What Is New in WordPress 3.7
WordPress 3.7, named "Basie," is a significant release focused on core modernization, automatic background updates, and a stronger foundation for the future.
| Category | Key Changes |
|---|---|
| Automatic Updates | Background updates for maintenance and security releases. |
| Search Improvements | More intuitive and accurate search results. |
| Password Meter | Updated algorithm for better password strength evaluation. |
| Developer Features | New PHP password hashing, improved date/time handling, and more robust translation support. |
How does WordPress 3.7 handle automatic updates?
This version introduces automatic background updates for maintenance and security releases. This means your site can apply critical patches without requiring manual intervention.
In practice, this is a huge win for site maintenance. It helps keep installations secure by default, especially for users who aren't constantly monitoring their dashboards. The system is designed to be robust and only applies updates that are known to be safe and seamless.
What search improvements were made?
The search algorithm was overhauled to deliver more accurate and intuitive results. It now does a better job of understanding the user's query intent.
This matters because it improves the user experience on any site with a search bar, from blogs to large content repositories. The changes make finding content faster and more reliable without any extra configuration needed.
What's new for developers in 3.7?
Modern PHP Features
The entire codebase was scrubbed to support PHP 5.2.4 and above, paving the way for modern PHP features. This included adding the PasswordHash utility from the Portable PHP password hashing framework.
// Example of the new password hashing
$wp_hasher = new PasswordHash( 8, TRUE );
$hashed_password = $wp_hasher->HashPassword( $plaintext_password );Improved Date/Time Handling
Date and time handling was significantly improved with the introduction of the WP_Date_Query class. This allows for more complex and accurate date-based queries.
// Using WP_Date_Query for complex queries
$query = new WP_Query( array(
'date_query' => array(
array(
'after' => 'January 1st, 2013',
'before' => array(
'year' => 2013,
'month' => 12,
'day' => 31,
),
'inclusive' => true,
),
),
) );FAQ
Do automatic updates affect my themes and plugins?
No. The automatic background updates in WordPress 3.7 are specifically for core maintenance and security releases only. You still have full manual control over updating themes and plugins from your dashboard.
Can I disable automatic updates if needed?
Yes, you can. While not recommended for security reasons, you can disable them by adding define( 'AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED', true ); to your wp-config.php file.
What was the minimum PHP version requirement for 3.7?
WordPress 3.7 raised the minimum supported PHP version to 5.2.4. This allowed the core team to utilize more modern PHP functions and improve the overall codebase.
How does the new password meter work?
The password strength meter algorithm was updated to use a more advanced zxcvbn-based library. This provides a much more realistic assessment of password strength by checking against common words, patterns, and known breaches.
Were there any changes to translation and localization?
Yes, the release improved the "just-in-time" loading of translation files, making the process more efficient. It also fixed several bugs related to translation merging and the load_textdomain() function.