Elementor v4 introduces a complete codebase rewrite that significantly enhances performance and streamlines user design workflows through a CSS-first approach.
The transition from Elementor v3 to v4 promises a seamless experience for users, ensuring both versions can coexist without breaking existing sites.
Deep dives
Introduction to Elementor v4
The upcoming release of Elementor v4 represents a significant update aimed at enhancing user experience through a complete rewrite of the codebase. This foundational change enables improved performance, introducing a CSS-first approach that modernizes the platform. Key aspects of this update include the integration of new, more intuitive features and enhancements that promise not to disrupt existing user experiences. Users can expect a familiar interface, but with noticeable improvements designed to streamline their design workflows.
Performance Improvements
Elementor v4 is designed to address past criticisms regarding performance by reducing unnecessary HTML elements in the code. The goal is to create a more efficient output, simplifying the DOM structure and enhancing the speed of both the editor interface and the final product. This performance overhaul allows for quicker load times and fosters a smoother user experience, making it easier for designers to employ complex styles without hindrance. Additionally, the reduced number of wrapping divs means cleaner code overall, facilitating better website performance.
CSS-First Approach and Workflow Enhancements
The adoption of a CSS-first approach in Elementor v4 enables developers and users to create more consistent and responsive designs efficiently. Users will benefit from the ability to define CSS classes that can be reused across different elements, streamlining the design process and enhancing creative possibilities. Conflicts between locally defined styles and global CSS classes will be highlighted, making it easier for users to manage their styling without errors. This approach not only speeds up workflows but also opens the door for advanced styling capabilities that meet contemporary web design standards.
Seamless Transition to Version 4
For current users, the transition from Elementor v3 to v4 is structured to be as seamless as possible, allowing both versions to coexist on the same site. Users can gradually introduce v4 features on their existing pages while maintaining the functionality of v3 elements, ensuring that websites remain operational throughout the upgrade process. This dual capability means that users can adapt to the new features at their own pace without the risk of breaking existing sites. Furthermore, comprehensive documentation and tutorials will accompany the update, helping users navigate the transition smoothly.
In this episode, I talk with Gabriella Laster, Product Marketing Director at Elementor, about the upcoming Elementor v4 release. Gabriella explains why a major codebase rewrite was needed, highlighting significant performance improvements, a new CSS-first approach, more intuitive UI changes, and enhanced workflow features. She reassures existing users that v3 and v4 will coexist, ensuring a smooth transition without breaking sites. The episode also covers their commitment to developer documentation, ongoing user education, and no planned pricing changes. You can expect incremental rollouts throughout 2025 with opportunities to participate in early testing. If you rely on Elementor for your livelihood, or even just your own website, and want to know what Elementor v4 will mean for you, this episode is for you.
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