Whats New in WordPress 5.0, Plus What to Expect From the Block-Based Editor

Each time a new version of WordPress rolls out, were all excited about getting to play with its new features. However, few versions in the past have garnered as much buzz around them as WordPress 5.0 because of these two simple words:  the new block-based editor otherwise known as Gutenberg.No, were not talking about the German guy from the 1400s. Gutenberg is a complete redesign and re-imagination of the WordPress editor. With the new version of WordPress already here WordPress 5.0 the default way that people create content with WordPress has changed radically.Big changes to your favorite platform can be difficult to accept. However, even massively popular platforms such as WordPress need to adapt to the times, or risk losing market share. Gutenberg is a bold leap forward, and its not the only update thats coming up.In this article, were going to discuss what makes WordPress 5.0 unique in comparison to previous releases, and then well get into what to expect from WordPress 5.0 and the Gutenberg editor. Lets talk about the future! Want a handy cut-out-n-keep cheat sheet for WordPress 5.0? We have one for you here. It reveals all the shortcuts, tips, and tricks that WordPress 5.0 has to offer.Preview:WordPress 5.0 is a bigger jump than recent major updatesIf youve been using WordPress for a while, then youll know how much the platform has changed over time. Even individual updates often bring significant shifts. For example, the 4.9 Tipton update enabled users to schedule design changes in the WordPress Customizer so they can go live at later dates, just like post drafts.WordPress 4.8, on the other hand, brought us plenty of widget updates. For example, if you wanted images in your widgets in the past, you had to add them manually. Now, there are three dedicated media widgets for image, audio, and video files.Another of our favorite features of 4.8 was the option to check up on nearby WordPress events right from your dashboard, which is handy if you want to do some networking:However, all the changes weve mentioned so far are pretty incremental. Theyre useful, but not exactly game-changing. Most WordPress updates have been more about taking small steps forward rather than major leaps  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ that is, until WordPress 5.0.What to expect from WordPress 5.0WordPress 5.0 is kicking incremental to the curb with some pretty major changes. The biggest is the aforementioned  block-based editor, which well talk more about in a moment.But WordPress 5.0 also marks a change to how the platform handles releases. It used to be the case that you could count on getting two major WordPress releases per year, with plenty of mini-updates in the meantime.Now, the WordPress core team is planning on moving away from that scheduled release model. The idea is that by removing the pressure of predetermined deadlines, the platform will be able to take more significant leaps, and we wont get updates that feel as though they lack in meaningful content.Aside from that, here are a few of the other significant changes that make WordPress 5.0 a very interesting upgrade:The platforms focus is moving towards a more intuitive site-building experience.  WordPress already leads the pack in terms of market share. And by improving WordPress site-building functionality, the core team aims to hold that market share against the rise of hosted website builders.Some improvements to the WordPress Rest API.  The WordPress Rest API helps developers create more feature-rich products by making it easier to send and pull data from your website. This update means developers will be able to more easily create applications using the platform as a framework.Building custom themes becomes easier.  In the past, you needed at least a simple development background to put together a WordPress theme. With Gutenberg, theme creation will become much more accessible thanks to blocks.Page builder plugins might  lose some relevance.  There are a lot of fantasti c page-builder tools  that you can use with WordPress, some of which rival professional platforms. Gutenberg wont be a match for them at first, but it might dissuade people from using them in the long run.What the block-based editor means for youThe launch of Gutenberg means that youll need to get acquainted with a whole new editing experience.âš  Ã¯ ¸  Dont panic if you dont want to use the Gutenberg Editor, youll still be able to keep the classic editor by installing the official Classic Editor plugin.One more important thing is that you dont have to settle for whatever set of features Gutenberg comes with right out the gate. We already have a range of add-on plugins that work with Gutenberg to deliver some cool goodies. Chief of them being additional content blocks.For instance, check out Otter Blocks, our own plugin that adds quite a handful of new blocks to Gutenberg. Including: Services, Pricing, Testimonials, Google Map, Sharing Icons, Pie Chart, Notice, Click to Tweet, and more. Gutenberg Blocks and Template Library by Otter Author(s): ThemeIsleCurrent Version: 1.2.5Last Updated: September 10, 2019otter-blocks.zip 96%Ratings 113,328Downloads WP 5.0+Requires For more details about how the editor works, you can check out our complete Gutenberg Editor guide.Gutenberg affects themes and plugins, tooAside from your own editing experience, Gutenberg also brings important changes to a lot of your favorite plugins and themes. For example, well probably see the emergence of a lot of Gutenberg-friendly themes, which will be designed to take advantage of all the new features the editor offers.Weve already seen a couple of interesting themes being released, such as Atomic Blocks and even the new default theme, Twenty Nineteen that proclaim their Gutenberg-first focus. And existing themes are no slouches either. Popular themes like Neve and Hestia now come with full Gutenberg compatibility too.Similarly, youll see changes with some of your favorite pl ugins. A lot of plugins interact with the WordPress editor directly, whether thats to add new functionality or include shortcodes. Those plugins will need to become Gutenberg compatible, unless they want to alienate a large part of their user base. Years from now, it might even be common to find plugins that only support Gutenberg.Heres how to get the most out of WordPress 5.0First, you ought to get familiar with the basics of how to work with the new block-based content editor, since it is the biggest change in WordPress 5.0.Even though the editor is very straightforward, you can make things even easier on yourself by checking out the handy cheat sheet for WordPress 5.0 that we have over here. Theres even a printable version that can serve as a quick reference file by your desk.Preview:What do you think of this newest WordPress release? Are you excited that the new block-based editor now allows for more custom content design than was previously possible? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Here's what to expect from #WordPress 5.0 and the new #Gutenberg Editor