The discharge of WordPress 6.1 on Nov. 1, 2023, launched a brand new inventory theme: TwentyTwentyThree. As with all inventory theme, the aim is to point out off the shiny new toys
that ship with the latest model of WordPress. TwentyTwentyThree offers us a great take a look at what 6.1 can do and lets us think about the close to way forward for WordPress because it continues its evolution towards a no-code design system.
TwentyTwentyThree is definitely prepared on your consideration whether or not you employ it in manufacturing or want to consider it for future use.
TwentyTwentyThree: Block theme for makers
TwentyTwentyThree couldn’t be a greater instance of how one can construct each aspect of a WordPress web site solely with blocks. That’s the hallmark of a block theme.
This theme is taken into account a stripped-down model of its latest predecessor, TwentyTwentyTwo. That theme had a well-defined artwork path. In distinction, TwentyTwentyThree is so design-agnostic that, in contrast to its predecessor default WordPress themes, it comes with no inventory photographs. And it’s very light-weight. And that’s the level.
This places you — content material creator, designer or web site developer — in command.
Let’s take a look at TwentyTwentyThree’s distinct options.
Fashion variations
This function, part of the Web site Editor, simply could be ushering in a brand new Childless Theme period. When you’ve ever wanted to make wholesale modifications to a theme, you may know of the ache required to create a toddler theme the place your customized types and capabilities reside.
The thought that you may now change the model of a theme with out really utilizing a unique theme is in full show with the model choices that TwentyTwentyThree affords.
Along with the default model, these 10 model variations are straightforward to pick on your site. Notably, every model variation was created by a member of the WordPress group.
Every model is outlined by its coloration palette and typography. Consider these as beginning factors that you may change to fit your wants.
Coloration palettes
Every of the 11 model variations has a five-set (place to begin) coloration palette. The default model variation makes use of the next:
You may at all times change any coloration from the default model or to any of its different 10 variations.
Typefaces
The TwentyTwentyThree theme comes with font households which could be new to you. Choose the typeface identify to see extra info.
System font
These draw upon the fonts already put in on a consumer’s system.
All of those fonts are packaged with TwentyTwentyThree, which means you aren’t pulling them from third-party sources reminiscent of Google the place privateness points had been raised earlier final yr within the EU. Plus, a font is barely loaded if used, which is an actual efficiency enhance (however this isn’t new to most WordPress block themes).
You may at all times stray from the built-in fonts for those who choose.
And, as with all block theme, you possibly can assign coloration or typeface to a single block, reminiscent of a heading, to use to your entire web site.
You continue to can’t set properties reminiscent of letter spacing, phrase spacing, or line top on a sitewide foundation however anticipate that to alter with the discharge of WordPress 6.2 in March 2023.
Fluid typography and spacing
You’re in all probability questioning, “I believed most WP themes had been responsive already. What’s this?”
TwentyTwentyThree focuses in your content material and also you don’t have to worry as a lot as you probably did earlier than as as to whether your typeface and surrounding house would optimally render on all gadgets.
How does it work?
Conventional responsive design makes use of CSS media queries to focus on desktop, laptop computer and cell gadget widths. The issue with that strategy is that designers can’t set breakpoints for every kind of gadget. This accounts for some design points that should be resolved on a case-by-case foundation.
Fluid typeface doesn’t goal a tool’s width. Relatively, utilizing the three values of the clamp property (a minimal, a most popular, and a most measurement) it really works with the viewport of the gadget and scales accordingly.
That is a chic resolution, notably for headings and enormous textual content sizes.
For smaller sizes, reminiscent of physique copy, the normal media question strategy continues to be the way in which to go.
For added particulars and a few of the technical specs, see Including Fluid Typography Help to WordPress Block Themes from CSS-Methods. In that article, you’ll see a few of the technical specs which account for the way fluid typography works.
Summing up
Generally it’s onerous to inform what new options any theme can deliver. I discover myself asking, “Is that this function theme-specific, or is that this a part of WordPress core?”
The one strategy to discover out — wanting studying by means of documentation — is to check it by making an attempt totally different themes. So I did loads of testing and, because it turned out, what’s constructed into TwentytwentyThree particularly (and never WordPress core) had been the options described above.
Whereas TwentyTwentyThree doesn’t look dazzling, that’s simply the place its energy lies.
Consider it as a strong clean slate the place you may have a variety of design prospects at your fingertips. This theme asks, “What’s the way forward for WP themes if we will begin with a clean web page?”