WordPress 5.5 is the second major release of this year. It expected to release on 11 August 2020. Many new super cool features and changes are coming with this release. Like automatic updates for plugins and themes, a block directory, XML sitemaps, lazy loading images, update Gutenberg to the latest release version, and as well as much more. In this blog, we will discuss what’s coming in the new WordPress 5.5 with screenshots.
1. New UI improvements in Block Editor
It has come with cool UI improvements to the block editor. It is a unique editing experience like a page builder gives. You will see all widgets and elements are available in the left sidebar now.
Device Previews
The device previews help to design for mobile, tablet, and as well as desktop devices.
Inline Image Editing
One of the smaller but useful updates in inline image editing is WordPress 5.5. Now, we can adjust the scale, crop, rotate, and resize pictures from the toolbar. It will seem when you press on the image block to edit it. You will make these changes without leaving the block editor.
I always think of getting these changes to a photo editor like Photoshop, but for those last-minute changes. It’s a huge help in streamlining the process.
Block Patterns
The block patterns are now a new block editor. It’s a block group. It is set up by default and ready to use. Use of the block patterns, click the plus icon in the top left side of the menu bar and select Block Patterns. Now, you can only choose block patterns and insert them into your post or blog. It will make it much easier to add more complex parts to your posts and pages.
Streamlined Block Navigation
Using these features, you can make it easier to move blocks around inside the content editor. You can press on the block handle and drag it up and down. Plus, you can also choose the parent block in the nested blocks, such as a group or column block.
The New Block Directory
This update brings the new directory to life. These are just WordPress plugins. That adds new blocks to the block editor, and as well as hundreds of new blocks are already available.
The block directory also included in the ‘Add New Block’ search. You can search for a feature, and if no block matches your search, it will automatically display matching results from the block directory. The list of the blocks contains individual blocks. It does not have block library plugins that ship multiple helpful blocks that you can install.
Background Block Colors
These features allow the background and shading to change the website design experience. It applies the background colors to blocks, groups, columns, media, and as well as text.
Subscript and Superscript Options
Formatting options for subscript and superscript text, It is now possible to do so via rich-text controls.
Parent Block Selection
A brand new toolbar button will now display when you hover over the left side of the block toolbar. It allows you to choose parent blocks in nested contexts.
2. Auto Update Features for WordPress Plugins and Themes
Auto-updates are one of the great features. This feature allows you to enable automatic updates to plugins and themes through the admin dashboard. You can go to the plugins page and click the ‘Enable Auto-Updated’ tab next to the plugin that you’d like to update automatically.
You can also allow auto-updates for themes. Go to the Appearance » Themes tab, and then click the ‘Enable Auto-Updates’ button.
3. XML Sitemaps
The XML sitemap is one of the best features in WordPress 5.5. It is a list of the contents of the website in XML format. The sitemaps are a vital part of search engine optimization to creating content on your site. Plus, it will improve the visibility of the website and increase the results. The default sitemap feature can support all post types, categories, tags, custom taxonomies, and author archives.
4. Lazy Loading of Images
Compare to the plain text Images, take more time to download and as well as increase the page load times. If you can optimize your web images, then it will improve your website speed and performance. The best optimization methods are lazy load images. In these methods, you can only download images that are available on the browser screen of the user. Many images downloaded as the user scrolls through your website.
This feature can be ready in WordPress 5.5 by all users. All the images will be lazy-loaded without any coding by default. WordPress can add to the image elements in the loading attribute, which is held in all major browsers aside from Safari.
5. Update Themes and Plugins with a Zip File
If you want to upgrade the themes or plugins, the auto-update features do not work. WordPress 5.5 comes with great features to solve this type of issue. Now, you can update a theme or plugin zip file manually. You can go ahead and upload the zip file, WordPress will automatically detect the plugin or theme and give you the option ‘Replace current with uploaded.
Conclusion
I hope this blog helped you a lot with understanding what’s coming in the new WordPress 5.5. If you have any queries about the update then, you can freely contact us.
