WordPress has announced a significant update in the admin color palette with the release of WordPress 5.7. This new palette offers higher contrast and improved readability, making the admin backend more accessible.
WordPress 5.7
The latest version, WordPress 5.7, is set to be released on March 9, 2021. One of its key goals is to update the admin color palette, which dictates the colors available throughout the WordPress admin area.
The current palette, which consists of 199 colors, has not seen an update in some time. This new update will impact all elements within the admin panel, including plugin and theme notifications.
Accessibility and Simplification of Admin Area
The update aims to simplify the color selection process for developers and enhance accessibility. The new version features a higher contrast between light and dark colors, aiding readability, especially for color-blind users.
Overall, this update benefits all users with access to the WordPress backend. The number of colors in the admin area has been reduced from 199 to 99.
Easier to Read Admin Area
The improvement in contrast and readability is subtle but effective. Many users might not immediately notice the change, though they may find the admin area more pleasant to use.
Progress Continues on WordPress 5.7
Further work is ongoing in preparation for the March release. This includes developing a color palette using CSS custom properties and creating a logical naming scheme.
According to WordPress.org:
"So far, the most discussed and agreed-upon approach is to create a base color palette and apply those colors to properties named after their usage. This offers flexibility to utilize the dynamic nature of CSS custom properties to adjust values without causing confusion.
Additionally, several alternative admin color schemes could benefit from using custom properties. We aim to keep the number of custom properties concise and implement them in a way that is easily extendable. Fallbacks for browsers that do not support CSS Custom Properties are also a consideration."
WordPress.org Deserves Acknowledgement
Unlike some organizations that release products prematurely, WordPress.org takes a thorough and collaborative approach. The team’s careful planning and execution aim to deliver a reliable product, as demonstrated by the thoughtful update to the admin color palette.
The Make WordPress development team has made significant progress, and exciting features are expected in the upcoming release of WordPress 5.7.
Citations
Read the Official Announcement:
Introducing CSS Custom Properties to the WordPress Admin
Check out the interactive before and after sliders:
Admin Color Branch Comparison
Inspect the Full Color Palette:
WordPress Color Palette
