WordPress 5.1 was released on February 21, 2019. The new version adds some new features you should know.
WordPress version 5.1, named “Betty” in honor of acclaimed jazz singer Betty Carter, is available to download or update from the WordPress dashboard.
Following WordPress 5.0 – a major release that introduced the new block editor– 5.1 focuses on the details, improving the overall performance of the editor. In addition, this release paves the way for a better, faster, and more secure WordPress experience with some essential tools for administrators and developers.
Site Health
The new version introduces WordPress’ first “Site Health” features. WordPress will begin displaying alerts to website administrators who are running outdated versions of PHP, the programming language that powers WordPress.
When you install new plugins, WordPress Site Health features will check them against the version of PHP you are running. If the plugin requires a version that will not work on your site, WordPress will avoid installing that plugin.
Editor Performance
Debuting with WordPress 5.0, the new block editor continues to improve. WordPress 5.1 includes improvements to the editor. The editor experiences a faster and smoother experience.
Expect more performance improvements in the next two releases.
It is worth noting that the Site Health feature will be interesting … and could cause problems for those running old themes and plugins on outdated PHP versions.
