New In WordPress 6.9: Core Blocks, Abilities Api & Other Features That Caught A Non-Coder’s Eye

The last release and one of the anticipated ones, WordPress 6.9 is released; code-named ‘Gene,’ in honour of the American Jazz pianist Gene Harris. And I am excited to share that I contributed to its beta version testing. As a non-coding WordPress enthusiast, like every release, why not share amazing things that caught my eye and made me optimistic this year?

WordPress 6.9 is jam-packed with incredible improvements and additions that showcase AI power, community agility, and innovation. This new WordPress release has new Gutenberg blocks, new APIs, AI support and tons of improvements. I really enjoyed exploring these new features and if you are a Block editor lover like me, then you are getting all the must-have features from now on as default. Excited enough? Let’s dive into the details.

WordPress 6.9 At A Glance: New Core Blocks, APIs, Improvements, AI & More

If you are following WordPress releases, you can see that the patterns are shifting from last year. We are getting fewer new versions in a year, but resourceful and impactful ones, which are enhancing our workflow from the core. WordPress 6.9 is bringing 340+ updates and issue fixes along with brand new features. Let’s share with you all what attracts my attention:

1. 6 new core blocks – Accordions, Math, Time to read, Term Query & More
2. Abilities API – A new, cleaner, smarter permissions/authorization system, which helps in a very narrow, indirect way for AI tools inside WordPress
3. Updates to the Interactivity API and the Block Bindings API, along with other additional developer upgrades.
4. New Editor features – Notes, Blocks Visibility, expansion of command palette, etc.
5. Transform any text block into a Stretchy Paragraph or Stretchy Heading.
6. Fixed the background padding issue for the Heading block.
7. Selectable HTML element for Button and Separator blocks.
8. tagName selector for the Post Content block.
9. Custom link icons for Social Links.
10. Sorting by menu order in the Query Loop block.
11. Updates to the Navigation block.
12. Poster image support for the Cover block.

If you are interested in following the roadmap and learn more about the new additions in-depth, then check out the WordPress 6.9 roadmap.

It’s time to explore my top picks and experience all the new in WordPress 6.9.

Before kickstarting, if you want to explore WordPress 6.9 beta version, get the WordPress Beta Tester plugin and follow this procedure.

Introducing 6 New Core Blocks For WordPress

The six new Gutenberg blocks that were just released will increase the block editor’s creative potential and remove the need for users to install extra plugins. Contributors argued for years over whether new blocks belonged in plugin territory or in core. WordPress 6.9 advances in a useful manner.

These new blocks include Accordion, Term Query, Time to Read, Math, Comment Count and Comment Link.

1. Accordion Block

Can you believe it? Now you are getting the Accordion block by default in your Gutenberg editor without dependency on any third-party Block libraries. Making your FAQ schema readable by search engines has become easier. You can create a simple to complex, nested accordion with this block. 

You are getting a container for nested Accordion items, a clickable heading that opens and closes a panel and intuitive styling options. For styling and customizing the Accordion block seamlessly, you can follow Justin Tadlock’s excellent guide, ‘Styling accordions in WordPress 6.9’.

2. Term Query Block

I would say it is one of the phenomenal additions to the default block directory. With the Term Query block of WordPress 6.9, you can display terms, such as categories, tags or any taxonomy, efficiently. It is a great help for organizing and managing content-heavy websites fluently.

By definition, this new block is a Terms Template since it has a Row block with a Term Name and a Term Count. Taxonomy can be set, list items can be sorted, selected items can be specified, empty or nested terms can be shown or hidden and the number of terms to display can be adjusted. The Term Template has two display modes: List and Grid. You can also change the tags of block elements. Blocks can also be inserted between the components of the Terms Query block.

3. Time to Read Block

Seeing this new block in core takes me back to those days when I had to design blogs with other page builders or do custom codes or get pro upgrades just to see the time to read a blog. Now you can use this new Gutenberg block anywhere on your website and showcase the time it will take to finish reading that content. 

And what’s new in WordPress 6.9 excites me is that you are getting 3 modes: showcase time to read the blog, word counts and display a range of value. Depending on your user niche, you can experiment with all modes and revamp your blogs with this new core block.

4. Math Block

The Math block allows you to insert mathematical formulas into your content. Just write your formulas in LaTeX syntax and they will be converted into the corresponding mathematical symbols. It is also possible to insert inline formulas.

All research writers, mathematicians and bloggers, take note: directly from the Gutenberg editor, you can seamlessly write and display all the mathematical equations. Again, reminiscing about past days, when, for the website, I had to add screenshots of equations because I couldn’t write them fully. 

I am optimistic about this block and hoping to get more improvements and make it the ultimate block that helps you host a complete research journal.

5. Comment Links & Comment Counts Block

This new block is another blessing for bloggers; there is no need for 3rd-party comment plugins. Both blocks are now available for use in the Site Editor and the Post Editor. You can easily organize your website comments, links and counts. 

New Features In The Block Editor For WordPress 6.9

WordPress 6.9 not only brings new blocks for the Gutenberg block editor, but it also enhances features, making your editor experience more accessible and manageable in terms of editing and design. Let’s take a look at my top picks.

1. Add Notes To Blocks In The Post Editor

This feature enables asynchronous collaboration between team members, allowing you to track activities and streamline editorial workflows. I can recall how many times we had to go back and forth to suggest changes in the post; sometimes we had to exchange countless screenshots and written instructions in other mediums and the list goes on.

With new WordPress 6.9, all you have to do is click on the ‘Add Note’ button in the block toolbar to add a note. This displays a new Notes sidebar and a note panel to add your note. You can keep the notes visible or disabled by toggling from the top bar. All your notes can be resolved, modified, or deleted.

When a user adds a note to a block, the post author is notified via email. These emails are enabled by default, but they may be removed from the WordPress admin by going to Settings →  Discussion →  Email me anytime and deselecting the new option. Anyone can post a note.

2. Block Visibility Control

Ever thought how awesome it would be if you could hide your designed section from the editor and it doesn’t break the design on the frontend and anytime you can make the hidden section visible with one click? In WordPress 6.9 you have this feature, a new block API and interface.

This function is great for hiding blocks that are not yet ready to be displayed and it works wonderfully alongside the new Notes feature.  Teams can now work on generating pages and finalizing sections only after they have been completed and authorized.

Open the Navigation sidebar, click on the ‘Three dots’ beside the block you want to hide, then select ‘Hide’ from the dropdown. The block will now remain hidden. Give a check from the front end as well.

3. Visual Drag And Drop

Building layouts is now more intuitive and flexible with clear drag handles and a live preview that shows exactly what you’re moving. It makes design flow naturally, a faster way to build pages with WordPress 6.9.

4. Extended Command Palette

Enjoy using shortkeys while working on the editor? Then WordPress 6.9 brings good news for you. The Command palette is now available in both the site editor and the WordPress dashboard (Ctrl+K or Command+K), making navigation quicker and faster. 

Type in the palette to search, navigate the dashboard, or take direct actions. For example, typing ‘add‘ will open a menu with options such as Add Post, Add Media File, Add User and others.

Top Picks For Developers In WordPress 6.9

As I don’t identify myself as a developer, I would skip giving a deep dive. But I would love to share my favourite pics. Let’s have a glance.

Introducing Abilities API

This new WordPress API offers a standardized registry, allowing plugins, themes and the WordPress core to disclose their capabilities in both human and machine-readable ways. The new Abilities API directly benefits WordPress users by allowing external services, such as AI assistants, external apps and UI features like the Command Palette, to interpret and execute WordPress actions (e.g., publishing or editing) consistently.

The Abilities API enables workflow automation. The Abilities API allows developers to build complicated automated processes by creating sequences of operations. The Abilities API can be used by developers for a variety of applications, such as enhancing the functionality of the Command Palette and developing automated workflows.

Other notable updates include improvements to the Binding API, DataViews and DataForms, the Interactivity API and the addition of IDs to Interactivity API directives. If you want to explore more, then check out our WordPress developers’ guide.

Explore New WordPress 6.9 Features & Don’t Forget To Update Your Website

When a new release consists of hundreds of updates and contributors’ efforts, it’s really hard to point out all the amazing features in one blog. Hopefully, you will explore all these amazing features and update your websites with the new WordPress 6.9. Basically, new updates not only offer you advanced features but also take care of website security and loading speed. Wishing you the best of luck with the new version and enhanced workflow.

I would love to hear your thoughts as well. Please let me know which feature you think is creative and a must-have. Leave a comment below. Till the next post, bye-bye.