WordPress 5.5 is the second major release in 2020. The version is named Eckstine to honor Billy Eckstine, a famous jazz musician. Let’s discuss the top 5 WordPress improvements this release has to offer.
As expected, this version comes packed with exciting updates for a new and improved overall experience. In just a few clicks, you can upgrade to the latest version of this epic release and dive deep into enjoying its distinctive attributes.
In this blog, we’ll list some of the important features of WordPress 5.5 to give you an idea of what the updates would mean to you.
- Default XML Sitemaps
Technical tools like the XML sitemap are not only beneficial for meaningful copywriting; they also make it easier for search engines to crawl your content and index the pages. It’s one of the major differentiators that help your site rank well. With WordPress 5.5, web design experts, developers, bloggers, and other users will now see these enabled by default – no third-party plugins. This update is great in terms of SEO. This core feature will help millions of sites get a richer, better, and more powerful online presence.
- Automated Plugins
Automatic plugin and theme updates are two of the most anticipated features on the update. It’ll keep things running smoothly while making sure your site isn’t vulnerable to security threats. It is important to enable the updates yourself and be mindful of whether you really need these to be automatic or not. Keeping the plugins up to date may be your choice to ward off security issues, but some users also prefer having these disabled to protect against the risk of faults or bugs.
- Improved Block Editor
The Gutenberg block editor has many visual enhancements and a significant functionality overhaul. There’s altogether a new UI with a simplified toolbar, new icons, improved formatting options, and other excellent elements. It allows smooth editing, incorporates new block patterns, and supports a block directory. Users can also install third-party blocks from the editor and add gradients or backgrounds to different blocks. The changes will make your site more accessible and user-friendly.
- Inline Image Editing
Now you can adjust, zoom, rotate, and crop the inline pictures straight from the image blocks, which gives you extra control over customizations. No need to launch the media library. If your niche is more focused on publishing tons of images, you’ll love this feature, as it’ll speed up your editorial workflow.
It’s also worth mentioning that from now on, the images will (by default) be lazy loading as they come into the viewing range. This is great for visitors who don’t like waiting while viewing any pages.
- Upgraded Content Preview
With this feature, you can now preview how your content looks on different screens, including desktop, mobile, and tablet. This will help you make the content more readable for all those visiting your site. It’s a feature that’s certainly worth checking before you unsystematically publish your posts or pages.
Final Thoughts
We’re thrilled that these enhancements come in a single release! There has been a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes, and it is finally coming to life.
However, it doesn’t stop with the changes mentioned above – you’ll literally exhaust your hours in studying the additional improvements that come with the WordPress 5.5 update, especially ones that are developer-focused. You can check the official site of WordPress to get detailed documentation of the release.
We really like the improvements introduced to the block editor, which save your time but demand more creativity. Share your thoughts in the comments below and let us know what you think about these updates!
If you’re in Knoxville, TN seeking further assistance on how you can take advantage of the newly launched WordPress features, we’re here to help! The team at 2:45Tech works day and night to support our customers and their businesses to succeed with digital solutions. Call us at (865) 465-4040 to speak to our representative or fill in this contact form and we’ll get back to you! We’re amongst the top web developers in Knoxville, and we can certainly help your business grow to greater heights!
