As 2023 rolls on, WordPress continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the digital world. With new updates and features being released on a regular basis, it can be challenging to keep up with all the changes. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most significant changes that have been made to WordPress in 2023.

Gutenberg Block Editor Improvements

One of the most significant changes made to WordPress in recent years has been the introduction of the Gutenberg block editor. This new editing interface was released with WordPress 5.0 in late 2018, and it has continued to evolve ever since.

In 2023, the Gutenberg editor has seen several significant improvements, including the ability to edit block settings directly from the block toolbar. This makes it easier than ever to adjust the settings for individual blocks without having to navigate to a separate menu.

Another new feature introduced in 2023 is the ability to save and reuse blocks. This makes it easy to create complex layouts and designs that can be used across multiple pages and posts.

Site Health Check Enhancements

The Site Health Check feature was introduced in WordPress 5.2 to help users keep their sites running smoothly. In 2023, this feature has been enhanced with new tests and improvements to existing ones.

One of the most significant improvements is the addition of a PHP version check. This test checks the version of PHP that your site is running on and alerts you if it is outdated. This is important because running an outdated version of PHP can leave your site vulnerable to security threats.

Another new test checks for the presence of the wp-config.php file in the site’s root directory. This file contains sensitive information such as database credentials, and it is important to ensure that it is not accessible to unauthorized users.

Improved Accessibility Features

WordPress has always been committed to making the web more accessible to everyone, and in 2023, this commitment has been reflected in several new accessibility features.

One of the most significant new features is the introduction of an accessibility checker for the block editor. This tool checks your content for potential accessibility issues and provides suggestions for how to improve it.

Another new feature is the ability to add alternative text to images directly from the media library. This makes it easier to ensure that your images are accessible to users who rely on screen readers.