As of August 2024, the latest version of WordPress is 6.6, released in mid-July. This update, codenamed “Dorsey,” brings several exciting new features and enhancements aimed at improving both user experience and developer capabilities.
Key Updates in WordPress 6.6
- Enhanced Block Editor: The block editor, a central feature of WordPress, continues to receive updates. WordPress 6.6 adds new support options for various core blocks, including enhanced design tools like border, color, margin, and padding settings for elements like buttons, galleries, and headings. These updates offer more flexibility in customizing your site’s design directly within the editor.
- Offline Mode and PWA Support for Playground: The WordPress Playground now supports an offline mode, allowing users to continue working on their projects without an internet connection. Additionally, Playground can now be installed as a Progressive Web App (PWA), enabling quicker access from your device’s home screen.
- New DataForm API: A significant update for developers is the introduction of the DataForm API, which helps reduce duplicated form code, particularly within the Site Editor. This API simplifies form handling and data management, streamlining the development process.
- Background Image Enhancements: Version 6.6 introduces the ability to set background-attachment properties for blocks that support background images. This allows for more dynamic visual effects, such as fixed or scrolling backgrounds, enhancing the design possibilities of WordPress themes.
- Performance Improvements: This update also includes various performance enhancements, particularly focusing on block themes and the Gutenberg editor. These improvements aim to make WordPress faster and more efficient, particularly for sites using complex block layouts.
WordPress 6.6 also continues the trend of real-time collaboration features, enhanced post revisions, and improved performance across the board, which are part of a broader effort to make WordPress more robust and user-friendly for developers and content creators alike.
For a more detailed breakdown of all the features and technical updates, you can explore the official WordPress developer blog and other related resources.