WordPress 4.8 Field Guide
## Metadata
- Author: [[Jeffrey Paul]]
- Full Title: WordPress 4.8 Field Guide
- Category: #articles
- Summary: WordPress 4.8 is officially the best WordPress 2017 has seen! Users will receive new and refined features focused on Editing and Customizing their sites while developers will be able to take advantage of 109 enhancements and features added. Let’s look at the many improvements coming in 4.
- URL: https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/26/wordpress-4-8-field-guide/
WordPress 4.8 is officially the best WordPress 2017 has seen! Users will receive new and refined features focused on Editing and Customizing their sites while developers will be able to take advantage of [109](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=enhancement&type=feature+request&milestone=4.8&col=id&col=summary&col=milestone&col=status&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&order=priority) enhancements and features added. Let’s look at the many improvements coming in 4.8…
##### Media Widgets
Not one, not two, but three new media widgets make their way into core. It’s like the AV crew just showed up and now the party can really begin. You get an audio widget. You get an image widget. You get a video widget. Check under your seat, media widgets for everyone!
[Media Widgets for Images, Video, and Audio](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/26/media-widgets-for-images-video-and-audio/)
As first introduced in the Image Widget Merge Proposal, WordPress 4.8 includes media widgets (#32417) for not only images (#39993) but also video (#39994) and audio (#39995), on top of an extensible base for introducing additional media widgets in the future, such as for galleries and playlists. To quote [40640]: The last time a new widget was introduced, Vuvuzelas … [Continue reading Media Widgets for Images, Video, and Audio](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/26/media-widgets-for-images-video-and-audio/)
[Make WordPress Core](https://make.wordpress.org/core)
[3 Comments](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/26/media-widgets-for-images-video-and-audio/#comments)
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<div><blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="nRDIzkIOR1"><a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/26/media-widgets-for-images-video-and-audio/">Media Widgets for Images, Video, and Audio</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/26/media-widgets-for-images-video-and-audio/embed/#?secret=nRDIzkIOR1" width="600" height="400" title="“Media Widgets for Images, Video, and Audio” — Make WordPress Core" data-secret="nRDIzkIOR1" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /\*! This file is auto-generated \*/ !function(c,l){"use strict";var e=!1,o=!1;if(l.querySelector)if(c.addEventListener)e=!0;if(c.wp=c.wp||{},c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage);else if(c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(!t);else if(!(t.secret||t.message||t.value));else if(/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret));else{for(var r,s,a,i=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),n=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=0;o<n.length;o++)n[o].style.display="none";for(o=0;o<i.length;o++)if(r=i[o],e.source!==r.contentWindow);else{if(r.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message){if(1e3<(s=parseInt(t.value,10)))s=1e3;else if(~~s<200)s=200;r.height=s}if("link"===t.message)if(s=l.createElement("a"),a=l.createElement("a"),s.href=r.getAttribute("src"),a.href=t.value,a.host===s.host)if(l.activeElement===r)c.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)c.addEventListener("message",c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",t,!1),c.addEventListener("load",t,!1);function t(){if(o);else{o=!0;for(var e,t,r,s=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 10"),a=!!navigator.userAgent.match(/Trident.\*rv:11\./),i=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),n=0;n<i.length;n++){if(!(r=(t=i[n]).getAttribute("data-secret")))r=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),t.src+="#?secret="+r,t.setAttribute("data-secret",r);if(s||a)(e=t.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),t.parentNode.replaceChild(e,t);t.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:r},"\*")}}}}(window,document); </script> <br></div>
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##### Fabulously Rich Text Widget
Robin Hood has come to town and is handing out rich text editing to all the text widgets. No more having to manually type out your HTML in text widgets like it’s 2016.
In its first couple years, WordPress lacked rich/visual text editing. Before TinyMCE was incorporated in WordPress 2.0, users had to edit post content as raw HTML with some support from the Quicktags buttons. When widgets were introduced in WordPress 2.2, the Text widget was included which allowed a user to add content to their sidebar. … [Continue reading](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/23/addition-of-tinymce-to-the-text-widget/)
##### Simpler Link Editing, Streamlined Browser Support, and Editor Instantiation via JS
Editing just got a lot easier, you can thank us later. But trust us that adding and managing links within the editor is now easier than ever. If you don’t trust us, then just try navigating in and out of links with your arrow keys. Pretty cool, huh? That’s the new TinyMCE inline element / link boundaries. As for the reduced browser support, let’s just say IE 8, 9, and 10 have been thanked for their service but can feel free to enjoy their retirement. Also, if bootstrapping the TinyMCE content editor dynamically via JS is your thing, then boy are you going to be excited!
[Editor changes in 4.8](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/25/editor-changes-in-4-8/)
There are couple of noteworthy changes to the editor in WordPress 4.8. A much better experience when trying to place the cursor around links. Try inserting a link, then move the cursor with the left and right arrow keys. You can clearly see when it is inside the link element and when it is before … [Continue reading](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/25/editor-changes-in-4-8/)
A new editor API was added in #35760. It makes it possible to dynamically instantiate the editor from JS. There are two parts to it: All editor related scripts and stylesheets have to be enqueued from PHP by using wp\_enqueue\_editor(). Initialization is left for the script that is adding the editor instance. It requires the … [Continue reading](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/05/20/editor-api-changes-in-4-8/)
##### WMV and WMA get retirement packages
Remember Silverlight? Many browsers these days don’t. So the file formats which require the presence of the Silverlight plugin are being removed from core support. Files will still display as a download link, but will no longer be embedded automatically.
##### Resizing the Customizer sidebar
If you have used the Customizer on a high-resolution screen, then you may have noticed that the Customizer sidebar is… suboptimally narrow. The sidebar is now variable width based on screen size to help you receive the best editing experience possible.
##### WordCamps and meetups all up in your admin dashboard
One of the best things about WordPress is its community. You can now read about WordCamps and meetups in your area right within your dashboard. No more excuses for missing the speaker or volunteer deadlines now!
##### Mu will really love these multisite changes
We know you love superheroes but `is_super_admin()` needs to go. So while we’re replacing that with appropriate capabilities, we’re also treating you to some new hooks and a new `$network_id` parameter that gets wide usage across several functions.
##### Accessibility: saving the best for last
As a part of ongoing efforts to improve accessibility in WordPress, 4.8 includes some changes to headings within admin screens. This is a continuation of the work started in 4.3 on [restoring the H1](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2015/07/31/headings-in-admin-screens-change-in-wordpress-4-3/) (heading level 1) to the admin screens and continued in 4.4 with [the introduction of a better headings hierarchy](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2015/10/28/headings-hierarchy-changes-in-the-admin-screens/). Also improved is the Tag Cloud widget, now swapping out the `title` attributes in favor of `aria-label` attributes.
##### But Wait, There is More!
Roughly [217](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=defect+(bug)&milestone=4.8&col=id&col=summary&col=milestone&col=status&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&order=priority) bugs, [108](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=enhancement&milestone=4.8&col=id&col=summary&col=milestone&col=status&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&order=priority) enhancements, [1](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=feature+request&milestone=4.8&col=id&col=summary&col=milestone&col=status&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&order=priority) feature request, and [16](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=task+(blessed)&milestone=4.8&col=id&col=summary&col=milestone&col=status&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&order=priority) blessed tasks have been [marked as closed in WordPress 4.8](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&milestone=4.8&group=component&col=id&col=summary&col=owner&col=type&col=priority&col=component&col=version&order=priority). Some additional ones to highlight include:
* REST API: Add `supports` object to `/types` response ([#39033](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/39033))
* Screencast.com was added as an oEmbed provider ([#38367](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/38367))
* Popular plugins feed has been removed from the dashboard ([#40702](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/40702))
* Support added for Bosnian locale (`bs_BA`) in `remove_accents()` ([#39658](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/39658))
* Easily enqueue `WP_Editor` JavaScript files using the new `wp_enqueue_editor()` ([#35760](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/35760))
##### New Action Hooks
##### New Filter Hooks
* `file_mod_allowed` replaces `disallow_file_mods` ([#38673](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/38673))
* `nav_menu_submenu_css_class` ([#36163](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/36163))
* `post_date_column_status` ([#39545](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/39545))
* `signup_site_meta` ([#39223](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/39223))
* `signup_user_meta` ([#39223](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/39223))
* `widget_{$this->id_base}_instance` ([#32417](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/32417))
##### Modified Filter Hooks
* `display_media_states` ([#39628](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/39628))
* `media_library_show_audio_playlist` ([#31071](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/31071))
* `media_library_show_video_playlist` ([#31071](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/31071))
* `rest_pre_insert_comment` ([#39578](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/39578))
##### External Library Updates
* TinyMCE was updated from version **4.5.6** to version **4.6.2** (see: [#40859](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/40859)).
* Twemoji was updated from version **2.2.2** to version **2.3.0** (see: [#40858](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/40858)).
* zxcvbn was updated from version **1.0** to version **4.4.1** (see: [#31647](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/31647)).
Please, test your code. That bears repeating: **Please, test your code.** Fixing issues now, before 4.8 is released, helps you and helps millions of WordPress sites. ***Please. Test. Your. Code.***, WordPress 4.8 Field Guide, Jeffrey Paul, 01gnmcxkmmarbmxjr4dewyttxe.