History of WordPress

WordPress has come a long way since 2003. What started as a few lines of code and a mission to build a better web has become a prevalent web platform and thriving community. Explore major releases below.

Since the very beginning, WordPress release names have been inspired by jazz artists, an ode to the spirit of collaboration, experimentation, and creative freedom at the heart of open source.

Milestone Books

Explore WordPress’s first twenty years through Milestones and Building Blocks.

Read the books

Creative 3D Museum

Explore WordPress history through the fun 3D Museum built by the community.

Experience the Museum

State of the Word

Since 2006, WordPress has hosted its annual State of the Word keynote.

Relive SotW Keynotes

Releases

7.1

Mary Lou

Responsive styles, Admin bar in every editor, Inline notes with mentions

Point releases: 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.3

August 19, 2026

Launch 7.1

7.0

Armstrong

Design your navigation overlay, Modernized dashboard, Connectors hub for AI services

Point releases: 7.0.1, 7.0.2, 7.0.3, 7.0.4, 7.0.5, 7.0.6, 7.0.7

May 20, 2026

Launch 7.0

6.9

Gene

Notes for block-level collaboration, Command Palette across the dashboard, Abilities API

Point releases: 6.9.1, 6.9.2, 6.9.3, 6.9.4, 6.9.5, 6.9.6, 6.9.7, 6.9.8, 6.9.9, 6.9.10

December 2, 2025

Launch 6.9

6.8

Cecil

Refreshed Style Book, Speculative loading, Stronger password security with bcrypt

Point releases: 6.8.1, 6.8.2, 6.8.3, 6.8.4, 6.8.5, 6.8.6, 6.8.7, 6.8.8, 6.8.9, 6.8.10, 6.8.11

April 15, 2025

Launch 6.8

6.7

Rollins

Twenty Twenty-Five, Zoom Out view, Block bindings for custom fields

Point releases: 6.7.1, 6.7.2, 6.7.3, 6.7.4, 6.7.5, 6.7.6, 6.7.7, 6.7.8, 6.7.9, 6.7.10

November 12, 2024

Launch 6.7

6.6

Dorsey

Overrides in synced patterns, Rollbacks for plugin auto-updates, New page layout in the Site Editor

Point releases: 6.6.1, 6.6.2, 6.6.3, 6.6.4, 6.6.5, 6.6.6, 6.6.7, 6.6.8, 6.6.9, 6.6.10

July 16, 2024

Launch 6.6

6.5

Regina

Font Library, Interactivity API, Revisions for templates

Point releases: 6.5.2, 6.5.3, 6.5.4, 6.5.5, 6.5.6, 6.5.7, 6.5.8, 6.5.9, 6.5.10, 6.5.11, 6.5.12, 6.5.13

April 2, 2024

Launch 6.5

6.4

Shirley

Twenty Twenty-Four, Pattern categories and filtering, Block Hooks

Point releases: 6.4.1, 6.4.2, 6.4.3, 6.4.4, 6.4.5, 6.4.6, 6.4.7, 6.4.8, 6.4.9, 6.4.10, 6.4.11, 6.4.12, 6.4.13

November 7, 2023

Launch 6.4

6.3

Lionel

Unified Site Editor, Command Palette, Footnotes and Details blocks

Point releases: 6.3.1, 6.3.2, 6.3.3, 6.3.4, 6.3.5, 6.3.6, 6.3.7, 6.3.8, 6.3.9, 6.3.10, 6.3.11, 6.3.12, 6.3.13

August 8, 2023

Launch 6.3

6.2

Dolphy

Reimagined Site Editor, Style Book, Openverse media in the editor

Point releases: 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.5, 6.2.6, 6.2.7, 6.2.8, 6.2.9, 6.2.10, 6.2.11, 6.2.12, 6.2.13, 6.2.14

March 29, 2023

Launch 6.2

6.1

Misha

Twenty Twenty-Three, New templates, Fluid typography

Point releases: 6.1.1, 6.1.2, 6.1.3, 6.1.4, 6.1.5, 6.1.6, 6.1.7, 6.1.8, 6.1.9, 6.1.10, 6.1.11, 6.1.12, 6.1.13, 6.1.14, 6.1.15

November 1, 2022

Launch 6.1

6.0

Arturo

Style switching, Block locking, Improved List View

Point releases: 6.0.1, 6.0.2, 6.0.3, 6.0.4, 6.0.5, 6.0.6, 6.0.7, 6.0.8, 6.0.9, 6.0.10, 6.0.11, 6.0.12, 6.0.13, 6.0.14, 6.0.15, 6.0.16, 6.0.17

May 24, 2022

Launch 6.0

5.9

Joséphine

Full site editing, Twenty Twenty-Two, Navigation block

Point releases: 5.9.1, 5.9.2, 5.9.3, 5.9.4, 5.9.5, 5.9.6, 5.9.7, 5.9.8, 5.9.9, 5.9.10, 5.9.11, 5.9.12, 5.9.13, 5.9.14, 5.9.15, 5.9.16, 5.9.17, 5.9.18, 5.9.19

January 25, 2022

Launch 5.9

5.8

Tatum

Block-based widgets, Query Loop block, Template editing

Point releases: 5.8.1, 5.8.2, 5.8.3, 5.8.4, 5.8.5, 5.8.6, 5.8.7, 5.8.8, 5.8.9, 5.8.10, 5.8.11, 5.8.12, 5.8.13, 5.8.14, 5.8.15, 5.8.16, 5.8.17, 5.8.18

July 20, 2021

Launch 5.8

5.7

Esperanza

Simpler color palette, One-click HTTPS migration, Lazy-loading iframes

Point releases: 5.7.1, 5.7.2, 5.7.3, 5.7.4, 5.7.5, 5.7.6, 5.7.7, 5.7.8, 5.7.9, 5.7.10, 5.7.11, 5.7.12, 5.7.13, 5.7.14, 5.7.15, 5.7.16, 5.7.17, 5.7.18, 5.7.19, 5.7.20

March 9, 2021

Launch 5.7

5.6

Simone

Twenty Twenty-One, Expanded auto-updates, Application Passwords

Point releases: 5.6.1, 5.6.2, 5.6.3, 5.6.4, 5.6.5, 5.6.6, 5.6.7, 5.6.8, 5.6.9, 5.6.10, 5.6.11, 5.6.12, 5.6.13, 5.6.14, 5.6.15, 5.6.16, 5.6.17, 5.6.18, 5.6.19, 5.6.20, 5.6.21, 5.6.22

December 8, 2020

Launch 5.6

5.5

Eckstine

Block patterns, Block directory, Plugin and theme auto-updates

Point releases: 5.5.1, 5.5.2, 5.5.3, 5.5.4, 5.5.5, 5.5.6, 5.5.7, 5.5.8, 5.5.9, 5.5.10, 5.5.11, 5.5.12, 5.5.13, 5.5.14, 5.5.15, 5.5.16, 5.5.17, 5.5.18, 5.5.19, 5.5.20, 5.5.21, 5.5.22, 5.5.23

August 11, 2020

Launch 5.5

5.4

Adderley

Buttons and Social Icons blocks, Cleaner editor interface, Custom fields for menu items

Point releases: 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.3, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.6, 5.4.7, 5.4.8, 5.4.9, 5.4.10, 5.4.11, 5.4.12, 5.4.13, 5.4.14, 5.4.15, 5.4.16, 5.4.17, 5.4.18, 5.4.19, 5.4.20, 5.4.21, 5.4.22, 5.4.23, 5.4.24

March 31, 2020

Launch 5.4

5.3

Kirk

Twenty Twenty, Automatic image rotation, Admin email verification

Point releases: 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 5.3.3, 5.3.4, 5.3.5, 5.3.6, 5.3.7, 5.3.8, 5.3.9, 5.3.10, 5.3.11, 5.3.12, 5.3.13, 5.3.14, 5.3.15, 5.3.16, 5.3.17, 5.3.18, 5.3.19, 5.3.20, 5.3.21, 5.3.22, 5.3.23, 5.3.24, 5.3.25, 5.3.26

November 12, 2019

Launch 5.3

5.2

Jaco

Site Health Check, PHP error protection, Plugin compatibility checks

Point releases: 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3, 5.2.4, 5.2.5, 5.2.6, 5.2.7, 5.2.8, 5.2.9, 5.2.10, 5.2.11, 5.2.12, 5.2.13, 5.2.14, 5.2.15, 5.2.16, 5.2.17, 5.2.18, 5.2.19, 5.2.20, 5.2.21, 5.2.22, 5.2.23, 5.2.24, 5.2.25, 5.2.26, 5.2.27, 5.2.28, 5.2.29

May 7, 2019

Launch 5.2

5.1

Betty

Site Health, Faster editor performance, Multisite metadata

Point releases: 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.3, 5.1.4, 5.1.5, 5.1.6, 5.1.7, 5.1.8, 5.1.9, 5.1.10, 5.1.11, 5.1.12, 5.1.13, 5.1.14, 5.1.15, 5.1.16, 5.1.17, 5.1.18, 5.1.19, 5.1.20, 5.1.21, 5.1.22, 5.1.23, 5.1.24, 5.1.25, 5.1.26, 5.1.27

February 21, 2019

Launch 5.1

5.0

Bebo

Block editor, Twenty Nineteen, Classic Editor plugin

Point releases: 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 5.0.3, 5.0.4, 5.0.6, 5.0.7, 5.0.8, 5.0.9, 5.0.10, 5.0.11, 5.0.12, 5.0.13, 5.0.14, 5.0.15, 5.0.16, 5.0.17, 5.0.18, 5.0.19, 5.0.20, 5.0.21, 5.0.22, 5.0.23, 5.0.24, 5.0.25, 5.0.26, 5.0.27, 5.0.28, 5.0.29, 5.0.30

December 6, 2018

Launch 5.0

4.9

Tipton

Scheduled Customizer changes, Code syntax highlighting, Gallery widget

Point releases: 4.9.1, 4.9.2, 4.9.3, 4.9.4, 4.9.5, 4.9.6, 4.9.7, 4.9.8, 4.9.9, 4.9.10, 4.9.11, 4.9.12, 4.9.13, 4.9.14, 4.9.15, 4.9.16, 4.9.17, 4.9.18, 4.9.19, 4.9.20, 4.9.21, 4.9.22, 4.9.23, 4.9.24, 4.9.25, 4.9.26, 4.9.27, 4.9.28, 4.9.29, 4.9.30, 4.9.31, 4.9.32, 4.9.33, 4.9.34

November 15, 2017

Launch 4.9

4.8

Evans

Media widgets, Rich Text widget, Nearby WordPress events

Point releases: 4.8.1, 4.8.2, 4.8.3, 4.8.4, 4.8.5, 4.8.6, 4.8.7, 4.8.8, 4.8.9, 4.8.10, 4.8.11, 4.8.12, 4.8.13, 4.8.14, 4.8.15, 4.8.16, 4.8.17, 4.8.18, 4.8.19, 4.8.20, 4.8.21, 4.8.22, 4.8.23, 4.8.24, 4.8.25, 4.8.26, 4.8.27, 4.8.28, 4.8.29, 4.8.30, 4.8.31, 4.8.32, 4.8.33

June 8, 2017

Launch 4.8

4.7

Vaughan

Twenty Seventeen, Video headers, REST API content endpoints

Point releases: 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.7.3, 4.7.4, 4.7.5, 4.7.6, 4.7.7, 4.7.8, 4.7.9, 4.7.10, 4.7.11, 4.7.12, 4.7.13, 4.7.14, 4.7.15, 4.7.16, 4.7.17, 4.7.18, 4.7.19, 4.7.20, 4.7.21, 4.7.22, 4.7.23, 4.7.24, 4.7.25, 4.7.26, 4.7.27, 4.7.28, 4.7.29, 4.7.30, 4.7.31, 4.7.32, 4.7.33, 4.7.34, 4.7.35, 4.7.36, 4.7.37, 4.7.38

December 6, 2016

Launch 4.7

4.6

Pepper

Streamlined updates, Native system fonts, Content recovery

Point releases: 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.6.3, 4.6.4, 4.6.5, 4.6.6, 4.6.7, 4.6.8, 4.6.9, 4.6.10, 4.6.11, 4.6.12, 4.6.13, 4.6.14, 4.6.15, 4.6.16, 4.6.17, 4.6.18, 4.6.19, 4.6.20, 4.6.21, 4.6.22, 4.6.23, 4.6.24, 4.6.25, 4.6.26, 4.6.27, 4.6.28, 4.6.29, 4.6.30

August 16, 2016

Launch 4.6

4.5

Coleman

Inline linking, Live responsive previews, Custom logos

Point releases: 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 4.5.4, 4.5.5, 4.5.6, 4.5.7, 4.5.8, 4.5.9, 4.5.10, 4.5.11, 4.5.12, 4.5.13, 4.5.14, 4.5.15, 4.5.16, 4.5.17, 4.5.18, 4.5.19, 4.5.20, 4.5.21, 4.5.22, 4.5.23, 4.5.24, 4.5.25, 4.5.26, 4.5.27, 4.5.28, 4.5.29, 4.5.30, 4.5.31, 4.5.32, 4.5.33

April 12, 2016

Launch 4.5

4.4

Clifford

Twenty Sixteen, Responsive images, Embed everything

Point releases: 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.4.5, 4.4.6, 4.4.7, 4.4.8, 4.4.9, 4.4.10, 4.4.11, 4.4.12, 4.4.13, 4.4.14, 4.4.15, 4.4.16, 4.4.17, 4.4.18, 4.4.19, 4.4.20, 4.4.21, 4.4.22, 4.4.23, 4.4.24, 4.4.25, 4.4.26, 4.4.27, 4.4.28, 4.4.29, 4.4.30, 4.4.31, 4.4.32, 4.4.33, 4.4.34

December 8, 2015

Launch 4.4

4.3

Billie

Menus in the Customizer, Formatting shortcuts, Site icons

Point releases: 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 4.3.5, 4.3.6, 4.3.7, 4.3.8, 4.3.9, 4.3.10, 4.3.11, 4.3.12, 4.3.13, 4.3.14, 4.3.15, 4.3.16, 4.3.17, 4.3.18, 4.3.19, 4.3.20, 4.3.21, 4.3.22, 4.3.23, 4.3.24, 4.3.25, 4.3.26, 4.3.27, 4.3.28, 4.3.29, 4.3.30, 4.3.31, 4.3.32, 4.3.33, 4.3.34, 4.3.35

August 18, 2015

Launch 4.3

4.2

Powell

Press This, Emoji support, Theme switching in the Customizer

Point releases: 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.6, 4.2.7, 4.2.8, 4.2.9, 4.2.10, 4.2.11, 4.2.12, 4.2.13, 4.2.14, 4.2.15, 4.2.16, 4.2.17, 4.2.18, 4.2.19, 4.2.20, 4.2.21, 4.2.22, 4.2.23, 4.2.24, 4.2.25, 4.2.26, 4.2.27, 4.2.28, 4.2.29, 4.2.30, 4.2.31, 4.2.32, 4.2.33, 4.2.34, 4.2.35, 4.2.36, 4.2.37, 4.2.38, 4.2.39

April 23, 2015

Launch 4.2

4.1

Dinah

Twenty Fifteen, Distraction-free writing, Log out everywhere

Point releases: 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.1.6, 4.1.7, 4.1.8, 4.1.9, 4.1.10, 4.1.11, 4.1.12, 4.1.13, 4.1.14, 4.1.15, 4.1.16, 4.1.17, 4.1.18, 4.1.19, 4.1.20, 4.1.21, 4.1.22, 4.1.23, 4.1.24, 4.1.25, 4.1.26, 4.1.27, 4.1.28, 4.1.29, 4.1.30, 4.1.31, 4.1.32, 4.1.33, 4.1.34, 4.1.35, 4.1.36, 4.1.37, 4.1.38, 4.1.39, 4.1.40, 4.1.41, 4.1.42

December 18, 2014

Launch 4.1

4.0

Benny

Media library grid, Visual embed previews, Improved plugin search

Point releases: 4.0.1, 4.0.2, 4.0.3, 4.0.4, 4.0.5, 4.0.6, 4.0.7, 4.0.8, 4.0.9, 4.0.10, 4.0.11, 4.0.12, 4.0.13, 4.0.14, 4.0.15, 4.0.16, 4.0.17, 4.0.18, 4.0.19, 4.0.20, 4.0.21, 4.0.22, 4.0.23, 4.0.24, 4.0.25, 4.0.26, 4.0.27, 4.0.28, 4.0.29, 4.0.30, 4.0.31, 4.0.32, 4.0.33, 4.0.34, 4.0.35, 4.0.36, 4.0.37, 4.0.38

September 4, 2014

Launch 4.0

3.9

Smith

Improved visual editor, Drag-and-drop images, Live widget previews

Point releases: 3.9.1, 3.9.2, 3.9.3, 3.9.4, 3.9.5, 3.9.6, 3.9.7, 3.9.8, 3.9.9, 3.9.10, 3.9.11, 3.9.12, 3.9.13, 3.9.14, 3.9.15, 3.9.16, 3.9.17, 3.9.18, 3.9.19, 3.9.20, 3.9.21, 3.9.22, 3.9.23, 3.9.24, 3.9.25, 3.9.26, 3.9.27, 3.9.28, 3.9.29, 3.9.30, 3.9.31, 3.9.32, 3.9.33, 3.9.34, 3.9.35, 3.9.36, 3.9.37, 3.9.39, 3.9.40

April 16, 2014

Launch 3.9

3.8

Parker

Modern admin design, Admin color schemes, Twenty Fourteen

Point releases: 3.8.1, 3.8.2, 3.8.3, 3.8.4, 3.8.5, 3.8.6, 3.8.7, 3.8.8, 3.8.9, 3.8.10, 3.8.11, 3.8.12, 3.8.13, 3.8.14, 3.8.15, 3.8.16, 3.8.17, 3.8.18, 3.8.19, 3.8.20, 3.8.21, 3.8.22, 3.8.23, 3.8.24, 3.8.25, 3.8.26, 3.8.27, 3.8.28, 3.8.29, 3.8.30, 3.8.31, 3.8.32, 3.8.33, 3.8.34, 3.8.35, 3.8.36, 3.8.37, 3.8.38, 3.8.39, 3.8.40, 3.8.41

December 12, 2013

Launch 3.8

3.7

Basie

Automatic background updates, Stronger password meter, Better language support

Point releases: 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.7.3, 3.7.4, 3.7.5, 3.7.6, 3.7.7, 3.7.8, 3.7.9, 3.7.10, 3.7.11, 3.7.12, 3.7.13, 3.7.14, 3.7.15, 3.7.16, 3.7.17, 3.7.18, 3.7.19, 3.7.20, 3.7.21, 3.7.22, 3.7.23, 3.7.24, 3.7.25, 3.7.26, 3.7.27, 3.7.28, 3.7.29, 3.7.30, 3.7.31, 3.7.32, 3.7.33, 3.7.34, 3.7.35, 3.7.36, 3.7.37, 3.7.38, 3.7.39, 3.7.40, 3.7.41

October 24, 2013

Launch 3.7