WordPress 6.4 Update: Discover the New Twenty Twenty-Four Theme, Enhanced Lightbox, Block Hooks, and Enhanced Design Tools
The latest update of WordPress, version 6.4 “Shirley,” has been released, bringing with it a range of exciting new features and improvements. Named after the legendary American jazz pianist and singer Shirley Horn, this update introduces powerful customization capabilities that empower users to create stunning websites with ease.
One of the standout features of WordPress 6.4 is the addition of a core-supported lightbox for images. With a simple click, visitors can now expand images to full-screen without leaving the page. This elegant feature enhances the user experience and allows for greater engagement with visual content. Users have the option to enable the lightbox on a per-image basis or implement it site-wide, offering flexibility in design choices.
Another notable improvement in WordPress 6.4 is the redesigned Command Palette. This tool has undergone a design refresh to accommodate a growing catalog of commands, making it even more efficient for users to perform tasks. Accessible in both the Site Editor and the Post Editor, the Command Palette offers specific contextual command options that save time and streamline the editing experience.
The List View has also received enhancements in this update. Users can now enjoy media previews for the Gallery and Image blocks, providing a condensed overview of content at a glance. Additionally, custom names can be assigned to Group blocks, allowing for easy organization in the List View.
Developers will be pleased to discover the introduction of Block Hooks in WordPress 6.4. Originally introduced in Gutenberg 16.4, Block Hooks enable developers to auto-insert blocks into specified locations, such as before or after a template. Users can then reposition these blocks using the editor tools, providing greater flexibility in website design.
WordPress 6.4 also introduces a brand new default theme called Twenty Twenty-Four. This multi-purpose theme offers more than 35 templates and patterns, making it suitable for a wide range of websites, including blogs, businesses, and portfolios. With three fully-built site demos designed for bloggers, photographers, and entrepreneurs, users can easily find a starting point for their website creation.
In addition to these significant updates, WordPress 6.4 brings various other improvements. Writing enhancements include new keyboard shortcuts, smoother list merging, and an improved toolbar experience for the Navigation, List, and Quote blocks. Design tools have also been expanded, with features such as background images in Group blocks, consistent image dimensions with placeholder aspect ratios, and the ability to add buttons to the Navigation block.
Furthermore, WordPress 6.4 allows users to share patterns across different WordPress sites by importing and exporting them as JSON files from the Site Editor’s patterns view. This feature enables seamless collaboration and consistency in design across multiple websites.
Underneath the surface, WordPress 6.4 boasts more than 100 performance-related updates and a range of accessibility improvements. These updates ensure a more consistent and enjoyable experience for users in both the site and post editors.
It is worth noting that WordPress 6.4 was led by an underrepresented gender release squad, organized by Release Lead Josepha Haden Chomphosy. This initiative aimed to welcome and empower diverse voices in the WordPress open-source project, resulting in 1,150 enhancements and fixes.
Overall, WordPress 6.4 “Shirley” delivers a wealth of exciting features and improvements that enhance the editing experience and offer greater customization capabilities. Whether you are a blogger, photographer, or entrepreneur, this update provides the tools needed to create a stunning website that stands out from the crowd.
