It's almost time: WordPress 6.3, the latest update of the popular WordPress content management system, will be released in a few weeks. In this article, we take a look at the beta version of WordPress 6.3 and show you what new features you can expect with the update.

Even before the actual release, every WordPress update goes through a thorough testing phase by the large WordPress community. This also applies to the upcoming WordPress 6.3 update, which has been in development since March 2023. Expectations for this second major update in 2023 are correspondingly high. We have looked at the roadmap for the new version as well as the beta versions released so far and would now like to give you a detailed insight into what you can expect.

Timetable: When can I start using WordPress 6.3?

The planned release date for WordPress 6.3 is August 8, 2023, but as with every update, WordPress starts releasing beta versions weeks in advance. The first beta version of WordPress 6.3 has been available for testing since June 27, 2023. Since then, another beta version has been released every week. From July 18, 2023, the release candidates will appear, a total of three versions, which will also be released weekly. On August 8, 2023, WordPress 6.3 will finally be rolled out and made available for you to update. This makes WordPress 6.3 the second major update in 2023.

With WordPress 6.3, you can look forward to a range of changes and improvements. More than 500 new functions, over 400 bug fixes and almost 200 updates are planned for the update. In addition, improvements are planned specifically for PHP versions 8.0 to 8.2. 

WordPress 6.3 marks the completion of phase 2 of the Gutenberg project. The focus is once again on optimizing and adapting functions to further improve your user experience.

Overview: These are the most important changes in WordPress 6.3

Let's take a look at the most important changes planned for WordPress 6.3 below.

Enhancements to the Site Editor for more user-friendliness

The Site Editor already played a crucial role in the last major update WordPress 6.2. With WordPress 6.3, it will be equipped with many different functions and extensions to improve user-friendliness. Overall, the Site Editor has already undergone an impressive development, from ready-made templates to a comprehensive tool with numerous options. There are now a variety of design blocks as well as powerful, advanced features.

WordPress 6.3 aims to improve the interaction between the various tools. This should be possible through content editing in the Site Editor and a clear distinction between templates and content. The developers have created additional interfaces and options for editing and creating content without having to switch from the Site Editor.

A central control tool has also been introduced, which makes it possible to quickly switch to specific pages, templates or template parts. This makes navigation within the tool easier and faster.

New functions in the Site Editor

One of the new functions in the Site Editor is the new navigation area, which offers you various options for menus. The complexity of the menus can be customized, making navigation even more precise.

Another feature is the new separate section for "Pages" in the Site Editor. Here, the pages of a website can now be managed and edited separately, which improves organization and clarity. Similarly, there is also a separate section for "Styles", which makes it possible to customize and refine the visual appearance of the website.

The detailed views of pages, templates and styles have also been expanded. This means you can now get detailed insights into the various elements of your website and make specific adjustments. This makes it easier to fine-tune the design and contributes to an individual design.

In addition, new preview options have been implemented for the Site Editor. These allow you to better understand the new functions of the Site Editor and view the result of your customizations in advance. An improved preview helps to get a clear picture of what the website will look like, making it easier to design and optimize the content.

Overall, the latest improvements to the Site Editor offer a wide range of options for editing and designing a website intuitively. The optimized navigation, the extended detail views and the improved preview options help to make working with the Site Editor more efficient and creative.

Further development of blocks

WordPress 6.3 also sees the further development of blocks, with the focus on a new display of menus in the site editor and the quick creation of page designs. New blocks are also being introduced, such as footnotes and separate tables of contents. 

These new blocks offer additional options for designing and structuring the content of a website. New controls are also being developed that allow you to set up aspect ratios for image-related blocks. This allows you to precisely customize the appearance of your images and improve the overall visual concept of your website.

Let's now take a look at the functions that will be available with the further development of the blocks in WordPress 6.3. 

On the one hand, navigation has been improved, which means that better fallback options are now available. This ensures a seamless navigation experience, even if certain elements are not available or have not been configured correctly.

Another focus of development is on the wp:pattern blocks. These blocks are continuously developed further to ensure an improved user experience.

New tools are also being introduced to better control aspect ratios. This is particularly useful for image-related blocks, as it allows you to make precise settings for the aspect ratio of your images. This allows you to customize the visual appearance of your website.

Furthermore, new presets for the spacing block will be implemented. These presets offer you an easier and faster way to adjust the spacing between different blocks and optimize the layout of your website.

Thanks to these improvements and new features, working with WordPress is even more intuitive and flexible. The navigation experience is optimized, the design options are expanded and new functions enable even more precise customization of the website layout.

End of phase 2 of the Gutenberg project

With WordPress 6.3, phase 2 of the Gutenberg project should be completed. However, we are not yet at the end of the entire project, but have only reached the halfway point. With the next major update, we will probably start with phase 3, which will focus on collaboration. 

The update is intended to improve or expand many functions. As already mentioned, the Site Editor in WordPress, for example, is being continuously improved to provide a better user experience. One of the new features concerns the navigation for templates and media. You now have access to the Openverse, which offers you an extended selection of media content.

Another improvement is that you can switch between pages and templates without leaving the editor. This allows you to edit your website from a higher-level perspective without having to go directly to template editing.

The navigation block is also to be optimized to ensure simpler and list-based editing. Dynamic page lists can also be displayed, making it easier to navigate and manage the website.

To make the user interface clearer, the "Settings" and "Appearance" tools have been split up. This makes it easier to navigate and use the various functions.

A mini preview for each block type will be introduced, allowing you to visually capture customizations. There is also a new style book that offers an improved visualization of the different block options in the block library.

In addition, bug fixes will be made to further improve the stability and performance of the Site Editor.

Thanks to these improvements, you will be able to work even more easily and efficiently with the Site Editor in WordPress 6.3. The navigation will be optimized, the design options expanded and the user-friendliness increased. Bugs have been fixed to ensure smooth and reliable use of the Site Editor.

How can you test WordPress 6.3 in advance?

If you're preparing for the upcoming WordPress 6.3 update, it's a good idea to test the new version in your own system beforehand. This will allow you to make sure you understand all the changes and at the same time check that your theme, plugins and other settings are compatible with the new version. It is advisable to consider which of the new functions are relevant for your website, as not all features will necessarily be useful for you.

It is also important to note that advanced beta versions of WordPress can usually still contain bugs. So after installing a beta version of WordPress 6.3, it's likely that not everything will work properly yet. Be prepared for this and be patient while you explore the new version.

Conclusion: Which changes are worthwhile with WordPress 6.3?

The upcoming major update WordPress 6.3 brings numerous detailed improvements and fixes problems that occurred in the previous update WordPress 6.2. A particular focus is on the completion of the second phase of the Gutenberg project. The additional improvements focus primarily on functionality and usability.
If you are interested in the WordPress development process and the planned features and innovations, you can find a list of the changes and much more information about WordPress 6.3 directly from the source at WordPress.org. What do you think about the planned changes? We look forward to your comments.