Just three months after releasing version 6.5, WordPress has now launched version 6.6. With the user-friendly name of ‘Dorsey,’ after the famous US band leader Tommy Dorsey, the latest inception was released on 16 July 2024. In this post, we look at the range of new features introduced in version 6.6 and the improvements these bring for WordPress users.
Contents
Better performance
With website performance affecting both user engagement and SEO, WordPress users are constantly looking for ways to speed up their websites. The good news with version 6.6 is that a number of new enhancements have been built in. For instance, there is a 40% cut in the editor’s template loading time and unnecessary WP_Theme_JSON calls have been removed, as have lazy loading post embeds. At the same time, the React library has been updated to React 19, which will further speed up performance.
Rollback broken auto-updates
While most plugins update without a problem, occasionally there can be conflicts with either the core version or other plugins that cause an update to break your website or stop it from working properly. Fixing this can often be a time-consuming process that can cause havoc for your business. To prevent this from happening, WordPress 6.6 now features an automatic rollback for plugin updates so that if an auto-update does crash your site, the previous stable version of your plugin will automatically be re-enabled. Users will also be notified when this happens so that any necessary fixes can be implemented. As a result, this feature ensures that auto-updates can be implemented in a way that guarantees both stability and security.
Not making the most of WordPress? Find out What WordPress Can Do for You in 2024
Simplified workflow
The latest version of WordPress makes it easier to work on your site by providing a new user-friendly layout that lets you see and manage all of your pages, styles, patterns and template parts in one area. Even better, when you work on a page, the Site Editor now lets you preview it and edit it using a side-by-side layout.
When working on posts and pages, users now have access to a new publish flow which is displayed in the sidebar. This updated feature makes it easier to navigate between the different elements of your site by showing you a list of the page’s settings and featured images. You just need to click on the setting you want to edit, and a pop-up will appear in which this can be done.
Design enhancements
Version 6.6 continues WordPress’s focus on helping users to improve the design of their websites by providing several new options for customisation. One of these is the ability to use a site-wide background image that can be implemented in the Site Editor, and which offers choice over the image’s size, position and repetition. Another feature is that users can now set negative margins for their blocks. As a result, it’s easier to create overlapping elements within a page’s design and have better control over the degree of overlap.
The new version also makes it easier to work with grids. Grid and grid layout blocks enable content elements, like text, images and videos, to be displayed in more professional and user-friendly ways. For instance, the ‘auto’ grid option will automatically create mobile-friendly rows and columns, while also giving greater control over block sizes. For those who focus on the tiny details of their website’s look, there is now also an option to create bespoke default shadow styles for images, buttons and other elements.
For developers who build block themes, version 6.6 also provides the ability to create an unending range of individual font sets and colours, expanding the number of design options available within a specific theme. This extends the theme’s customisation choices without impacting the website’s overall style.
Take your WordPress site to the next level, read: 8 Indispensable Plugins for WordPress Functionality
Synced pattern overrides
Synced patterns are grouped together blocks that are used in various places across a website. Using synced patterns is helpful as it can make it easier to create consistent design on different pages and streamline the process of page creation. One problem, however, is that if a user changes a synced pattern, that change is implemented everywhere the pattern is used. This makes it difficult to tweak the pattern for a single page, for example, if you wanted to change the wording of a call to action included in a synced pattern on a specific page.
With version 6.6, that obstacle has now been overcome as users can now tailor individual elements of a pattern without affecting its overall design or impacting how it will appear on other pages. The new feature enables users to override synced pattern designs, changing everything from text and colour to images and buttons. All that’s needed is to select the pattern, click edit, select the block needing to be changed and enable overrides in the advanced settings.
Keep cybercriminals away from your website: read: 7 Easy Ways to Strengthen WordPress Security
Improved block bindings
Block bindings are a very recent feature introduced in version 6.5. Essentially, they enable users to link custom field data to the contents of a block, using an API. This allows websites to display content and dynamic data from custom fields and other sources automatically, though currently, this is limited to the content of headings, paragraphs, buttons and image blocks. In version 6.6, this feature has been updated to make it easier to bind blocks, with users now able to edit custom field data by just updating the block.
Features for classic themes
With many websites still using classic themes that are not built using blocks, a lot of the features of newer WordPress versions are often underutilised. However, version 6.6 offers these themes an improved way to manage and edit patterns, enabling users to continue to use their existing theme while deploying patterns to improve its look and design.
Conclusion
Coming hot on the heels of version 6.5, WordPress 6.6 still offers a surprising number of improvements on its predecessor. Aside from enhanced performance and stability, it offers a range of ways to streamline workflows and improve the design of websites. Whether you’re a website user or a WordPress developer, these updates are likely to make it easier than ever to create stunning sites.
Looking for fast, reliable and secure WordPress Hosting that comes with the tools and features that make it easy to manage your website? Check out our WordPress Hosting plans.
