WordPress 7.1 expands block design in two directions: interactive states such as :hover, :focus-visible, and :active, plus a public API for registering SVG icon collections. Themes and plugins can define interactions and icons through WordPress systems instead of unrelated custom solutions.
Why it matters
Style states make buttons and navigation links clearer without page-specific CSS. The SVG Icon API gives each collection a namespace, preventing my-plugin/star from colliding with a Core or third-party icon. PHP can also render a registered icon with controlled size, class, and labeling.
State support is not universal across every block, and registered SVG is processed through a deliberately conservative sanitization list. A complex asset containing filters or many element types may not work unchanged. Focus indicators must also remain visible rather than being removed for a cleaner screenshot.
Try it quickly
Style focus-visible on one Button block and register a simple icon made from a path or polygon. Test keyboard navigation plus light and dark themes, then verify the accessible label before reusing the collection.
See the WordPress 7.1 upgrade guide for the release workflow. Source: the August 2026 developer update.