Title: Updating jQuery version shipped with WordPress
Author: Andrew Ozz
Published: June 29, 2020
Last modified: October 16, 2020
---
[ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/) [Andrew Ozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/)
10:44 pm _on_ June 29, 2020
Tags: [5.5 ( 87 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/5-5/),
[dev-notes ( 648 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/dev-notes/), [jQuery ( 15 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/jquery/)
# Updating jQuery version shipped with WordPress
This has been a long time coming; the TracTrac An open source project by Edgewall
Software that serves as a bug tracker and project management tool for WordPress.
ticketticket Created for both bug reports and feature development on the bug tracker.
[#37110](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/37110) is already few years old.
Following the [recommendations of the jQuery team](https://jquery.com/upgrade-guide/3.0/#jquery-migrate-plugin),
the updating has to happen in stages:
1. Remove jQuery Migrate 1.x. This is planned for WordPress 5.5.
2. Update to the latest version of jQuery and add the latest jQuery Migrate. This
is tentatively planned for WordPress 5.6 depending on test results. Updating to
the latest jQuery UIUI User interface, version 1.12.1, is also planned for 5.6.
3. Remove jQuery Migrate. This is tentatively planned for WordPress 5.7 or later,
depending on testing.
As planned, a [Test jQuery Updates](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-jquery-update-test/)
pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that
can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features
to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming
language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.
org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. was released to make it easy to
test different versions of jQuery, jQuery Migrate, and jQuery UI. Please install
it and thoroughly test if everything works as expected, especially on the front-
end, or at the settings pages of other WordPress plugins.
## How to help with testing
The plugin has a settings screen found under the Plugins menu in WordPress adminadmin(
and super admin). Different versions of the jQuery libraries can be selected there
for testing. Please test by:
1. Disabling jQuery Migrate, and leaving jQuery and jQuery UI at the default versions(
for WordPress 5.5).
2. Selecting jQuery 3.5.1, enabling jQuery Migrate, and selecting jQuery UI 1.12.1(
for WordPress 5.6).
Test jQuery Updates settings screen, under the Plugins menu.
## Updating your code
To get ready for this jQuery update, it’s important that you update your code. The
migrate plugin will assist you in identifying issues. Additionally, the [jQuery Core 3.0 Upgrade Guide](https://jquery.com/upgrade-guide/3.0/)
and [3.5 Upgrade Guide](https://jquery.com/upgrade-guide/3.5/) provide detailed
information about what has changed. As the browser supported list is also updated,
this is also a great time for you to revisit what versions of browsers are supported
by your themes and plugins.
## See a bugbug A bug is an error or unexpected result. Performance improvements, code optimization, and are considered enhancements, not defects. After feature freeze, only bugs are dealt with, with regressions (adverse changes from the previous version) being the highest priority.?
If you find a bug in Test jQuery Updates, or if you run into a jQuery related issue,
please report it at [https://github.com/WordPress/wp-jquery-update-test](https://github.com/WordPress/wp-jquery-update-test).
If the issue is with a default script in WordPress, please [open a new ticket on Trac](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https://core.trac.wordpress.org/newticket).
Thanks [@andreamiddleton](https://profiles.wordpress.org/andreamiddleton/), [@annezazu](https://profiles.wordpress.org/annezazu/),
and [@jorbin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jorbin/) for helping with this post.
[#5-5](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/5-5/), [#jquery](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/jquery/)
[#dev-notes](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/dev-notes/)
### Share this:
* [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/06/29/updating-jquery-version-shipped-with-wordpress/?share=threads)
* [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/06/29/updating-jquery-version-shipped-with-wordpress/?share=mastodon)
* [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/06/29/updating-jquery-version-shipped-with-wordpress/?share=bluesky)
* [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/06/29/updating-jquery-version-shipped-with-wordpress/?share=x)
* [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/06/29/updating-jquery-version-shipped-with-wordpress/?share=facebook)
* [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/06/29/updating-jquery-version-shipped-with-wordpress/?share=linkedin)
1. 
2. [Anh Tran](https://profiles.wordpress.org/rilwis/) 3:29 am _on_ June 30, 2020
3. Great news! I wish this was in 5.0!
4. I’m really exciting about this. This helps improving performance of websites and
make WP sites look more “modern”.
5. 
6. [Yordan Soares](https://profiles.wordpress.org/yordansoares/) 3:42 am _on_ June
30, 2020
7. Wow, this is great news, I’m sure a lot of people will love it. By the way, I
did my bit by translating the pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing
a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend
functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins
are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress.
These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. into Spanish.
8. * 
* [Andrew Ozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/) 4:29 pm _on_ June 30,
2020
* Thank you! Yes, would be great if the explanation and testing instructions
on the [Test jQuery Updates](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-jquery-update-test/)
settings screen are translated.
9. 
10. [Aurélien Denis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/maigret/) 5:58 am _on_ June
30, 2020
11. Since I have been using jQuery 3.x for years nows, I’m happy to see this change
in coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development
Team builds WordPress. soon. Nice work!
12. * 
* [Andrew Ozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/) 4:24 pm _on_ June 30,
2020
* That’s great! Have you run into any compatibility issues with coreCore Core
is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team
builds WordPress. or WP themes or plugins?
13. 
14. [Joost de Valk](https://profiles.wordpress.org/joostdevalk/) 8:54 am _on_ June
30, 2020
15. Awesome!
16. 
17. [Jono Alderson](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jonoaldersonwp/) 9:21 am _on_
June 30, 2020
18. This is great news 🙂
19. 
20. [mobilio](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mobilio/) 10:16 am _on_ June 30, 2020
21. This is great news, but stops here?
22. It’s well known issue that jQuery size grows over time:
[https://mathiasbynens.be/demo/jquery-size](https://mathiasbynens.be/demo/jquery-size)
and current one (3.5.1) is 287630 bytes, minified is 89476.
23. Why not announce “End of an era.” by switching to Vanilla JSJS JavaScript, a web
scripting language typically executed in the browser. Often used for advanced
user interfaces and behaviors.?
24. * 
* [otso](https://profiles.wordpress.org/otso/) 10:18 am _on_ June 30, 2020
* Or VueVue Vue (pronounced /vjuː/, like view) is a progressive framework for
building user interfaces. [https://vuejs.org/](https://vuejs.org/).
* 
* [Slava Abakumov](https://profiles.wordpress.org/slaffik/) 11:51 am _on_ June
30, 2020
* Because this will break 1/3 of the web (+/-).
Never gonna happen.
- 
- [justlevine](https://profiles.wordpress.org/justlevine/) 11:57 am _on_
June 30, 2020
- How exactly would migrating WP coreCore Core is the set of software required
to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. to vanilla,
and then leaving jQuery as an optional dependency with a depreciation notice
that devs should be using es6 + wp.scripts whenever possible break back-
compat?
* 
* [Saumya Majumder](https://profiles.wordpress.org/isaumya/) 1:42 pm
_on_ June 30, 2020
* This is an amazing idea. I wish it was possible. But I’m sure it’s not
gonna happen as it will break a lot of websites.
* 
* [Andrew Ozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/) 4:20 pm _on_ June
30, 2020
* > migrating WP coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress.
> The Core Development Team builds WordPress. to vanilla, and then leaving
> jQuery as an optional dependency…
* Right, the long term goal is to gradually migrate WP Adminadmin (and
super admin) to Vanilla JSJS JavaScript, a web scripting language typically
executed in the browser. Often used for advanced user interfaces and
behaviors.. There is a lot of code to migrate, so it will take a while…
Patches are welcome 🙂
* Even if all of WP Admin is migrated to Vanilla, the jQuery libraries
and plugins will still be available to enqueue through Script Loader,
to maintain backwards compatibility.
- 
- [mobilio](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mobilio/) 10:29 pm _on_
June 30, 2020
- where to start?
- 
- [justlevine](https://profiles.wordpress.org/justlevine/) 12:10 pm
_on_ July 2, 2020
- [@azaozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/) best place to get
involved is the js slackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat
Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/). The WordPress community
has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/)
channel or somewhere else?
* 
* [Andrew Ozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/) 1:36 am
_on_ July 3, 2020
* Best place to get involved in migrating WP Adminadmin (and super
admin) to Vanilla JSJS JavaScript, a web scripting language typically
executed in the browser. Often used for advanced user interfaces
and behaviors. is to just do it 🙂
* Identifying some (old) code that can be converted, opening a TracTrac
An open source project by Edgewall Software that serves as a bug
tracker and project management tool for WordPress. ticketticket
Created for both bug reports and feature development on the bug
tracker. and adding a patchpatch A special text file that describes
changes to code, by identifying the files and lines which are added,
removed, and altered. It may also be referred to as a **diff**.
A patch can be _applied_ to a codebase for testing., and mentioning
it in SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/).
The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/)
would most likely bring other people that are interested.
* (Old) jQuery plugins can also be replaced if they have Vanilla
equivalents. See [https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/47069](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/47069).
25. 
26. [Hareesh Pillai](https://profiles.wordpress.org/hareesh-pillai/) 12:21 pm _on_
June 30, 2020
27. I’m glad this is proceeding!
28. 
29. [Saumya Majumder](https://profiles.wordpress.org/isaumya/) 1:45 pm _on_ June
30, 2020
30. Such a great news. Google PSI and Lighthouse is always telling update the jQuery.
It has lots of vulnerabilities. Happy to hear it’s finally getting updated.
31. But on a side note I really think WP coreCore Core is the set of software required
to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. should push devs
to start using vanilla JSJS JavaScript, a web scripting language typically executed
in the browser. Often used for advanced user interfaces and behaviors. or VueVue
Vue (pronounced /vjuː/, like view) is a progressive framework for building user
interfaces. [https://vuejs.org/](https://vuejs.org/). and stop using jQuery. Honestly
jQuery is a lost cause. JavascriptJavaScript JavaScript or JS is an object-oriented
computer programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within
web browsers. WordPress makes extensive use of JS for a better user experience.
While PHP is executed on the server, JS executes within a user’s browser.
[https://www.javascript.com](https://www.javascript.com/)
has come a long way since the jQuery days.
32. 
33. [Adam Silverstein](https://profiles.wordpress.org/adamsilverstein/) 2:04 pm
_on_ June 30, 2020
34. I tried out the pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group
of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality
or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written
in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These
can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. and so far everything works as
expected, great work [@azaozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/)! In the
past we had seen issues with certain parts of the customizerCustomizer Tool built
into WordPress core that hooks into most modern themes. You can use it to preview
and modify many of your site’s appearance settings. breaking when we upgraded
jQuery.
35. * 
* [Andrew Ozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/) 4:11 pm _on_ June 30,
2020
* Thanks! Yes, I’ve heard about issues with some parts of the CustomizerCustomizer
Tool built into WordPress core that hooks into most modern themes. You can
use it to preview and modify many of your site’s appearance settings., but
haven’t seen any, yet. Perhaps jQuery 3.5.1 plus jQuery Migrate 3.3.0 fixed
them 🙂
36. 
37. [Jason Adams](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jason_the_adams/) 8:17 pm _on_
June 30, 2020
38. Is there an official suggestion for plugins to be compatible with older versions
of WP once they update their jQuery to be 3.x compatible?
39. * 
* [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/) 10:55 pm
_on_ June 30, 2020
* If you know your pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a
group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend
functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins
are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress.
These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. won’t work on older WP, you
should:
* 1. Update the plugin headers so “Requires at least:” is set to the version
you now support
2. Put in a version check on activation “If WP is less than
5.5, auto-disable”
* The first one should prevent people on older WPs from updating, the second
makes sure you don’t crash them.
- 
- [Remzi Cavdar](https://profiles.wordpress.org/remzicavdar/) 4:54 pm _on_
July 21, 2020
- I check both on minimum PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress
is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher version and
WP version. I hope somebody could use this. This is what I do:
- ```notranslate
// Activation process
register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'wp_jquery_manager_plugin_activation' );
function wp_jquery_manager_plugin_activation() {
if ( ! current_user_can( 'activate_plugins' ) ) {
exit;
}
global $wp_version;
$php = '5.6';
$wp = '4.9';
if ( version_compare( PHP_VERSION, $php, '<' ) || version_compare( $wp_version, $wp, '<' ) ) {
deactivate_plugins( basename( __FILE__ ) );
wp_die(
'' .
sprintf(
__( 'This plugin can not be activated because either your WordPress instalation has an outdated/unsuported PHP version or you are using an outdated/old WordPress version.
This plugin requires a minimum of PHP 5.6 or greater and WordPress 4.9 or greater.
Your install:
PHP: ' . PHP_VERSION . '
WordPress: ' . $wp_version . '
You need to update either one of them or both, before you are able to activate and use this plugin.
- Learn more about updating PHP
- Learn more about updating WordPress', 'wp_jquery_manager_plugin' ),
$php
)
. '
' . __( 'go back', 'wp_jquery_manager_plugin' ) . ''
);
}
}
```
- See example on GitHubGitHub GitHub is a website that offers online implementation
of git repositories that can easily be shared, copied and modified by other
developers. Public repositories are free to host, private repositories require
a paid subscription. GitHub introduced the concept of the ‘pull request’
where code changes done in branches by contributors can be reviewed and
discussed before being merged by the repository owner. [https://github.com/](https://github.com/):
[](https://github.com/Remzi1993/jquery-manager/blob/9282c9aa863fb3ad0929370f11ef49559bd3a280/jquery-manager.php#L76)
40. 
41. [Ion Burdianov](https://profiles.wordpress.org/burdianov/) 6:58 am _on_ July
1, 2020
42. O! this is great news!
43. 
44. [Niloy](https://profiles.wordpress.org/im_niloy/) 8:09 am _on_ August 3, 2020
45. wow, finally this is proceeding! 😀
46. 
47. [Ian Dunn](https://profiles.wordpress.org/iandunn/) 11:41 pm _on_ October 12,
2020
48. If anyone else has a difficult time working with the console full of warnings,
you can do this to mute them:
49. ```notranslate
add_action( 'admin_head', function() {
?>