Powerful Features of the New WordPress Update 5.8 You Have to Know

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Man working on his website in WordPress.

WordPress has made another significant update packed with numerous powerful features. With Query Loop block being the biggest of them all. Query Loop will allow users to query a set of posts and display each one. Another key highlight of the WordPress update is the Post Template block that houses everything you want to display in the Query Loop.

To use the Query Loop block, you'll need to reconfigure the Pattern Inserter block to generate a list of predefined patterns to work with to display the Query Loop. Other than these blocks, you can also find multiple options in the display settings that allow you to change the number of posts to display, posts to skip, as well as a limit to the number of pages. 

Overall, the new WordPress Update 5.8 will include:

•    Query Loop

•    Query Loop Pattern Inserter

•    The Post Template

•    More options for your blocks

Understanding the Query Loop Concept

The WordPress Update 5.8 is packed with new features. It comes with block-based widgets, WebP image support, pattern directory, template-editing mode, and several great tools to work with. However, the most outstanding feature is the Query Loop block.

Traditionally, the terms “Query” and “Loop” were only vital for theme and plugin development. However, the Query Loop block included in the new WordPress update will help users be more aware to the inner workings of how WordPress shows posts on a website's front end.

The term “Query” simply means to “ask” or “query” for posts from the database based on a defined set of options. For instance, you may want to get the last ten blog posts you published.

“Loop,” on the other hand, means to “cycle” through each queried post and display it. A software developer could do a lot of things other than displaying posts during the query and loop process. But regular users are only care with what is on the screen. Combining the two concepts creates the Query Loop block, allowing users to ask for a set of posts and show each one.

Additionally, there is a Post Template block that houses the items users want to display in the Query Loop. WordPress even has a variation on the Query Loop block known as Posts List. Although the two blocks are similar, there is a surprising difference. The Posts List block is the same as the Query Loop but a Query Loop is not the same as the Posts List block. With the Query Loop you can query pages and products along with posts, while Posts List Block is only for posts. 

Query Loop Pattern Inserter

When inputting a Query Loop into the editor, users will come across the Pattern Inserter. Thus, you can select from a list of already set patterns instead of having immediate access to work with the block.

The inserter is a carousel that allows you to run through patterns single file. But, you can change to a grid-based layout and see every pattern at the same time. WordPress 5.8 comes with six Query Loop patterns, but more could be added.

Query Loop Block Options

The Query Loop block allows users to customize the posts with many options so they can query the database. For example, in the block toolbar, you can click the “Display settings” button to display options of how many posts to show, posts to skip, and the maximum number of pages to show.

You can also find secondary options in the The “Settings” panel. There you can turn on “Inherit query from the template” to access WordPress's global query. For now, you may need to disable this option to grant access to a myriad of new choices, such as:

•    Ordering

•    Post type

•    Filters panel for tags, categories, author, and keyword

Overall, the Filters and Settings panels are the most precise features of the Query Loop block. They have a middleground between user friendly and query-related parameters availed through code. It gives users impressive options to work with, but it should be malluable enough for plugin authors to expand on.

Two professionals in an office using laptop computers while discussing new WordPress updates.

The Post Template

When inputting a Query Loop, the WordPress editor includes its internal Post Template block, and this is where a lot of the fun occurs. With the Post Template block, you can change the appearance of your posts by simply adding blocks from the Theme category.

Almost every other block is available for insertion, but many of them will not be ideal for use within the Query Loop. What may not be immediately visible is that any change you make to one post within the Template block affects all other posts. Therefore, adding Video or Button blocks here means that they will appear identical. In other words, it's a “template” that allows you to design how all posts in the Query Loop will look.

The only downside to customizing the WordPress 5.8 Post Template block is that other blocks lack the design option. If you wanted to you could create a Reusable Block to be able to reuse your custom block. As well, you can build post lists with titles and published dates.

You can also use the Post Template block to build a layout such as a portfolio project grid. But, the Post Featured Image block currently lacks the ability to pick from other built-in image sizes besides “thumbnail”. That means that you'll be stuck with your theme's post-thumbnail size if it is registered by default. Your experiences may vary depending on your theme's architecture. 

For more sophisticated functionalities than the options above, you will need to hold on until WordPress 5.9 rolls out. WordPress theme authors can use the block styles API to improve user experience. It will be fascinating to see how creative they become with the Post Template Block.

Wrapping Up the WordPress Update

Overall, this latest WordPress update has enough stuff to keep us preoccupied for a while. It’s an exciting future for WordPress. Their updates make it seem like the possibilities of websites are endless, and with this latest WordPress Update anything can happen. 

At Viral Solutions, we are always committed to seeing your company succeed. As a full-service marketing agency based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, we employ time-tested strategies and up-to-date tactics to help you grow your business. Want to make sure your site is up to date? Contact us for a free audit!

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