Shortly after dropping WordPress 5.8, the Gutenberg team released version 11.2 on Aug. 5, 2021.
Version 11.2 was a minor update that primarily focused on bug fixes and tooling. Still, it did bring some minor changes: color support for the Search and Pullquote blocks, experimental flexible layout options for parent blocks and an option to create a new post right after publishing.
Gutenberg 11.3 dropped after two weeks on Aug. 18, 2021. It introduces new controls for blocks’ dimensions, enhancements to Featured Image block and performance improvements to block inserter.
Keep reading to know more about the last two releases of the Gutenberg editor:
More Customization Options for the Search and Pullquote Blocks
Flexible Layout Options for Group Blocks
New Button for Creating Consecutive Posts
New Dimension Panel for Spacing and Size Controls
Block Inserter Performance Improvements
Final Thoughts – What’s New in Gutenberg 11.3?
Gutenberg 11.2 Updates
Gutenberg 11.2 update introduced improvements to search and pullquote blocks, parent blocks’ layout options and editor’s publishing flow.
More Customization Options for the Search and Pullquote Blocks
Gutenberg 11.2 upgraded the Search and Pullquote blocks with additional design customization options.
Changes include:
- Addition of color options to search buttons and pullquote blocks
- Enabled support for border color in search blocks
- Introduction of border options for the pullquote blocks
Previously, WordPress users required specific themes or plugins to get these options.
Flexible Layout Options for Group Blocks
Gutenberg 11.2 also explored flexible layout options for group blocks, enabling blocks to support multiple layouts and reduce complexity in nesting blocks.
The early prototype shows a layout switcher that users can use to toggle between different layouts. Besides the existing flow layout and this flexible layout, Gutenberg plans to add more layouts — grid and absolute positioning container — soon.
The flexible layout can help with the cover, headers, columns and social icons blocks. Theme developers will also find it helpful.
New Button for Creating Consecutive Posts
If you create multiple consecutive posts, Gutenberg 11.2 will save you time with a new button for creating posts as part of the publishing flow.
Gutenberg 11.3 Updates
The Gutenberg team released version 11.3 shortly after version 11.2. The latest version includes several performance improvements and a new dimension panel.
New Dimension Panel for Spacing and Size Controls
Gutenberg 11.3 replaces the Spacing panel with a new Dimensions panel. It gives users more control over supported spacing, size and related options.
In support of its long-term goal to clean up the user interface, WordPress only shows the controls a user needs. While you can only see the Padding in the Dimensional panel in the image above, clicking on the ellipsis (…) provides an option to display Margins and hide Padding.
Featured Image Enhancements
The Featured Image block also received a slight enhancement.
Previously, users and theme authors could only link the featured image to the post. Now, they can control the height and width of the featured image, similar to a usual image. This change upgrades the Query Loop block by providing more layout options.
Block Inserter Performance Improvements
Gutenberg 11.3 also featured block inserter improvements, cutting inserter open and inserter search times by more than half.
Minor Enhancements
Gutenberg 11.3 also features several smaller enhancements like:
- Rich previews for internal links (was introduced for external links in Gutenberg 10.9)
- Simplified color picker library
- New icons for reusable blocks and template parts
Final Thoughts – What’s New in Gutenberg 11.3?
After releasing the WordPress 5.8 Full Site Editing update, the WordPress team didn’t miss a beat and immediately got to work on the new Gutenberg improvements.
The block customization options and enhancements introduced in Gutenberg 11.2 and 11.3 take WordPress closer to completing the second phase of the Gutenberg project in December 2021.
Gutenberg improvements make it easier to build a WordPress website.
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