Great news! The popular CMS, WordPress, has released an update. Let’s explore what’s new in the latest version.

Before downloading the update, we suggest that you do a full back up of your site and especially your database! We explained this in an earlier article here.

In every version of WP (WordPress), the development team concentrates on the block editor and any system flaws or failures.

Here are the highlights :

• More ways to liven up articles and pages with images and better visuals
• More ways to attract and keep visitors thanks to the richness of the media integration
• More ways to realize the vision for your website with the updated UI (user interface) to create and edit new blocks where you need it, even if you’re new at it
• A more efficient process with drag and drop, easier to use menu bars, and options
• An all-round faster interface, whether you’ve built whole new pages, sections or galleries, or simply edited a line of text, you will notice the speed the changes are integrated into your live site.

What’s new in block editing

• Two new blocks have been added: Social media links and buttons to easily and quickly add interactive functions
• New ways to use and add color! Added grading possibilities, choices in text colors, column background colors; so many ways to enrich your text, sections, and column’s!
• WP 5.4 has streamlined the entire media placement and replacement within each block
• Ever thought that the image in the Media+Text block should link to something else? Say an image of a brochure should click to download as well? This is now possible to embed a pdf! A new user-friendly, clear, and keyboard shortcut friendly UI (user interface)
• Navigation and selection within each block are more visual making it so much easier to know where and what you are editing
• Easier keyboard navigation
• The editor loads 14% faster and the input waiting time is 51% shorter
• The tips and tricks are gone, but in their place is a new window that opens with help, if you need it
• With a quick look, you will know if you’re in block editor or navigation mode. For those with limited vision, your reader will be able to easily let you know.

Add-ons for Developers

Two new actions will allow for menu personalisation and you won’t need the extension to do it.

On the admin screen on the menus page, the ‘wp_nav_menu_item_customs_fields’ action fires just before the move buttons of a nav menu item in the menu editor.

In the personalisation tool, the ‘wp_nav_menu_item_customs_fields_customize_template’ action fires at the end of the form-fields template for navigation menu items.

It’s best to double-check your code where these actions could replace any personalized coding and if you are worried about duplication, add a verification for the WP version.

There have been lots of new additions, improvements and updating in WP. The team at Techno24.net remain at your entire disposal if you need any help with your website updates.

Happy updating everyone!