - numbers (both integer and float) are stored and retrieved as strings
+ *                           Must be serializable if non-scalar.
  * @param bool   $unique     Optional. Whether the same key should not be added.
  *                           Default false.
  * @return int|false|WP_Error Meta ID on success, false on failure.
@@ -1432,6 +1438,11 @@ function delete_term_meta( $term_id, $meta_key, $meta_value = '' ) {
  *               False for an invalid `$term_id` (non-numeric, zero, or negative value).
  *               An empty array if a valid but non-existing term ID is passed and `$single` is false.
  *               An empty string if a valid but non-existing term ID is passed and `$single` is true.
+ *               Note: Non-serialized values are returned as strings:
+ *               - false values are returned as empty strings ('')
+ *               - true values are returned as '1'
+ *               - numbers are returned as strings
+ *               Arrays and objects retain their original type.
  */
 function get_term_meta( $term_id, $key = '', $single = false ) {
 	return get_metadata( 'term', $term_id, $key, $single );
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/user.php b/src/wp-includes/user.php
index 635f82c5ed353..e4e6f5b652744 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/user.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/user.php
@@ -1151,7 +1151,13 @@ function is_user_member_of_blog( $user_id = 0, $blog_id = 0 ) {
  *
  * @param int    $user_id    User ID.
  * @param string $meta_key   Metadata name.
- * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Must be serializable if non-scalar.
+ * @param mixed  $meta_value Metadata value. Arrays and objects are stored as serialized data and
+ *                           will be returned as the same type when retrieved. Other data types will
+ *                           be stored as strings in the database:
+ *                           - false is stored and retrieved as an empty string ('')
+ *                           - true is stored and retrieved as '1'
+ *                           - numbers (both integer and float) are stored and retrieved as strings
+ *                           Must be serializable if non-scalar.
  * @param bool   $unique     Optional. Whether the same key should not be added.
  *                           Default false.
  * @return int|false Meta ID on success, false on failure.
@@ -1200,6 +1206,11 @@ function delete_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value = '' ) {
  *               False for an invalid `$user_id` (non-numeric, zero, or negative value).
  *               An empty array if a valid but non-existing user ID is passed and `$single` is false.
  *               An empty string if a valid but non-existing user ID is passed and `$single` is true.
+ *               Note: Non-serialized values are returned as strings:
+ *               - false values are returned as empty strings ('')
+ *               - true values are returned as '1'
+ *               - numbers (both integer and float) are returned as strings
+ *               Arrays and objects retain their original type.
  */
 function get_user_meta( $user_id, $key = '', $single = false ) {
 	return get_metadata( 'user', $user_id, $key, $single );