A Quick Look at the Key Features of the Magento 2.3 Release
Magento 2.3 – the most awaited release since April this year – was released on 28th November 2018. Just like its predecessors, Magento 2.3 comes with a significant improvement in functionalities. These additions will bring new opportunities for buyers and sellers and improve back-end efficiencies as well.
In this blog post, we will take a look at the key features that are a part of the Magento 2.3 package:
Progressive Web App (PWA): Magento 2.3 will provide complete support for PWA as it is a key feature for a developer. Magento will allow you to develop, deploy, and maintain a PWA storefront.
It is a flagship technology that can be utilized by a web app to use modern web capabilities in order to deliver an app-like experience to customers.
It is built on a JavaScript framework that is similar to AngularJS and React with the purpose of handling and displaying data and communicating via REST API (Magento 2) in the back-end.
Key features of Magento 2.3 PWA studio are:
- Tools that allow you to personalize content and add local preferences
- Purpose-built developer tools that enable fast prototyping, improved feedback, better productivity and enhance debugging
- Single code base, single deployment, and an app to build and manage different channels and experiences
- A module component architecture to provide more opportunities to extension providers
- Better CMS themes and innovative commerce for an intuitive user experience
Note: PWA studio cannot function without GraphQL capabilities
GraphQL Language: It is perhaps the biggest move that Magento has made in its latest release. GraphQL is a data query language that was first developed and released by Facebook in 2015. Apart from SOAP and REST, GraphQL works as an end-point alternative in Magento 2.3. Here is how it works:
- It opens new data retrieval possibilities for PWA
- This allows you to request the exact data required and join data via a single request
- It makes Magento PWA quicker on slower mobile connections
Declarative Database (DB) Schema: This new approach in Magento 2.3 allows developers to precisely define DB structures and modifications in XML files. They do not need to define and install scripts. Through this, developers will be able to convert XML schema files into SQL statements.
You also get a rollback support, which is a big advantage. It allows you to roll back DB modifications implemented on a functionality or a module to a previous version. It also expedites Magento 2.3 installation process.
Asynchronous and Bulk Web API: The most important community in Magento 2.3 – Asynchronous API – lets you process multiple API requests asynchronously without having to wait for a response from the server.
The traditional process required the client to wait for a substantial amount of time to get a response, and more changes meant longer waiting time. With Asynchronous API, clients will be able to execute Web API asynchronously and finish the tasks in the background. You will get batch like processing easily and it will be a big advantage if you own a large website and have multiple API requests – inventory import, order status from the ERP system and more.
Elasticsearch Updates: It was previously reserved for Magento Commerce, but it is now going to be rolled for Magento 2.3 Open Source. Merchants will now be able to integrate their shops with powerful search capability and filters by attributes.
Elasticsearch uses an HTTP web interface and schema-free JSON documents to provide a distributed and multitenant-capable full-text search across your store. It is developed in Java and might become the default search engine in the near future. Released as open source as per the Apache License, Magento 2.3 will support Elasticsearch v5 version in the new release.
Multi-Source Inventory (MSI): Another vital improvement in Magento 2.3 – MSI – will allow merchants to manage their inventory without installing any third-party extensions. It will also allow them to manage stock from multiple locations in order to reflect the stock properly in physical warehouses. The MSI will also improve the performance of the checkout function and add a new reservation system.
The WYSIWYG Upgrade: This editor has been upgraded to version 4 in Magento 2.3 and has a wide range of enhancements to create a customizable WYSIWYG. Features like Widgets, media gallery etc. will be present as plugins.
Page Builder: The much-requested Page Builder has been added to Magento 2.3. It will allow merchants to create custom pages without the hassle of writing code. It will use a drag and drop interface that is based on Bluefoot CMS extension’s revised version.
It will be a part of the core code in Magento 2.3 commerce. However, it will be a paid feature in Magento 2.3 Open Source (Price not revealed yet).
Cache Management ACL: With the improved granular cache management ACL in Magento 2.3, you will be able to define user roles strictly and delete Magento caches.
It will be a great addition when new team members will interact with the system cache. You will be able to control the level of cache that a particular team member will be able to manage.
Google reCAPTCHA & Two Factor Authentication: Magento users will now be able to protect their website with reCAPTCHA – a Google service that helps you secure login and registration forms and more – from spambots. It prompts the visitors to check a box and that is all it takes to prove they are not robots before a task is complete.
Magento 2.3 also comes with a two-factor authentication to safeguard your website against any malicious elements that try to gain access to your admin panel.
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