WordPress remains one of the largest content management systems from around the world–and for good reasons. With over 455 million websites using WordPress, it remains a favorite for web developers, designers, marketers, and business owners. The good thing is that its outstanding features are in plain sight. From its massive responsiveness to easy usability, WordPress is easy to set up and scale. Whether it is a small blog site, portfolio, booking website or large CMS, or eCommerce platform, WordPress got you covered.
To increase its efficiency and boost security, several upgrades come to WordPress from time to time. The latest of such updates is the WordPress 5.8 Tatum. Named after Art Tatum- the famous Jazz pianist- WordPress claims this is its "greatest release." At least, for now. Soon, we would find out why. This article is a review of WordPress 5.8. It contains all the changes that are coming to WordPress from aesthetics, performance, and security. Let's dive in.
WordPress 5.8 TATUM Features
An update to the template editor
WordPress aims at creating a site-wide editing system with the block editor. Hence, the introduction of its new template editor. With this feature, users can create a template on their WordPress website when an edit to a page or post takes place. However, editing a template is a theme-dependent feature. This simply means that only supported themes allow users to access the feature. Despite its ability to add blocks across the website, the new template editor maintains the appearance and style of your present WordPress theme.
To set up, click on the 'new' button and give your template a title for easy identification. WordPress automatically switches to the editor mode to give access to non-content areas, letting users insert blocks in the new template.
The new template editor features several new blocks to enhance performance and improve the design. These include: Site title, tagline, and logo; Post title, content, excerpt, date, tags, categories, featured image; page list; query loop; as well as login and log-out blocks.
Media Library
If there is a change that will affect every WordPress user, it is the new adjustment to the Media Library. In times past, users can scroll infinitely through their media library as they seek older files. The WordPress Tatum introduces a 'load more' button in the grid view, thereby letting users view a limited number of media files at a time.
Another change coming with this update is the ability for users to copy the URL of the media file when loading directly from the 'Media>Add New' directory. In the past, it required manual copying of the image URL after manually editing the image. The 5.8 Tatum introduces a 'copy URL to clipboard' button after a media upload for the site-wide use of the file.
Block Editor
The block editor helps in creating and editing content. And as such, it is easy to see why most users spend more time in this WordPress section than others.
As with other sections a tremendous improvement has come to the WordPress block editor. These areas include:
Duotone Filters
Media blocks and images have new duotone filters to improve the appearance of galleries, cover images, and image blocks. WordPress 5.8 has some custom duotone presets, and it allows users to customize their preferred colors.
List View Improvement
Now, users can get an improved list preview of the elements on their page in the appropriate order. This WordPress 5.8 addition eases navigation on complex posts and page layouts.
The Query Loop
The query loop allows for the display lists of several posts, products, or pages inside a post or page.
In earlier WordPress versions, you'd have required a plugin to access such a feature but with the query loop, you don't have to use one. Hence, making your website leaner.
To access the feature, add the query loop block to the preferred page or post. It has several layouts for customizations and to blend with the site's theme.
Block Enhancement
These are some of the extra features coming to the post and page blocks. Now, users can choose the link, background, and text colors. Added to this is the spacing control of the blocks, cover, and column.
Another block enhancement coming to this update is the gradient background color that is available for tables.
Select tool
An improvement to the select tool comes with this latest WordPress version as users can now highlight blocks with a block handle. This ensures better and easier block positioning.
Pattern Recommendation
Users will get suggested block patterns in the block editor in this WordPress update. Here, WordPress will recommend patterns using the block as they have made some available for use. Meanwhile, there is ongoing work to link suggested patterns with WordPress' pattern directory.
Nested Parent blocks
WordPress 5.8 introduces a parent block button that makes selecting parent blocks easier when compared to earlier versions.
Development changes
The latest WordPress update is also bringing additional features to improve the way developers interact with the CMS. Such improvements are noticeable when creating plugins, themes, and projects in the WordPress framework.
For instance, theme.json–a new file- allows developers of WordPress themes to configure block settings, add presets, define controls, and appearance schemes, all in one place. This same file allows theme creators to set global content width and layouts.
Email messages for WordPress recovery mode when mails can go through; context-aware filters running on the API's block editor; and a preference for block.json metadata file when registering block files; are just some of the changes that developers can explore when building themes and plugins.
Widget Editor
WordPress 5.8 brings a different look and feel to the 'widget' dashboard. Thanks to the new block-based dashboard, users can now have a unique experience. Now, each widget appears as a tab, allowing them to be added as blocks.
Although the interface might be strange to some persons, the block-based widget dashboard gives more control as it creates more engagements. Users can add colors, group widgets into blocks, insert buttons, and more in the widgets section. Simply put, this feature allows for the editing of widgets in a similar interface as posts. You can still use any of the old widgets when you add the legacy widget block to the sidebar in view.
Not all users are comfortable with the new widget block interface. Not to worry, like everything WordPress, there's a plugin to fix that. A simple install and activation of the 'Classic Widget' plugin restore the old widget interface on the website.
WebP Images
There was a time when users had to use several techniques to feature WebP images on their websites. This image format reduces file size without leveraging the picture quality. And this implies faster loading time, enhanced performances, and reduced bounce rate.
The 5.8 Tatum allows for the upload of WebP image format with no extra plugin or trick. If your audience base consists of persons using older browsers that do not support WebP images, you can opt for an image compression plugin. Such plugins convert your images into WebP formats but still feature them as PNG and JPGs when the device or browser does not support WebP.
Wrapping Up
The 5.8 Tatum - WordPress' major release in 2021 is adding creativity and functionality to your websites. It is easy to see why many professionals believe this update reduces the need for page builders. It features improvements to the existing block editor, widget interface, media files, and developer tools to make WordPress a more stand-alone and robust CMS.
Regardless of your stance and purpose in using WordPress, it is really up to you to decide whether you use addons and plugins to develop your website. However, there is this independence attached to this latest WordPress update. This review of WordPress 5.8 Update is sure to help you understand the latest changes coming to arguably the most used web management system in the world. As it brings you to speed, you can make the most of the changes coming to your website.
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