WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy” released today

The latest release of WordPress, version 6.2, brings a plethora of new features, performance improvements, and enhancements to the block editor, creating a more intuitive and efficient site editing experience for WordPress users.

WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy” came out 29 March 2023. It was named after Eric Allan Dolphy Jr., an American jazz alto saxophonist, bass clarinetist, and flute player. This is the first of three major releases that are set to come out in 2023. It has more than 900 improvements and bug fixes, most of which are meant to make editing a site easier. 

One of the best things about 6.2 is that the Site Editor interface has been completely redone. The browse mode makes it easy to switch between editing and previewing templates and template parts. The new design makes it feel like everything is part of the same app.

In version 6.2, color-coded labels were added to help users find their template parts and reusable blocks in the List View, the Block toolbar, and on the Canvas.

The Site Editor is no longer in beta because of these and other changes. Inside the admin, the About page has beautiful screenshots of each feature. These screenshots use the bright blue that has become a part of the WordPress brand in the new design that is being slowly rolled out across WordPress.org. The full site editor comes with new templates and template parts, making it easier for theme developers to create custom designs. Users can now easily edit navigation menus, widget areas, and even start editing classic themes with the new HTML and Patterns APIs.

In addition to a new interface for the Site Editor, WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy” has a number of changes that are meant to make editing sites easier and give users more freedom to express their creative vision. This release has something for everyone, whether they are designers, developers, site builders, or people who make content.

Navigation Block:
The Navigation block now has a new sidebar that makes it easier for people to add, remove, and change the order of menu items. This makes it easier and more obvious to change the site’s navigation.

Block Inserter:
The Block Inserter has a new look that makes it easier for users to find the content they want. Users can quickly drag and drop content from their Media Library onto the Media tab. A split view also lets users move through categories and see previews of patterns at the same time, which makes it easier to find patterns.

Block Settings Sidebar:
The tabs for Settings and Styles make the sidebar for block settings easier to use. This layout makes it easier for users to find and use the tools they need.

Header and Footer Patterns for Block Themes:
A new set of header and footer patterns is now available to users. You can use these patterns with any block theme as a quick, high-quality place to start when making site templates.

Integration of Openverse Media:
Through the Inserter, Openverse, which has a database of more than 700 million free stock images and audio, is now directly built into the WordPress experience. This integration makes it easier for users to find and use Openverse media in their content.

Distraction Free

Users of WordPress 6.2 now have the ability to conceal all panels and controls while they are writing, thanks to a new mode dubbed “Distraction Free” that was added in this version. This feature hides all panels and controls, providing a clean environment for users to create and edit their work. A short tutorial you find here how to enable Distraction Free Mode in WordPress 6.2.

Google Fonts and Custom Styles

The style book WordPress feature also provides access to Google Fonts and custom styles, offering users more design resources to create stunning websites.

Performance Improvements

WordPress 6.2 has made significant performance improvements, including the integration of React 18. This update enables faster loading times and a more responsive editing experience.

As the first major release of 2023, WordPress 6.2 is a turning point in the development plan for the WordPress project. Instead of focusing on customization, the project will start to look into workflows and collaboration. The release includes over 900 improvements and bug fixes, showing how dedicated the WordPress team under their founders – Who owns WordPress? – is making the platform better and giving it more features.

Here you can find a Tutorial to the new Site Editor while Developers should check out the WordPress 6.2 Field Guide