WordPress 7.0 Field Guide  🔗 **Source:** [WordPress 7.0 Field Guide](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2026/05/14/wordpress-7-0-field-guide/) This guide outlines major developer features and breaking changes in 7.0 and is published in the Release Candidate phase to help inform WordPress extending developers, Core developers, and others. There are more than [419 Core Trac tickets](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&milestone=7.0&group=component&col=id&col=summary&col=type&col=priority&col=focuses&order=priority) included in WordPress 7.0, [over 76 of which are enhancements and feature requests](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=enhancement&type=feature+request&milestone=7.0&group=component&max=200&col=id&col=summary&col=type&col=status&col=milestone&col=owner&col=priority&order=priority), and [more than 300 bug fixes](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=defect+(bug)&milestone=7.0&group=component&max=500&col=id&col=summary&col=type&col=status&col=milestone&col=owner&col=priority&order=priority). This release includes [40+ tickets focused on the Editor](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&component=Editor&milestone=7.0&col=id&col=summary&col=status&col=milestone&col=owner&col=type&col=priority&order=priority), and [90+ tickets focused on wp-admin](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?component=Administration&milestone=7.0&or&focuses=~administration&milestone=7.0&group=component&col=id&col=summary&col=milestone&col=owner&col=type&col=status&col=priority&order=priority). Additionally, this release includes [411 enhancements](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues?q=(label%3A%22%5BType%5D%20Enhancement%22%20AND%20is%3Aclosed)%20AND%20(milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.0%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.1%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.2%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.3%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.4%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.5%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.6%22)) and [more than 486 bug fixes](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues?q=(label%3A%22%5BType%5D%20Bug%22%20AND%20is%3Aclosed)%20AND%20(milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.0%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.1%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.2%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.3%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.4%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.5%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.6%22)) for the Editor, Dashboard, and AI integration. Below is a breakdown of the most important developer-related changes included in WordPress 7.0. 1. [Modernized Dashboard](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2026/05/14/wordpress-7-0-field-guide/#modernized-dashboard) 2. [Design Agility](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2026/05/14/wordpress-7-0-field-guide/#design-agility) #### AI building blocks of the future Step into a new era with WordPress 7.0, shipped with AI integration and abilities. Provider-agnostic architecture gives you full control over units and capabilities while tapping into the endless opportunities AI can bring to life. These critical building blocks are just the beginning, paving the way for agentic collaborators and so much more. ##### WP AI Client WordPress 7.0 unlocks AI capabilities right in your website. The new WP AI client adds a central interface that lets plugins communicate with generative AI models while remaining provider-agnostic. WordPress Core handles request routing for you. Managed in the `Settings > Connectors` screen with API keys funneled through the Connectors API, you can start with some preset models and add your favorites. As a bonus, the Abilities API is integrated directly into the WP AI Client, delivering new and expansive AI abilities that can be built into workflows that run abilities fluidly, one after another. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/image.png) Plugin developers can use the new `using_model_preference()` function to indicate which models to use in order of preference, then add feature detection to match capabilities against available models – lowering cost and speeding up processing time. The AI Client includes a series of advanced configuration controls, and a `WP_AI_Client_Prompt_Builder` class for calling methods. For easy upgrades, the `wordpress/wp-ai-client` package handles transitioning to 7.0 automatically. WordPress 7.0 expands on the Abilities API by introducing a JavaScript counterpart: the Client-Side Abilities package with new and hybrid abilities, an intuitive UI, a command palette, and filter and query functionality. Plugin developers can enqueue `@wordpress/core-abilities` to automatically fetch and register server-side abilities via the REST API, or enqueue only `@wordpress/abilities` to work with the plugin’s client-side abilities. Registered abilities are organized in customizable categories, and abilities and categories can be unregistered via the PHP API. Meta data annotation is supported, and `core/abilities` makes `useSelect` available for reactive queries in React components. Manage all of your AI provider connections in one place on the new Connectors screen. Found under `Settings > Connectors` in the dashboard, the screen gives you everything you need to manage your connections. Registered connectors are displayed automatically on the page, and so is detailed registry meta data in a card format. The Connectors screen includes three default providers: Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI, while also allowing users to configure their own connections. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/image-2.png) ##### Connectors API The Connectors API is the backbone of the Connectors screen; an extensibility API that facilitates and supports the inclusion of agents. The API supports two authentication methods (`api_key` and `none`) based on provider metadata, and is designed to facilitate additional connector types in future releases. The Connectors API uses the WP AI Client’s default registry to automatically discover providers, and corresponding metadata to generate connectors, while connectors authenticated via other methods are stored in the PHP registry. You can use the `wp_connectors_init` action to override connectors metadata, which will be the key for registering new connector types in future releases. The API includes three public functions for querying the registry, and the frontend UI can be customized using client-side JavaScript registration. #### Modernized Dashboard WordPress 7.0 delivers an upgraded admin experience, with a sleek, new color scheme named “Modern”, numerous enhancements throughout the dashboard, and seamless visual transitions as you navigate from screen to screen. A new Command Palette shortcut in the upper admin bar lets you access tools from anywhere in the dashboard, while a new dedicated dashboard page for font management centralizes and simplifies managing fonts. The enhanced iframed post editor stabilizes the screen, while editors leave comments on blocks, receive notifications for notes and even visually compare two revision versions. ##### New admin color scheme and styles WordPress administration has been reinvigorated with a new, chic color scheme throughout the dashboard. The new Modern admin theme is live across admin headers, the Customizer, the color scheme picker, script loader, various user functions, and even the multisite user signup has been reskinned. The Modern theme is clean and easy on the eyes, boasting a refreshed color palette, higher contrast, and upgraded typography, uplifting and elevating the admin experience. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/image-3.png) ##### View Transitions in WP Admin Navigating the dashboard is a smooth ride in 7.0. User views slide from one screen to the next as you move across wp-admin. Cross-document view transitions use distinct transition names for admin menu items in order to facilitate this simple visual slide effect, firing when the active submenu changes between screens. With consideration for all users, View Transitions are only activated if a preference is not set for reduced motion on the OS level. ##### Command Palette shortcut Access your editing toolset from anywhere in the dashboard with a single click of the new Command Palette shortcut in the Omnibar. WordPress 7.0 includes a `⌘K` or `Ctrl+K` icon for logged-in users in the upper admin bar, which unfurls the command palette on click. The new shortcut speedruns editing and gives full control from anywhere in the dash: while building, designing or simply browsing notes. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/image-4.png) ##### Font Library The Font Library has expanded in 7.0 with the introduction of a dedicated font management page. Now you and your team can manage, upload and install fonts from one place in block, hybrid and classic themes. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/image-5.png) In WordPress 7.0, Visual Revisions make editing easier and more intuitive, while adding insight into post or page edit history. Users can now visually compare two revision versions directly in the Editor using a slider bar to visually switch between revisions. The document inspector shows a summary of changes, while color indicators and sizes of changes can be seen for each location, jumping to that location on the page when clicked. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/image-6.png) ##### Iframed Editor An improved, iframed editor in 7.0 offers more stability to the post editor experience. An iframed post editor is now enforced when all Block API blocks inserted into the post are using `version 3` of the API or higher. If not, the iframe is removed, upholding backwards compatibility for lower-versioned blocks. Notes are even better in 7.0, with a focus on streamlining team workflows. Data now syncs automatically, while a new keyboard shortcut, new dashboard widget, and new notifications help you stay on top of team communication. Support for multi-block notes has been added, along with support for partial selections and rich text editing. 7.0 inspires creativity with enhanced design tools and new editing capabilities. Users can now customize navigation overlays on mobile, granular control of the responsiveness for individual blocks, and edit at the pattern level in different modes. ##### Custom Navigation Overlays on mobile Hamburger menu overlays can now be customized and built from blocks and patterns in the Site Editor, with a dedicated Navigation Overlay Close block for placing and styling a close button anywhere within the overlay, giving users and theme authors flexibility to define mobile navigation experiences. In-place overlay selection and previews create a seamless editing experience, while users can review and assign overlays, and themes can offer default templates for quick setup. ##### Responsive Editing Mode WordPress 7.0 introduces customizable block visibility based on device type, allowing editors to hide or reveal blocks by device, without affecting other viewports. Controls to launch a block visibility options modal are available in the block toolbar, block inspector sidebar, and command palette. Icons are displayed in List View next to blocks that have active visibility rules, indicating what viewports they are being hidden on. Offering even more responsiveness enhancements, 7.0 introduces the ability to change styles for different breakpoints, customize breakpoint sizes and more. ##### Pattern Editing and `contentOnly` Interactivity 7.0 introduces Pattern Overrides for custom blocks, Pattern-level editing modes for contextual and symbol patterns, a parent-child tree view for buttons and list blocks, and the ability to opt out of `contentOnly` mode. `contentOnly` mode will now be default for patterns that previously relied on unrestricted editing of their inner blocks, while a new `disableContentOnlyForUnsyncedPatterns` setting or `block_editor_settings_all` PHP filter allows `contentOnly` mode to be opted out of for unsynced patterns. In 7.0 `contentOnly` mode is applied more broadly, so if a block is nested in a `contentOnly` pattern, plugin developers will want to ensure attributes representing the block’s content have `"role": "content"` set in `block.json` to retain their ability to be edited and prevent them from being hidden in list view. Block developers can now add a `"listView": true` block supports declaration to add a `List View` tab to the block inspector with a dedicated view for the block that allows editors to update and customize the block more easily. Block attributes that support Block Bindings now also support Pattern Overrides for custom blocks. Pattern Overrides now apply to any block, including custom blocks, and can be opted-in through `block_bindings_supported_attributes` filter(s). Attribute values appear in the rendered blocks’ markup for dynamic and static blocks, and if static blocks have more complex attributes than the HTML API can process, a `render_callback()` function can be used to ensure bound attribute values render. #### Design Agility Designing in WordPress 7.0 has become more flexible with the introduction of new blocks, new block supports and new design tools. A new Heading block, Icons block, Breadcrumbs block, and Playlist block with CSS inheritance are shipped with 7.0, with added lightbox support for the Gallery block, and dynamic URL support in the Navigation Link block. 7.0 includes text line indent support, text column support, dimensions width and height support, dimension presets, tools and controls, and aspect ratios for wide and full images. ##### Custom CSS on the block level 7.0 introduces the ability for custom CSS to be applied on-page to individual blocks. This allows granular control over every detail of your content, with quick and intuitive access to style controls. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-13-at-8.55.11-PM-scaled-1.png) ##### Headings Block A new Heading Block includes variations of all heading levels, easy toggling in the sidebar inspector and quick transforms, and display in the search and slash inserter. [](https://make.wordpress.org/core/files/2026/05/image-7.png) ##### Breadcrumbs Block The new Breadcrumbs Block in 7.0 automatically reflects the site’s navigational hierarchy with the ability for global application in site parts like the theme header. New filters allow developers to add, remove, and modify breadcrumb trails, and specify which taxonomy and terms appear in the Breadcrumbs trails. ##### Navigation Block Editing the navigation block is now more simple with improved insertion, Interactivity for pattern editing and ContentOnly, and improved “bound” page items presentation. Videos can now be embedded as section backgrounds in the Cover block. The Gallery block now has lightbox support with an added slideshow option. Just create and insert a Gallery, click the link icon and then hit ‘enlarge on click’. Click below to see!  ##### Added `<p>` Block Supports Text in the Paragraph block can now be arranged in a columns layout. More details on new and improved blocks are available here: ##### Dimensions Support Enhancements 7.0 introduces height and width block support, typography text indent support in paragraphs, presets support, and pseudo elements support on the core/button block for ( `':hover`‘, `':focus`‘, `':focus-visible'`, `':active'` ) at the `theme.json` level. Support for preset dimensions values in `theme.json` have been added for block supports such as width, height and min-height, allowing the block’s variations to control the same pseudo elements, while a defined set of preset values for dimensions block supports can be leveraged to reduce the need to know and manually set the same value across multiple blocks. #### Developer’s toolbox 7.0 delivers an expansive developer toolbox including new tools for building, enhanced supportive structures, and expanded API abilities. Developers can now create a PHP-only representation of blocks on the server level, customize plugin list filters, and explore the foundational layout for a more extensible Site Editor. ##### PHP Only Block Registration WordPress 7.0 allows blocks and patterns to be created directly on the server with PHP, and registered with the Block API. The PHP-only representation of blocks and patterns includes pattern creation and syntax that streamlines block creation and bindings, registering blocks automatically When a block declares `'supports' => array( 'autoRegister' => true )` along with a render callback, exposing it to the client-side via a JavaScript global variable. PHP-registered block attributes can be edited in the editor and inspector controls can be generated from attributes, with automatic DataForm inspector controls added for PHP auto-registered blocks. ##### Interactivity API Introducing a new `watch()` function to the `@wordpress/interactivity` package that subscribes to changes in any signal accessed inside a callback, re-running the callback whenever those signals change. The API’s `data-wp-watch` can be added to a DOM element’s lifecycle and react to state changes. The `state.url` value is now populated server-side during directive processing, remaining unchanged until the first client-side navigation occurs. ##### DataViews and DataForms Experience a new Activity layout, new Details layout, Improved modal appearance, and the ability to register 3rd party types in the Field API. ##### Block bindings API iterations Introducing the Block bindings and patterns overrides feature, with the ability to filter available attribute sources by format, aligning with the Field API. A new `plugins_list_status_text` filter in `get_views()` has been added to allow custom filtering. Custom statuses added with `plugins_list` now appear as tabs to filter the related plugins. The tab label can be customized using the new `plugins_list_status_text` hook. ##### Site Editor wordpress/build and routing In 7.0 the foundation has been laid for an extensible site editor and routing, route validation, a new `@wordpress/boot package` that allows plugins to build custom site-editor pages, and a refactored `@wordpress/scripts` that builds from directories and reduces Webpack dependence. WordPress 7.0 introduces updates that span every area of Core. These changes support ongoing initiatives to create a flexible foundation for developers while boosting usability and opportunity. The Block Hooks logic has been moved from individual post type filters to the REST controller. Administrator and Editor roles have been removed from the new user default selector under `General` in the admin screen. Site Health now alerts if one of those roles was selected before updating, while a new `default_role_dropdown_excluded_roles` filter allows developers to change default excluded roles. ##### CodeMirror Update to v5 CodeMirror has been updated to the latest `v5` version, along with `CSSLint`, `HTMLHint`, and J`SONLint`, while `Esprima` has been replaced with `Espree` for ES6 support and JavaScript linting. ##### External Libraries Updates * [backbone.js has been upgraded](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/63763) to the latest version (1.6.1). * The Requests library has been updated from 2.0.11 to [2.0.17](https://github.com/WordPress/Requests/releases/tag/v2.0.17). WordPress 7.0 includes numerous improvements and additions that make content more accessible for everyone. The login password reset now pre-populates with a username to comply with WCAG 2.2, and a new `wp_get_image_alttext()` function imports Image Alt text metadata from image IPTC metadata. The `word-break` property has been added to `.screen-reader-text` to ensure screen readers won’t read text as individual letters in hidden text, and [view transitions are only activated when reduced motion is not set](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/64529). Title attributes can now be removed from two functions using a new `$use_title_attr` parameter, and are removed from three author link functions by default. #### But wait, there’s more! 7.0 offers so much more! More than [300](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=defect+(bug)&milestone=7.0&group=component&col=id&col=summary&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&col=component&col=version&order=priority) Core bugs, [486](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues?q=(label%3A%22%5BType%5D%20Bug%22%20AND%20is%3Aclosed)%20AND%20(milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.0%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.1%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.2%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.3%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.4%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.5%22%20OR%20milestone%3A%22Gutenberg%2022.6%22)) Gutenberg bugs, [77](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=enhancement&type=feature+request&milestone=7.0&group=component&col=id&col=summary&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&col=component&col=version&order=priority) enhancements and feature requests, and [35](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&type=task+(blessed)&milestone=7.0&group=component&col=id&col=summary&col=type&col=owner&col=priority&col=component&col=version&order=priority) blessed tasks have been [marked as fixed in WordPress 7.0](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&milestone=7.0&group=component&col=id&col=summary&col=owner&col=type&col=priority&col=component&col=version&order=priority). Below are a few to highlight: * Site Health: OPCache added to `Site Health > Info > Server` ([Trac #63697](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/63697)) * Editor: Name/description metadata added to patterns when saved ([Trac #64123](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/64123) ) * Script Loader: Allow scripts to depend on modules: ([Trac #61500](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61500)) * Script Loader: HTML5 script theme support deprecated and removed ([Trac #64442](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/64442)) * General: Allow hooking into `wp_trigger_error()` when `WP_DEBUG` is not truthy. ([Trac #60886](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/60886)) * Multisite: Networks and Sites no longer automatically mark website as spam when an account is marked as spam ([Trac #61146](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61146)) * Themes: PHP 8.1 deprecation notice handling ([Trac #64864](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/64864)) ***Thank you to everyone who contributed to this version of WordPress, whether through code, testing, or something else – your contributions matter and help Make WordPress.***, WordPress 7.0 Field Guide, make.wordpress.org, 01krntag2t21yc03vsd857f0jh.