What role does the 'meta_query' function play in the PHP code provided?

The 'meta_query' function in the PHP code provided is used to query posts based on specific meta key and value pairs. It allows for more advanced filtering of posts based on custom field values. To solve the issue of querying posts with specific meta key and value pairs, the 'meta_query' function is essential.

$args = array(
    'post_type' => 'post',
    'meta_query' => array(
        array(
            'key' => 'custom_field_key',
            'value' => 'custom_field_value',
            'compare' => '='
        )
    )
);

$query = new WP_Query($args);

if($query->have_posts()) {
    while($query->have_posts()) {
        $query->the_post();
        // Output post content
    }
    wp_reset_postdata();
}