WordPress 6.4, scheduled for release on November 7, 2023, will include over 100 performance improvements, making it one of the most important releases for website owners focused on speed and performance. This release continues the upward performance trend that has nearly doubled the average Core Web Vitals performance in the two years since the creation of the WordPress Performance Team in 2021.
Some of the key performance improvements in WordPress 6.4 include:
- Improvements to template loading performance for block themes and classic themes: WordPress 6.4 will optimise the way that templates are loaded, resulting in faster page load times for both block and classic themes.
- Usage of the new script loading strategies “defer” and “async” in core, blocks, and themes: WordPress 6.4 will start using the new script loading strategies “defer” and “async” to load scripts in a more efficient way, improving page load times and reducing the impact on the user experience.
- New functions to optimise the use of autoloaded options: WordPress 6.4 will introduce new functions to optimise the use of autoloaded options, which can improve page load times for sites with a lot of options.
In addition to these specific improvements, WordPress 6.4 will also include a number of other performance optimisations throughout the codebase. These optimisations will add up to significant improvements in page load times and overall performance for WordPress sites of all sizes.
The WordPress Performance Team is committed to making WordPress the fastest and most performant CMS platform available. The over 100 performance improvements in WordPress 6.4 are a testament to their hard work and dedication. Website owners who are looking to improve the speed and performance of their WordPress sites should be sure to update to WordPress 6.4 as soon as it is released!