WordPress 5.4 Preview
With the end of March just around the corner, many people are getting ready for the WordPress 5.4 release date. The development team has claimed that this release is going to be packed with dozens of useful features and cutting-edge tools that will take this web design platform to the next level. That includes widespread changes to the block editor that should make content creation much easier. Here is a quick glimpse at some of the updates that you are going to see in the March 31st release of WordPress 5.4.
Block Editor Tweaks and Improvements
In addition to adding new blocks, WordPress 5.4 is also going to have some major changes to the block editor. This is an excellent update for those who primarily work with blocks inside the content editor.
Updated Welcome Guide Modal
Those who are relatively new to WordPress will be glad to hear that all of these changes are going to come with a welcome guide popup that explains the new features. To open the guide at any time, all you have to do is click the three-dot icon at the top of the edit screen and go to Welcome Guide.
All New Blocks
With this release, users will now have access to two new blocks in the library.
1. Social Icons Block
This block will be particularly useful to those who would like to directly add links to social media profiles within their WordPress posts as well as the static pages. For social sharing, you will need to download and use an alternate plugin.
2. Buttons Block
Following this update, you will be able to add multiple buttons at once within the buttons block menu. That menu also gives you the ability to alter the styles, fonts, background colors, and gradients.
Additional Block Improvements
The new block editor is going to provide you with an incredible amount of control over the blocks, and there are countless features and tools to choose from. Here is a look at some of the block improvements that will be found in the beta release of WordPress 5.4.
New Color Options
For the cover, group, and column blocks, there will now be a variety of new colors to choose from. As an added bonus, you will be able to designate a color for texts and backgrounds within a group block.
Drag and Drop to Upload Featured Image
With this new tool, adding a featured image is going to be easier than ever. All you have to do is drag the picture of choice into the editor and it will upload automatically.
Change Text Colors
One of the smaller changes in this update is the ability to alter the color of certain words and phrases within a paragraph without altering the entire block of words.
Captions Below Table
Below the table block, you can now add captions.
Fixed Block Tool Bar on Mobile
If you edit your site on a mobile device, then you will be glad to hear that the toolbar has been changed to a floating toolbar that hovers at the top of the screen instead of directly over the block you are editing.
Select Gallery Image Size
Easily edit the size of each picture in the gallery with just a few clicks of the mouse. All you have to do is select the library and choose the default size for the images.
Improved Latest Block Post
Quickly edit and display featured images in the latest posts block with this useful new tool.
Easily Select Blocks
Trying to select and edit blocks when they are nested or in columns can be very difficult, and that is why the development team has added this new tool to WordPress 5.4. You should be able to quickly find any block that you are looking for with the block selection tool at the top of the editing page.
TikTok Embed Block
TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, and many people have been on the lookout for new ways to embed those videos within their pages. WordPress 5.4 will allow you to easily add TikTok videos to all of your posts and pages.
Behind the Scenes Changes
In addition to the content creation changes, the WordPress team will also be releasing some under the hood updates. That includes HTML changes to the Calendar widget, a new apply_shortcodes function, and some updates to the admin area.
Bonus: How to Update Existing WordPress Posts with the New Gutenberg Block Editor