Astra is a popular WordPress theme that is known for its speed and flexibility. The theme has recently been updated to version 4.0, which comes with a host of new features and improvements.
In this review, we will take a closer look at what’s new in Astra 4.0.
Header and Footer Builder
One of the most exciting new features in Astra 4.0 is the introduction of a powerful header and footer builder that allows users to create custom headers and footers without any coding. This feature was previously only available in the Astra Pro add-on, but now it is included in the free version of the theme.
With the new header and footer builder, users can create multiple headers and footers for different pages or posts, choose from a variety of pre-designed header and footer templates, and customize headers and footers using drag and drop blocks. This makes it incredibly easy for even non-technical users to create custom headers and footers that match the look and feel of their website.
The header and footer builder is a major addition to Astra, as it allows users to customize the top and bottom of their website completely. This is especially useful for businesses and organizations that want to create a unique branding experience for their website visitors.
Theme Style Manager
Astra 4.0 also includes a Theme Style Manager that allows users to customize the overall design of their website. With this feature, users can choose from multiple site layouts, including full-width, boxed, and padded, and customize the colors and typography of their website.
One of the benefits of the Theme Style Manager is that it allows users to apply custom styles to specific pages or posts. This is a great way to create a unique look and feel for different sections of your website. For example, you could use a different color scheme for your blog posts than you do for your homepage.
Overall, the Theme Style Manager is a powerful tool that gives users more control over the design of their website. It’s particularly useful for designers and developers who want to create custom designs for their clients.
Performance Improvements
Astra has always been known for its speed, and version 4.0 includes several performance improvements that make the theme even faster. These improvements include reduced CSS and JavaScript file sizes, faster loading of fonts and icons, and improved compatibility with popular caching plugins.
The performance improvements in Astra 4.0 are significant, and they make the theme even faster than it already was. This is a great benefit for website owners who want to provide a fast and responsive experience for their users.
Custom Layouts
Astra 4.0 also introduces Custom Layouts, a new feature that allows users to create custom designs for specific pages or posts. With Custom Layouts, users can create custom designs using the same drag-and-drop interface as the header and footer builder, choose from a variety of pre-designed layout templates, and apply custom designs to specific pages or posts.
Custom Layouts is a great feature for website owners who want to create custom landing pages, product pages, or other types of content that require a unique design. It’s also useful for designers and developers who want to create custom designs for their clients.
Quick Setting
There is a fast access button to the customizer inside the welcome tab. The WordPress customizer provides a plethora of choices, some of which are tucked away in submenus. This dashboard now has a quick settings section to help you get to the area you want to work on more quickly for that reason.
Every time you need to make a simple adjustment to your website, this tool will save you time. This new design ought to cut down on support queries if your company provides Astra to clients. Users will be better able to find what they need to alter on their own without having to ask you!
Pro Modules Management
You’ll discover another section where you may very simply activate or disable your selected Pro modules. Direct access to the documentation and settings panel is provided for each module.
It’s now simple to configure and find additional modules that we could introduce in the future or that you might have overlooked.
To use these modules, you must have Astra Pro.
Some solutions, including WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, LearnDash, and LifterLMS, could require more plugins to function.
A New Narrow Width Layout
With Astra, you can select from a variety of layouts for your posts and pages.
You’ll now have access to a setting called “narrow width layout” that enables you to present material in a more refined and understated manner.
You may change the width of blog pages, archive pages, and custom post kinds in addition to posts and pages.
You may change this width either generally via Customizer > Global > Containers or individually for each element.
A New Banner Style
Astra 4.0 also has a new banner setting. After that, you may select a different banner style for the post type you are designing in a new panel. You’ll see several choices below depending on whether you select the first layout or the second:
Full or custom container width. Only accessible on the second layout.
Some structural and Meta elements’ visibility and order are as follows: such as the snippet, breadcrumbs, or title.
Certain pieces’ vertical and horizontal alignment.
Don’t forget to look at the design tab since you can fully customize your post type, thereby choosing from more choices. Keep in mind that this upgrade, which will also be known as Dynamic Customizer, applies to posts, pages, and any custom post type.
Conclusion
Overall, Astra 4.0 is a major update that brings several new features and improvements to the popular WordPress theme. The new header and footer builder, Theme Style Manager, performance improvements, and Custom Layouts all make Astra even more flexible and easy to use. If you’re looking for a fast and flexible WordPress theme, Astra 4.0 is definitely worth considering.
Consider enrolling or upgrading to a lifetime license to continue receiving these upgrades for the rest of your life as they work to improve Astra continually.
