WordPress 2023 in review: A year of growth, innovation and building the future

2023 is a thing of the past. Today, I saw WP Hive’s article and shared it to take a look at the development of the WordPress ecosystem in 2023 and look forward to its plans for 2024!

There have been so many things happening in the WordPress ecosystem this year that it’s difficult to sort them out in one article. However, we picked the best to keep it simple. Let’s take the time to explore these achievements and join us in celebrating collective success in 2023!

2023 has passed, and WordPress has achieved many remarkable achievements. Progress is both radical and gradual. Notably, WordPress celebrated its 20th anniversary, released three versions on time, organized three flagship events, and prototypes key elements of Gutenberg’s third phase.

Read this WordPress 2023 annual review to quickly understand every major event and preview what will happen in the year ahead.

WordPress 2023 年回顾:一年的增长、创新和建设未来 - WordPress 2023 Year In Review
WordPress 2023 Year In Review

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Overview of the main WordPress releases in 2023

This year, all three major editions are named in tribute to famous jazz artists. We integrated the background of each version and its main highlights. Let’s start with this year’s first version of WordPress 6.2.

1. WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy”(March 29, 2023)

WordPress 6.2“Dolphy” - 2023 年 3 月 29 日

WordPress 6.2 is the first major release in 2023 and has more than 900 enhancements and fixes. It was named “Dolphy” to honor the accomplished woodwind jazz player and multi-instrumentalist Eric Allan Dolphy Jr. Salute. This edition includes contributions from more than 600 contributors from at least 50 countries. Here are the main highlights of WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy”:

  • The redesigned site editor has an updated interface a new way to interact with the entire site.
  • Navigation blocks enable faster menu management with a new sidebar experience.
  • Improved block settings sidebar organization, including Settings and Style tabs.
  • Introduce headers and footers for block themes to create site templates faster.
  • Openverse Media Library integrates with access to more than 700 million free, publicly licensed stock images and audio.
  • The style book overview allows you to view each block in the site library.
  • Copy and paste styles allow for consistent design across different blocks.
  • Customize CSS for advanced control over the appearance of the site.
  • Performance improvements, faster loading times for block themes and classic themes.
  • Other highlights sticky positioning, import widgets and local fonts in themes.

2. WordPress 6.3 “Lionel”(August 8, 2023)

WordPress 6.3“莱昂内尔”- 2023 年 8 月 8 日

WordPress 6.3 “Lionel” is an important release that greatly enhances the Web development experience. It is named after jazz artist Lionel Hampton in recognition of his contributions to music. This release introduces features such as a site editor, block theme previews, template creation, command panels for quick access, new design tools, style revisions, and improved performance.

More than 650 contributors from 52 countries participated in the release, including more than 205 first-time contributors. This release marks an important step in the development of WordPress, focusing on user experience, performance and accessibility, with a special emphasis on community engagement and global impact. Let’s take a look at the main functions:

  • Site editor for centralized control of content, templates, and templates.
  • Block theme previews allow customization before switching.
  • Template creation and synchronization for site-wide block arrangements.
  • Command panel for quick access to templates and preferences.
  • Accessibility features have been improved with more than 50 enhancements.
  • New design tools enhance the versatility of titles, filters and layout options.
  • Style revisions provide a timetable for visualizing and restoring changes.
  • The new block includes footnotes for comments and details for showing/hiding content.
  • Improve performance with more than 170 updates, asynchronous support, and prioritization.
  • Other highlights: Setting the aspect ratio of the image, non-interference design, improved top toolbar and list view improvements.

3. WordPress 6.4 “Shirley”(November 7, 2023)

WordPress 6.4 “雪莉” - 2023 年 11 月 7 日

The 6.4 version of WordPress is a tribute to jazz icon Shirley Horn, known for her unique voice and piano playing. “Shirley” introduces a versatile default theme “2024”, as well as a series of upgrades to enhance content creation and website editing. This release emphasizes performance improvements, enhanced accessibility and developer-centered capabilities.

This release embodies the collaborative spirit of the global WordPress community. It is the result of a diverse community collaboration with more than 600 contributors from 56 countries/regions. More than 170 first-time contributors participated and provided more than 1150 enhancements and fixes. Explore basic functions with a quick overview:

  • Equipped with a multi-functional default theme “2024”, including more than 35 templates.
  • Writing improvements include new keyboard shortcuts and enhanced controls.
  • Command panel updates for efficient task performance.
  • Improved template organization and filtering to simplify website construction.
  • Enhanced design tools for creative and functional layout.
  • Global and selective lightbox functions for interactive image viewing.
  • Block Hooks were introduced to allow developers to dynamically insert blocks.
  • More than 100 performance updates deliver a faster and more efficient experience.
  • Accessibility improvements, including list view enhancements and aria-label support.

Default theme Twenty Twenty Four

二二十四默认主题

Twenty Twenty Four, the latest default WordPress theme will be launched on August 24, 2023. This highly universal theme was finally released with WordPress 6.4. Focusing on flexibility, a diverse pattern library, performance optimization and new website editing capabilities, it offers stylish designs and caters to a variety of website types, including entrepreneurs, photographers, artists, writers and bloggers.

The “Twenty Twenty Four” theme breaks the traditional default theme and provides a complete full-page model for key templates such as home pages, archives, search, single pages and posts. Users can easily access them during template switching and creation. Here are the main highlights of the theme:

  • Rich pattern library:Provides more than 35 beautiful custom templates, including full-page templates for home, archive, search, single page and posts.
  • Site Editor Features:Provide a seamless site-building experience with new site editor features that allow customization at every step.
  • Block theme improvements:New design tools have been introduced such as background image support, vertical text, image placeholders and lightboxes for interactive content.
  • Elegant design elements:Uses Cardo title fonts, paragraph sans serif system fonts, eight style variants and two sans serif variants for typography customization.
  • Performance optimization:Carefully optimize performance to ensure a fast and efficient user experience.
  • Global lightbox activation:Enabling image lightboxes is ideal for galleries or collections to enhance user engagement.
  • Smooth browsing experience:By disabling the Force Page Reload setting, you allow content to be dynamically loaded between pages without requiring a full-page refresh.

Twenty years of excellence-WordPress celebrates its 20th birthday in 2023

WordPress 2023 年回顾 WordPress 2013 年迎来 20 岁生日

Only a few projects have withstood the test of time and left an extraordinary mark on the network ecosystem. WordPress is one of them. As we look back on the past year, the WordPress Brotherhood ushered in an important moment-the 20th anniversary of WordPress.

On May 27, 2023, we celebrated the 20th anniversary milestone since Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little created WordPress version 0.70. From being an insignificant blogging platform in 2003 to becoming a powerful platform that powers millions of websites around the world, WordPress has not only survived the digital revolution, but has also become a powerful engine for millions of websites around the world. It thrives in the process of shaping it.

Interesting facts: WordPress is 13 years ahead of TikTok (launched in 2016), before the first iPhone (2007), a full year ahead of Facebook (founded in 2004), and about five weeks ahead of Tesla (founded in July 2003).

The main highlights of the WP20 event

  • From March 1 to June 8, 2023, the #WP20 theme tag received more than 18,000 mentions
  • It peaked on May 27 and was mentioned more than 2,700 times, an impressive number of times.
  • The global celebration hosted more than 165 parties on six continents.
  • The party attracted 4,661 people.
  • As a token of thanks, more than 100 kits filled with giveaways were carefully shipped to party organizers.

Let’s take a moment to wish that this platform will revolutionize the way we create, share and experience the web. Cheers to two decades of innovation, development, and community-driven excellence that puts WordPress at the forefront of content management!

2023 WordPress Community Highlights-WordCamp and Parties

In 2023, the global WordCamp community showed great enthusiasm, hosting 70 WordCamp in 33 countries. These numbers include three major flagship events-held in the vibrant heart of BangkokWordCamp Asia Held on the sunny streets of AthensWordCamp Europeand the national port of Potomac RiverWordCamp US 。

WordCamp Asia 2023, Bangkok, Thailand (February 17 – 19)

WordCamp Asia 2023,泰国曼谷(2 月 17 日至 19 日)

WordCamp Asia is the first flagship event of its kind on the Asian continent. The choice of Bangkok as the host city was carefully thought out, positioning Thailand as the center of Asia. Its central location ensures accessibility to all regions. In 2020, the event was postponed for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this venue is a suitable choice. Let’s take a quick review of what happened with WordCamp Asia 2023:

  • location: ICONSIAM venue in Bangkok, Thailand
  • duration: 3 days
  • participants:1,500+
  • speaker:60
  • organizers:53
  • volunteers:84
  • sponsors:44

2023 WordCamp Europe, Athens, Greece (June 8 – 10)

2023 年欧洲 WordCamp,希腊雅典(6 月 8 日至 10 日)

WordCamp Europe 2023 brought together 2,545 WordPress enthusiasts from 94 countries in Athens. WordCamp Europe is once again an educational and inspiring event and provides insights into trends, methods and upcoming changes. The following are the main highlights:

  • location: Megaron Athens International Conference Center, Athens, Greece
  • duration: 3 days
  • number of participants:2500+
  • speaker:102
  • organizer:98
  • volunteers:142
  • sponsors:64

WordCamp US 2023, National Port of Maryland (August 24 – 26)

Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center hosted the 2023 Community Summit and WordCamp US event in National Harbor, Maryland. Close to Washington, D.C., this hotel is an ideal place to explore American history, museums and enjoy delicious food. The following section includes highlights of the event.

  • location: Gaylord National Stadium, National Port, Maryland
  • duration: 3 days
  • number of participants:2000+
  • speaker:40
  • organizers:42
  • sponsors:64

2023 Local WordPress Party

The WordPress community has experienced significant growth among local WordPress gathering groups, which are grassroots gatherings that gather enthusiasts, developers and users. WordPress hosted 268 parties across six continents. As of now, 581,425 members have actively participated in these local gatherings. This collective enthusiasm fully reflects the enthusiasm and dedication of the individuals who make up this diverse and vibrant community.

Total number of local gathering groups (as of December 31, 2023): Group 748
Total membership (as of December 31, 2023): 581,425 members
New content planned for chapter (January 1 to December 31, 2023)
New gathering group: 72 new groups
New members: 5,242 new members

Here’s to explain to countless gatherings that WordPress is not just software, but also a center for contact, learning and collaboration for thousands of enthusiastic WordPress users. These gatherings are not just meetings, they are meetings. They demonstrate the power of connections between people and the unwavering spirit of the WordPress community.

State of the World 2023: Matt Mullenweg’s insightful keynote speech

2023 年世界状况:Matt Mullenweg 富有洞察力的主题演讲

On December 11th, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg delivered his annual State of the Word keynote speech in Madrid, Spain. Nearly 200 WordPress enthusiasts and technology industry leaders gathered to gain an in-depth understanding of the future of WordPress, with a large online audience and 47 viewing parties from 18 countries/regions.

WordPress belongs to all of us, but we are actually taking care of it for the next generation.

– Matt Mullenweg

Keynote speeches showcased last year’s achievements, including eye-catching demonstrations that previewedOn-going development of site editor, collaboration phase and management redesign。Matt also announced his data liberation priorities for 2024, which aim to break down digital barriers and facilitate seamless migration to WordPress.

WooCommerce will change its name to Woo in October 2023

WooCommerce is WordPress’s e-commerce solution that has been renamed Woo. The name is lively, catchy and easy to say. Customers have been using “Woo” for some time, so the decision to use it is expected.

Since Automatic acquired WooCommerce plug-ins and WooThemes in 2015, the platform has evolved into a comprehensive solution for creating and managing e-commerce stores on WordPress. Through its recent rebranding, WooCommerce has entered a new era.

Future Outlook: Forecasts and Expectations for 2024

未来展望:2024年的预测和期望

As in previous years, 2024 will be an eventful year, with multiple versions, many WordCamp and countless parties. We have tried to outline in this section the most likely events this year. Let’s explore!

WordPress plans to release 3 main versions in 2024

WordPress 6.5 will be released on March 26, 2024. This update brings practical improvements, including a new font library for easy global font management, support for appearance tools in classic themes, and integration of template and boilerplate data views to enhance the editing experience.

Noteworthy additions include new APIs such as interactivity, custom fields and block binding, extended block capabilities, and support features such as synchronous mode overrides. Let’s take a look at the scheduled dates for all WordPress versions, including 6.5.

version planned date
6.5 March 2024
6.6 July 2024
6.7 November 2024

Phase 3 of the Gutenberg Project: Collaboration

Project Gutenberg represents a complete re-vision of the way we handle online content, with the overall goal of expanding accessibility. With the release of WordPress 6.3 in 2023, the second phase of Project Gutenberg has officially ended. WordPress is currently deeply exploring the third phase, which focuses on collaboration.

A quick review: The Gutenberg project is divided into four key phases:

  1. Easier editing–It is currently accessible in WordPress and is constantly being enhanced.
  2. custom–Includes site editing, block templates, block catalogs, and block themes.
  3. collaboration–Introduce a more intuitive method of co-creating content.
  4. multilingual–Core implementation tailored for multilingual websites.

We may see significant developments in Phase 3 in 2024. You can track the progress of Phase 3 here: Make WordPress Core.

Enhancements to site editor tools

站点编辑器工具的增强

Website editor tools in WordPress will thrive even more in 2024. They will provide a powerful and efficient way to intuitively create and manage all aspects of a website. The following list includes the features and functions of the site editor you need to look for this year:

  • command panelIs your preferred shortcut tool that helps you achieve more goals with fewer clicks and without having to remember the location of each option.
  • style bookHelps you view all blocks on your site as you customize them. It is part of the “Styles” section and can be turned on or off as needed.
  • interference-free patternProvides an alternative view that provides a simplified experience focused on creation.
  • templateYou can easily add beautiful layout and design to any WordPress website without having to start from scratch.
  • Style shortcutsTwo simple options are provided: copy/paste the style or use the style for all instances of the required block.
  • list viewIt’s the tool you need to browse through content layers, select exactly what you want, and understand how all the content fits together.

Continuing improvements in FSE are expected to revolutionize website construction, making it more intuitive and suitable for users of all skill levels.

Pay extra attention to data liberation in WordPress

Matt introduced the new project focus for 2024: data liberation. The goal is to simplify the process of importing content from other platforms into WordPress. He pointed to the problem of content management systems restricting users and emphasized the need to break down these digital barriers. The Data Liberation Initiative aims to enable one-click migration and improve WordPress export formats.

More and more WordCamp and local gatherings

越来越多的 WordCamp 和本地聚会

As of January 10, according to the WordCamp status report provided by WordCamp Central, there have been 13 active WordCamp applications and 27 inactive WordCamp applications. According to the Meetup application status, 10 Meetup sessions have been proposed.

By the end of 2024, these numbers may increase from the previous year. Please pay close attention to the official WordCamp Central website for the latest updates. Here are the approximate dates and locations for the three major WordCamp in 2024:

  • WordCamp Asia 2024: March 7 – 9|  Taipei, China Taiwan
  • WordCamp Europe 2024: June 13 – 15|  Turin, Italy
  • WordCamp US 2024: September 17 – 20|  Portland, Oregon

Emphasizing the “Five for the Future” plan

The “Five for the Future” program was launched in 2014 to encourage organizations to devote 5% of their resources to WordPress development. These goals are not just about gaining traction in growing markets; instead, they also strive to gain recognition in every community, transcending open source and developer networks. At the end of 2023, the “Five for the Future” plan will once again receive attention, and the plan will increase in the next few years.

Let us look back on 2023 and welcome 2024!

WordPress is a self-hosted open source platform that currently supports more than 43% of websites worldwide.

 Among the content management system websites we know of, 62.9% use WordPress.This is 43.1% of all websites。According to W3Techs

In 2023, WordPress hosted70 WordCamp gamesand on-site activities, an increase of 116% over the previous year. A total of 25,780 tickets were sold for all major gatherings. WCAsia sold 1698 tickets, WCEU sold 2923 tickets, and WCUS sold 1917 tickets. WordPress is also held on six continents268 parties, achieved a strong growth of 57%.

WordPress has three major versions:Version 6.2, Version 6.3, and Version 6.4, each version brings enhanced features and functionality to enhance your website experience. 6.4 The version also comes with a versatile default themeTwenty Twenty Four

WordPress celebrates 20th anniversaryThe global celebration of the United States took place through more than 165 gatherings on six continents, attracting 4,661 people. As a token of thanks, more than 100 toolkits filled with gifts were carefully sent to party organizers.

Matt Mullenweg shared his speech during his annual keynote speech in Madrid, SpainInsights on the future of WordPress.About 200 WordPress enthusiasts and technology leaders gathered, along with a large online audience from 18 countries and 47 viewing parties.

Entering 2024, the journey of WordPress is still going on, and infinite possibilities are coming. Let us celebrate the achievements we have made in 2023, embrace future opportunities, and continue to work together to build the future of the network. I wish 2024 a better year!

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