A popular free WordPress theme, Astra, has recently been updated to version 3.8.0. This new version promises faster performance both on the backend and frontend, aimed at making website design more accessible and speedier. The design controls have also been refined to be more intuitive and powerful.
### Free Astra WordPress Theme
Astra is a well-regarded WordPress theme that boasts a rare five-star rating on the official WordPress theme website. Trusted by organizations like Stanford University and NASA, Astra is used by over 1.6 million websites. Its popularity is due in part to its ease of use and its lightweight code, which helps improve performance.
The theme is engineered to be SEO-ready from the start, incorporating Schema.org structured data. Astra is also compatible with major page builders such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, Visual Composer, SiteOrigin, and WooCommerce. One of the key features contributing to its appeal is the ability to import ready-made starter templates tailored for various industries and uses.
The latest update, version 3.8.0, is available for the free version of Astra, while the paid pro version has been updated to version 3.6.8.
### Simplified Design Flow
The updated Astra theme offers a more streamlined design process, aiding publishers and designers in creating websites more rapidly. Improvements to the Latest Posts Block automate design aspects to ensure a polished look without the need for extensive manual adjustments. Default style settings now dictate headings, link colors, and fonts.
Improvements have also been made to the Pull Quote and Quote blocks, addressing a styling issue that previously kept text left-aligned even when centered.
### More Control Over Design Elements
Astra now offers greater customization options for page design. Users can modify link colors more effortlessly, adjust margins and padding, and control border styles, including width, color, and radius. Additionally, the theme allows for the global or site-wide disabling of the header area at the top of the page.
Design controls have been revamped to be more user-friendly; for instance, dropdown menus have been replaced with button selection controls. Publishers can now also adjust default content width by adding a filter to the child theme.
Astra has highlighted these enhancements in their announcement:
> “Now you have better control over the sidebar and content layout with visual layout designs directly available in the block editor. Page elements are streamlined, with fewer toggles appearing conditionally, leading to faster page loads.”
### Performance Improvements
Astra continues to focus on enhancing theme speed. While improvements may seem modest, even minor optimizations can lead to increased sales, conversions, and page views, making this a significant step forward.
Backend optimizations benefit designers, and frontend improvements enhance visitor experience. According to Astra:
> “Studies show that the amount of CSS used on your website directly impacts its speed. By minimizing the CSS usage, the website loads faster, which is essential for rankings. We’ve reduced CSS usage in the theme by utilizing the built-in CSS of WordPress.”
### Backend and Frontend Enhancements
Backend updates include reducing Dynamic CSS from 21.4 KB to 7 KB, Static CSS from 21 KB to 15 KB, and overall page size from 588 KB to 547 KB. On the frontend, CSS has been trimmed from 9.77 KB to 4.44 KB, and the page size has been reduced from 111 KB to 106 KB. Additionally, font customizer controls have been transitioned to React JS for quicker operation.
### Astra Theme Keeps Getting Better
The free Astra theme is trusted by nearly two million websites globally due to its ease of design, especially with its built-in template importer. With ongoing improvements in performance and design features, Astra remains one of the most popular WordPress themes worldwide.
### Citations
– Official Astra Theme Changelog
– Improved Block Editor Experience with Astra
– Official WordPress Astra Theme Page by Brainstorm Force
