WordPress 5.8.1 Release Candidaterelease candidate One of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see alpha (beta). 1 (RC1) is available for testing!

Some ways you can help testing WordPress 5.8.1 RC1:

• Use the WordPress Beta Tester 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
  • as this is a minor RCrelease candidate One of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see alpha (beta). release, select the 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. channel and the Nightlies stream. This will be the latest build including the RC and potentially any subsequent commits in trunk).
• Use WP-CLIWP-CLI WP-CLI is the Command Line Interface for WordPress, used to do administrative and development tasks in a programmatic way. The project page is http://wp-cli.org/ https://make.wordpress.org/cli/ to test: wp core update https://wordpress.org/wordpress-5.8.1-RC1.zip
• Directly download the BetaBeta A pre-release of software that is given out to a large group of users to trial under real conditions. Beta versions have gone through alpha testing in-house and are generally fairly close in look, feel and function to the final product; however, design changes often occur as part of the process./RC version (https://wordpress.org/wordpress-5.8.1-RC1.zip)

What’s in this release candidate?

5.8.1 Release Candidate 1 features 41 bug fixes on CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress., as well as 20 bug fixes for the 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. Editor.

The following core tickets from TracTrac An open source project by Edgewall Software that serves as a bug tracker and project management tool for WordPress. are fixed:

• #52818 – Ordering metaboxes broken in WP 5.7
• #53556 – Add a new template-editing 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.) to the Theme APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.
• #53562 – Widgets Editor in 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. doesn’t load with E2E tests + 0ms Animations
• #53609 – Responsive widgetWidget A WordPress Widget is a small block that performs a specific function. You can add these widgets in sidebars also known as widget-ready areas on your web page. WordPress widgets were originally created to provide a simple and easy-to-use way of giving design and structure control of the WordPress theme to the user. block embeds not showing in the customizer
• #53616 – Registered block styles should only be rendered when the block exists on a page
• #53641 – Can not configure image widget (and others) in widget accessability mode
• #53654 – Menus: Hide bulk-select options when no menus exist
• #53667 – Support wp_editor_set_quality for both loaded and saved mime_types
• #53668 – Generated images for one file can be overwritten by another with the same name when mapping mime types for generated images
• #53679 – The media library looks broken on mobile
• #53680 – Correct inline documentation about IMAGETYPE_WEBP and IMG_WEBP
• #53696 – wp_add_iframed_editor_assets_html() not checking for block editor
• #53697 – Possible Regressionregression A software bug that breaks or degrades something that previously worked. Regressions are often treated as critical bugs or blockers. Recent regressions may be given higher priorities. A "3.6 regression" would be a bug in 3.6 that worked as intended in 3.5. – Border settings not displaying for Button Block
• #53702 – Four css files removed between 5.7.x and 5.8 were not included in $_old_files
• #53713 – Bounce underscore.js version in script-loader
• #53714 – Bounce jquery.form.js version in script-loader
• #53715 – Bounce hoverIntent.js version in script-loader
• #53716 – The “/” missing at the end of image tag
• #53719 – grunt clean:css does not clean the css/dist folder
• #53738 – Broken 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. in WP_Theme_JSON_Resolver
• #53752 – Twenty Ten: Block patterns file causes error in child themes
• #53757 – Widget editor calls get_block_categories() with incorrect arg type
• #53762 – Replace the remaining references to wp.editor with wp.oldEditor
• #53769 – Bundled themes: block-patterns.php file should use get_template_directory_uri instead of get_stylesheet_directory_uri
• #53773 – /wp-adminadmin (and super admin)/includes/ajax-actions.php file line 3006 is creating divide by zero error
• #53777 – Bump bundled theme versions for
• #53799 – Remove version-controlled files check from Test Old Branches workflow
• #53803 – Customizer: Radio button on background image position selector visible on focus
• #53820 – Build doesn’t support Docker Compose V2
• #53827 – Increase number of media items displayed when clicking button to “Load More”
• #53830 – Default filters try to create nonce during installation before options table exists
• #53833 – ‘Replace image’ Media Modal is missing select fields under filterFilter Filters are one of the two types of Hooks https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks. They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output. media due to css issues
• #53877 – Menus: Selected display locations for new menus aren’t saved
• #53898 – Duplicated 404 templates in the TemplatePanel
• #53922 – Docblockdocblock (phpdoc, xref, inline docs) in get_block_editor_settings function
• #53932 – Media grid view doesn’t show all media elements
• #53936 – Output of serialize_block_attributes does not match equivalent 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/ function
• #53955 – Fix and improve the docs for the image_editor_output_format filter
• #54030 – Pressing esc in Widgets Editor closes panel in customizer
• #54036 – PclZip throwing errors on PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 5.6.20 or higher 8 – previously merged 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. is incomplete
• #54052 – Block editor package updates for 5.8.1

The following block editor issues from 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 be the repository owner. https://github.com/ are fixed:

• PR33384 – Fix API docs for data reference guides
• PR33381 – Docs: use markdown headings instead of links for API declarations
• PR33498 – Docs: Run Prettier after updating API in documentation
• PR33549 – Use tabs instead of spaces in block transform doc example
• PR30617 – Fix metaboxMetabox A post metabox is a draggable box shown on the post editing screen. Its purpose is to allow the user to select or enter information in addition to the main post content. This information should be related to the post in some way. reordering
• PR32083 – Block editor: move layout styles to document head (instead of rendering inline)
• PR33814 – Widgets: Allow HTMLHTML HyperText Markup Language. The semantic scripting language primarily used for outputting content in web browsers. tags in description
• PR33457 – Editor: Set ‘hide_empty’ for the most used terms query
• PR33482 – Update widget editor help links to point to the new support article
• PR33621 – Fixed that the block is selected instead of the title when using the select all shortcut.
• PR33699 – Writing flow: select all: remove early return for post title
• PR33618 – Call onChangeSectionExpanded conditionally
• PR33679 – FontSizePicker: Use number values when the initial value is a number
• PR33739 – Fix justification for button block when selected
• PR33771 – Add error boundaries to widget screens
• PR33802 – Fix insertion point in Widgets editors
• PR34280 – Default batch processor: Respect the batch endpoint’s maxItems
• PR34314 – Fix button block focus trap after a URLURL A specific web address of a website or web page on the Internet, such as a website’s URL www.wordpress.org has been added
• PR34076 – Text for dropdown fields within legacy widgets in the Customizer is off centered
• PR32935 – Add a SearchControl component and reuse accross the UIUI User interface(class change in tests)

What’s next?

The dev-reviewed workflow (double committercommitter A developer with commit access. WordPress has five lead developers and four permanent core developers with commit access. Additionally, the project usually has a few guest or component committers - a developer receiving commit access, generally for a single release cycle (sometimes renewed) and/or for a specific component. sign-off) is now in effect when making any changes to the 5.8 branchbranch A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses branches to store the latest development code for each major release (3.9, 4.0, etc.). Branches are then updated with code for any minor releases of that branch. Sometimes, a major version of WordPress and its minor versions are collectively referred to as a "branch", such as "the 4.0 branch"..

As per the proposed WordPress 5.8.1 schedule, the final release is expected on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Please note that this date can change depending on possible issues after RC1 is released. Coordination will happen in the 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/ SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. #5-8-release-leads channel.

A special thanks to everyone who helped test, raised issues, and helped to fix tickets. With this release candidate testing continues, so please, help test!

The 5.8.1 release is being led by @desrosj and @circlecube.

Props @webcommsat and @desrosj for peer review.

#5-8, #5-8-1, #minor-releases, #releases