WordPress 6.3 Beta 3 is ready for download and testing. This is the first beta release in the 6.3 cycle, as there was no Beta 1 due to technical issues with packaging the release. The release squad decided to package and ship Beta 2 instead of further delaying the beta release.
The release squad has been working hard to fix the technical issues that prevented the release of Beta 1. They are confident that Beta 2 is stable and ready for testing.
If you are a WordPress developer or user, we encourage you to download and test Beta 2. Your feedback will help us to identify and fix any remaining bugs before the final release of WordPress 6.3.
You can download Beta 2 from the WordPress website. To test Beta 2, you can either install it on a staging site or create a new site specifically for testing.
We appreciate your help in testing Beta 2 and making WordPress 6.3 the best release yet.
Table of Contents
WordPress 6.3 is a major release that demonstrates significant progress towards the goals outlined in the WordPress roadmap. It is the final major release of Phase 2, which has focused on the Site Editor. The Site Editor allows site creators to build websites, design compelling layouts, and manage content without having to switch between multiple configuration areas or edit code.
Here are some specific examples of the progress that has been made in Phase 2:
- The Site Editor has been significantly improved, making it easier to use and more powerful.
- New features have been added to the Site Editor, such as the ability to create and edit templates, manage blocks, and add widgets.
- The Site Editor has been integrated with other parts of WordPress, such as the Customizer and the Gutenberg editor.
The release of WordPress 6.3 is a major milestone in the development of WordPress. It demonstrates the commitment of the WordPress community to building a better platform for everyone.
A first look at 6.3
Here are some of the key highlights of the release:
The latest WordPress release includes a wide range of updates, with a particular focus on improving the editing experience and polishing usability. This release includes more than 500 new features and enhancements, as well as 400+ bug fixes.
- Improved Site Editor: The Site Editor has been significantly improved, making it easier to use and more powerful. New features have been added, such as the ability to create and edit templates, manage blocks, and add widgets.
- New Features for Gutenberg: The Gutenberg editor has also been improved, with new features such as the ability to create and edit tables, add emoji, and preview blocks before they are published.
- Bug Fixes: Over 400 bugs have been fixed in this release, including a number of security vulnerabilities.
Overall, this is a major release that includes a wide range of improvements for WordPress. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the WordPress community.
Performance
This latest release includes over 170 performance-related updates as compare to the performance improvements introduced in WordPress 6.2. These updates include adding defer and async support to the WP Scripts API, fetch priority support for images, and optimizations to block template resolution, image lazy-loading, and the emoji loader. All of these updates benefit the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) performance of WordPress websites.
Additionally, support for PHP versions 8.0, 8.1, and 8.2 has been improved. This means that WordPress websites can now run on newer versions of PHP, which can improve performance and security.
Overall, the latest WordPress release includes a wide range of performance improvements. These improvements will make WordPress websites faster and more responsive for users.
Site Editor
The Site Editor in WordPress 6.3 has been expanded to include the ability to navigate and edit pages, styles, templates, and content. This unified site editing experience will include a distraction-free mode, enhanced navigation, and an improved loading experience.
You can also use the Site Editor to preview a block theme and adjust your site before activating the new theme. This release also includes style revisions, so you can toggle between and preview different saved styles.
Finally, WordPress 6.3 introduces a new Command Palette, which allows users to context switch and perform actions quickly across different sections of the site editing experience.
Here are some of the specific benefits of these changes:
- The distraction-free mode will help you focus on your work without distractions.
- The enhanced navigation will make it easier to find the features and tools you need.
- The improved loading experience will make the Site Editor feel more responsive.
- The ability to preview a block theme before activating it will help you make sure that the theme is a good fit for your site.
- Style revisions will help you experiment with different styles and see how they look on your site.
- The Command Palette will make it easier to find and perform actions, such as adding blocks, editing styles, and previewing changes.
Blocks
New blocks for details and footnotes unavailing in this new release, along with updates for better management of image aspect ratios and improved fallback states. new Spacer blocks are now include presets, and the cover block updates for managing text colors and layout support.
Patterns and Design
WordPress 6.3: Reusable blocks are now synced patterns, and you can assign them to templates.
WordPress 6.3 has made some significant changes to the way reusable blocks work. First, reusable blocks have been renamed to synced patterns. This change reflects the unification of reusable blocks and traditional block patterns (unsynced patterns) within the Editor.
Another major change is the ability to assign patterns to templates. This means that you can now have starter patterns that speed up the creation process for new pages and posts.
Site creators can now easily create, save, and manage custom synced and unsynced patterns, as well as browse a directory of curated patterns. Additionally, the duotone filter and captions can now be edited in the Styles interface.
These changes make it easier than ever to create and manage patterns in WordPress. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you’ll be able to find the patterns you need to create beautiful and engaging content.
Usability
WordPress 6.3 usability enhancements make it easier to create and manage content.
WordPress 6.3 includes a number of usability enhancements that make it easier to create and manage content. These enhancements include:
- Toolbar updates: The toolbar has been updated to make it easier to find the tools you need.
- Updated template descriptions: Template descriptions have been updated to make it easier to understand what each template does.
- Enhanced list view drag-and-drop: List view drag-and-drop has been enhanced to make it easier to rearrange blocks.
- Improved padding and margin controls: Padding and margin controls have been improved to make it easier to customize the look of your content.
- New area for managing patterns: A new area has been added for managing patterns, including reusable blocks, which are now called synced patterns.
- Link control updates: Link control has been updated to make it easier to create and manage links.
These usability enhancements make it easier for everyone to create and manage content in WordPress, regardless of their skill level.
Get WordPress 6.3 Beta 2
You can test WordPress 6.3 Beta 2 in three ways:
Option 1: Install and activate the WordPress Beta Tester plugin
Option 2: Direct download the Beta 2 version (zip).
Option 3: Use the following WP-CLI command:
wp core update --version=6.3-beta2
The current target for the final release is August 8, 2023, which is about six weeks away.