The latest update to Wordpress, version 6.4, comes with exciting changes to enhance page load times and performance for many websites. One notable improvement is the new approach to loading scripts on the front end. Packed with amazing updates, this version brings you a versatile default theme, exciting new features, and a touch of brilliance.

Pivotal Script Loading

Pivotal script loading strategies are now seamlessly integrated into the core and bundled themes of WordPress. This integration ensures better performance when loading scripts, thanks to the use of defer and async attributes.

With these attributes, the browser is instructed to load scripts either in the background (async) or after the rest of the page has loaded (defer). This clever technique significantly accelerates the time it takes for a page to become interactive.

So, how did WordPress make this possible? JavaScript files for important components like navigation menus and embedded media from WordPress.com are now enqueued with the ‘defer’ addition. Additionally, the wp-embed script responsible for displaying embedded posts also capitalizes on ‘defer’.

Optimize for Google Lighthouse – Improve Performance Soar

These advancements work behind the scenes to optimize your WordPress experience and make your website’s performance soar.
In the past, there was no standard way to add these attributes. But now, with the introduction of a dedicated API in WordPress 6.3 and its full implementation in 6.4, developers have a standardized method to control when their scripts load.

Moreover, this update brings most of the slower scripts back to the section, as they no longer delay the rendering process. This improvement allows the browser to discover and cache these scripts earlier, resulting in better overall performance.

A few less important scripts, such as the one for comment replies, will still be placed in the footer. However, they will load asynchronously using the ‘async’ attribute, enabling them to load at the same time as other resources.

So, what does all this mean for website visitors? Well, after updating, pages with WordPress content will load much faster. You’ll notice a decrease in any shifting or “jank” of page elements that may have occurred when the page first appeared. It’s a win-win situation!

The post Introducing WordPress 6.4, The Final Major Release of 2023 appeared first on Atlas SoftWeb Pvt Ltd.