What’s new in Gutenberg 12.7? (2 March)

“What’s new in GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/…” posts (labeled with the #gutenberg-new tagtag A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses tags to store a single snapshot of a version (3.6, 3.6.1, etc.), the common convention of tags in version control systems. (Not to be confused with post tags.)) are posted following every Gutenberg release on a biweekly basis, discovering new features included in each release. As a reminder, here’s an overview of different ways to keep up with Gutenberg and the Full Site Editing project.

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Gutenberg 12.7 has been released and is available for download!

Table of Contents

• Improving the Patterns experience
• List View Improvements
• Changes to frontend HTML when using layouts and image blocks
• Other notable highlights
• Props to new contributors
• Changelog
• Performance Benchmark

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Improving the Patterns experience

Gutenberg 12.7 includes new features that will make working with patterns even easier! 

Make Patterns easier to discover

The block quick inserter now prioritizes patterns instead of blocks when all the following conditions are met:

• We are editing a template, either on site editor or post editor.
• The inserter is at the root level.
• The content being inserted is between other blocks (neither as the first blockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. nor as the last one).

The template part (e.g. HeaderHeader The header of your site is typically the first thing people will experience. The masthead or header art located across the top of your page is part of the look and feel of your website. It can influence a visitor’s opinion about your content and you/ your organization’s brand. It may also look different on different screen sizes. / Footer / SidebarSidebar A sidebar in WordPress is referred to a widget-ready area used by WordPress themes to display information that is not a part of the main content. It is not always a vertical column on the side. It can be a horizontal rectangle below or above the content area, footer, header, or any where in the theme.) creation flow will now also show patterns, making it easier to create more advanced compositions than adding blocks one by one.

Work will continue improving the logic that decides to show a pattern or a block, so feel free to share your feedback in the Gutenberg repository!

Allow themes to highlight Patterns

Themes can now highlight specific patterns to their users!

Recommending patterns to the users is as easy as adding a pattern field to the theme.json file. When handling patterns from the Pattern Directory, you can find their slugs on the URLURL A specific web address of a website or web page on the Internet, such as a website’s URL www.wordpress.org when browsing them individually.

List View Improvements

Once more, the List View keeps getting better! Gutenberg 12.7 includes a few iterative improvements to improve the block editor experience.

You will be able to select multiple blocks at the same level, and then drag and drop them to move them around. To select multiple blocks, the keyboard shortcuts are:

• Shift Key + Click 
• Shift Key + Up/Down arrow.

Also, when you click on a block in the editor, the List View will expand to show the selected block for better visibility of the selection’s context within the block tree.

Changes to frontend HTMLHTML HyperText Markup Language. The semantic scripting language primarily used for outputting content in web browsers. when using layouts and image blocks

In order to add consistency to the block editor, we are removing some wrappers divs that were generated on the editor in order to add alignment to some blocks.

Keep in note that this div cleaning can affect themes that support layout and many blocks that have this alignment support. Many contributors helped with testing, but theme developers are encouraged to check their themes and leave any feedback they may encounter.

Other notable highlights

Gutenberg 12.7 provides a few other iterative enhancements worth highlighting.

• Now you can add border styles to the Columns blocks and margin to Group blocks.

• To avoid backward compatibility issues reported in WordPress 5.9, the automatic anchor generation for headings introduced in Gutengerg 11.8 is now opt-in. To enable this feature, simply add:

add_filter(
	'block_editor_settings_all',
	static function( $settings ) {
		$settings['__experimentalGenerateAnchors'] = true;
		return $settings;
	}
);

Props to new contributors

Recognizing and celebrating contributors, both and new, becomes more efficient and effective! A contributor props list has been automated when creating the release and added to the changelog! Any user who merges a PR during a Gutenberg release cycle will be aknowledged.

In Gutenberg 12.7, up to 52 contributors merged PRs of any kind, including 6 new contributors. Props to @Alex-Kostov, @HasnainAshfaq, @mjstoney, @razwan, @sanzeeb3, and @Sisanu for their first PR! 🎉

Changelog

Enhancements

Block Library

• Columns: Add border support. (31737)
• Group Blocks: Add margin support (top/bottom). (37344)
• Comment Template: Improve comment pagination with nested replies. (38187)
• Comments Query LoopLoop The Loop is PHP code used by WordPress to display posts. Using The Loop, WordPress processes each post to be displayed on the current page, and formats it according to how it matches specified criteria within The Loop tags. Any HTML or PHP code in the Loop will be processed on each post. https://codex.wordpress.org/The_Loop.: Show placeholder comments on site editor. (38072)
• Navigation: Try unifying submenu arrow positioning. (37003)
• Submenu: Add revert button. (38203)

Components

• FocalPointPicker: Allow updating its value while dragging. (38247)
• General Interface: Simplify site icon animation on hover. (38783)
• Navigator: Add NavigatorButton and NavigatorBackButton components. (38634)
• Type Refactor: Use forwardedRef type for all forwarded refs in wordpress/components. (38948)

Block Editor

• Block Editor: Add settings to enable/disable auto anchor generation. (38780)
• Block Transforms: Keep additional HTML classes during a block transform. (38964)
• LineHeightControl: Enhance interactions by migrating internals to NumberControl on Style options. (37160)
• List View: Add multi-select behaviour for blocks when shift key is selected. (38314)
• List View: Expand block list tree on selection. (35817)

Styles

• Add initial version of the style engine. (37978)
• Style engine: Refine Box type. (38894)

Post Editor

• Enable tooltip for the main dashboard button. (38790)

Themes

• Lowered specificity of alignment rules for support layout so wide alignments work. (38947)
• Remove data-align divs for themes that support layout. (38613)
• Remove the div wrapper from the aligned image blocks. (38657)

Patterns

• Quick Inserter: Prioritize showing patterns instead of blocks. (38709)
• Allow pattern registration from directory with theme.jsonJSON JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a minimal, readable format for structuring data. It is used primarily to transmit data between a server and web application, as an alternative to XML.. (38323)
• Template Parts: Show existing template parts and a list of block patterns at creation flow. (38814)

Bug Fixes

Block Library

• Block Transforms: Fix Image and Video to Cover block transformations. (38959)
• Cover: Fix gradient overlay (remove black background color) (38765)
• File: Fix PDF file block full content fixture. (38725)
• Latest Posts: Add missing class to post title. (38740)
• Logo: Avoid division by zero in site logo. (38808)
• Post navigation link: Use correct closing tag. (38976)
• Query Loop: Display nothing if we want only sticky posts but no stickies exist. (38909)
• Template Parts: Decode entities in labels. (38805)
• Social Links: Only apply the social links block migrationMigration Moving the code, database and media files for a website site from one server to another. Most typically done when changing hosting companies. if there’s a need for a migration. (38561)

Block Editor

• Backportbackport A port is when code from one branch (or trunk) is merged into another branch or trunk. Some changes in WordPress point releases are the result of backporting code from trunk to the release branch. from coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.: Global styles duotone not rendering in post editor. (38897)
• Block Editor: insertDefaultBlock should not trigger an error if the default block is not registered. (38886)
• Inserter: Fix focus loss after closing patterns explorer from modal. (38884)
• Multi-selection: avoid RichText instances becoming disabled after multi selection. (38821)
• Rehabilitate drag gesture in LineHeightControl. (38930)
• RichText: Fix wrong block merging when pressing delete consecutively. (38991)

Site Editor

• Add site editor initial redirect error handling. (38655)
• Add template check to ‘setPage’ action. (38656)
• Adds additional check to guard against incompete presets. (38902)
• Limit template part slugs to Latin chars. (38695)
• Template List: Decode entities in record titles. (38863)

Styles

• Allow child classes to be called instead of the parents. (38857)
• Backport: Allow for classic themes using default presets. (38701)
• Fix global styles loading logic. (38745)

Components

• Fix unexpected dragging triggered on spinner buttons on hover in Safari. (38840)
• Show tooltip on toggle custom size in FontSizePicker. (38985)

List View

• Fix error triggering after duplicating a block making it unselectable. (38760)
• Fix UIUI User interface broken due to error when deleting first item in canvas. (38775)

CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets. & Styling

• Fix button width on Widgets Editor. (38846)
• Load block support styles in the <head> for block themes. (38750)
• Reduce the margin of the block toolbar. (38746)

Block Directory

• Fix the block activation when metadata registered on server. (38697)

Colors

• Strip double # char on HexInput. (38335)

Packages

• Core Data: CanUser resolver always use the OPTIONS method. (38901)
• Dom: Avoid RangeError in findPrevious method. (38961)

Apps

• Fix Custom Palette colors and support multiple origins and theme cache issues. (38417)

AccessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility)

• Adds aria-label to the search button, as accessibility enhancementenhancement Enhancements are simple improvements to WordPress, such as the addition of a hook, a new feature, or an improvement to an existing feature.. (38136)
• Avoid duplicate labels for “Save Draft” and “Save as pending” buttons. (38776)
• RichText: Reverse disableLineBreaks to determine aria-multiline state. (38652)
• TreeGrid: Add Home/End keys to jump to start/end of grid. (38679)

Performance

CSS & Styling

• Use wp_unique_id() instead of uniqid() to generate CSS class names. (38891)

Experiments

New APIs in Core Data

• Propose useEntityRecords (experimental). (38782)
• UseEntityRecord (experimental). (38522)

Documentation

Handbook

• Add documentation for deprecating styles. (38540)
• Add documentation about the patterns field of theme.json. (38700)
• Add more info about contextual patterns and pattern transformations. (38809)
• Add semantic patterns documentation. (38778)
• Clarify deprecations documentation. (38683)
• Fix hyperlink in block Metadata page. (38941)
• Improve point releaseMinor Release A set of releases or versions having the same minor version number may be collectively referred to as .x , for example version 5.2.x to refer to versions 5.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.3, and all other versions in the 5.2 (five dot two) branch of that software. Minor Releases often make improvements to existing features and functionality. documentation to include even more detail. (38631)
• Increase support for experimental-link-color until WordPress 5.9 is the minimum version. (38711)
• Group: Update block supports. (38962)
• Links changed for Developer.wordpress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. https://wordpress.org/ on block editor section. (38841)
• Removing comma so that the code snippet of theme.json represents standard JSON. (38938)
• theme.json Update version section docs to v2 (38937)
• Update Getting Started with more granular options. (38682)

Block Library

• Add instructions on how to add new core blocks to block-library. (38868)

Components

• FormFileUpload: Add Storybook stories. (38734)
• Storybook: Move experimental components to correct section. (38640)
• Storybook: Remove story for Typography Panel. (38867)
• wp-env: Document some caveats when using xdebug with VSCode. (38882)

Code Quality

Block Library

• Cover: Remove unnecessary temporaryMinHeight. (38887)
• Cover block: Update deprecated gradient fixture. (38728)
• Gallery: Register gallery in block_names dynamic block array. (38689)
• Navigation: Improve consistency of block hook. (38705)
• Navigation: Select dropdown encapsulation and further consolidation. (38627)
• Navigation: Update wp_kses usage to be consistent (use wp_kses_post). (38732)
• Post Navigation Link: Prefer kses to blanket esc_html on label. (38696)
• Remove data-controls mock from Image block RN tests. (38852)

Components

• Block Supports: Improve image block regex. (38742)
• Block Supports: Load Styles on <head> backport to core. (38880)
• Context: Omit as prop in types. (38844)
• Core Data: Remove fallback for OPTIONS response headers in canUser resolver. (38881)
• Core Data: TypeScript definitions for entity records. (38666)
• Data: Normalize selector args when handling metadata selectors/actions. (38945)
• Edit Site: Migrate store to thunks. (38812)
• Icons: Deprecate duplicate icons. (38849)
• PostTrash: Call trashPost action with no arguments, rewrite to hooksHooks In WordPress theme and development, hooks are functions that can be applied to an action or a Filter in WordPress. Actions are functions performed when a certain event occurs in WordPress. Filters allow you to modify certain functions. Arguments used to hook both filters and actions look the same.. (38615)

npm Packages

• Packages: Automate cherry-picking to trunktrunk A directory in Subversion containing the latest development code in preparation for the next major release cycle. If you are running "trunk", then you are on the latest revision. commits created during publishing. (38977)
• Packages: Ensure that private packages do not update when publishing to npm. (38946)

Tools

Testing

• Add end-to-end test for merging paragraphs and soft line break afterwards. (39009)
• Post Visibility end-to-end test: Improve XPath selector to avoid reliance on DOM structure. (38717)
• Replace no-shadow eslint rule with @typescript-eslint/no-shadow. (38665)
• Remove client ID from fixtures. (38685)
• Remove originalContent from fixtures. (38638)
• RichText: Add test for merging and then splitting paragraphs. (39007)
• Site Editor Tests: Use REST APIREST API The REST API is an acronym for the RESTful Application Program Interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data. It is how the front end of an application (think “phone app” or “website”) can communicate with the data store (think “database” or “file system”) https://developer.wordpress.org/rest-api/. to delete templates and template parts. (38524)
• TreeGrid: Add tests for callback functions. (38942)

Build Tooling

• Build separate full contributors list. (38777)
• Bump @svgr/webpack from ^5.5.0 to ^6.2.1 (38866)
• Generate full release contributors list in release changelog. (38704)
• Generate sourcemap for production 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/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party builds. (33718)
• Mobile: Improve npm clean scripts for reactReact React is a JavaScript library that makes it easy to reason about, construct, and maintain stateless and stateful user interfaces. https://reactjs.org/.-native-editor. (38752)
• PWA: Fix URL query param issue. (38755)
• Scripts: Do not exit build when no entry found in src directory. (38737)
• Scripts: Fix Entry points are not detected in Windows OS. (38781)
• Scripts: Copy PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher files from src into build. (38715)

Components

• BaseControl: Refactor stories to use Controls. (38741)
• Migrate Post Template Delete button from confirm() to ConfirmDialog. (37535)
• Migrate the Post ‘Switch to draft’ button to ConfirmDialog component. (37491)
• Storybook: Ensure rerender for RTL switcher. (38963)

Post Editor

• Edit Post: Migrate store actions to thunks. (36551)
• Editor store: Remove a noop SETUP_EDITOR action. (38622)
• Migrate editor store to thunks. (35929)

Styles

• Allow to extend the WP_Theme_JSON_Gutenberg class. (38671)
• Global Styles: Fix PHP warning in WP_REST_Global_Styles_Controller. (38888)
• Update Global Styles code to continue adding settings & styles. (38883)

Block Library

• Change Gallery block code ownership. (38722)

Performance Benchmark

The following benchmark compares performance for a particularly sizeable post (~36,000 words, ~1,000 blocks) over the last releases. Such a large post isn’t representative of the average editing experience but is adequate for spotting variations in performance.

Post Editor

Version	Time to first block	Keypress event
Gutenberg 12.7	5.0 s	41 ms
Gutenberg 12.6	5.1 s	40 ms
WordPress 5.9	5.2 s	40 ms

Site Editor

Version	Time to first block	Keypress event
Gutenberg 12.7	4.7 s	30 ms
Gutenberg 12.6	5.2 s	29 ms
WordPress 5.9	5.2 s	29 ms

Kudos to all the contributors that helped with the release! 👏

Thanks to @javiarce for the visual assets!

Thanks to @matveb @priethor and @santosguillamot for proofreading.

#block-editor, #core-editor, #gutenberg, #gutenberg-new