WordPress Release: 4.1.1

TL;DR

WordPress 4.1.1 is a maintenance and security release that addresses several bugs and UI issues from the 4.1 release. Key improvements include fixes for the Customizer, term management, pagination links, and better browser compatibility (especially for IE8/9). This update resolves issues that affected form submission behavior, media library functionality, and admin UI elements.

This release is recommended for all WordPress 4.1 users as it improves stability, fixes regressions, and enhances cross-browser compatibility.

Highlight of the Release

• Fixed form submission behavior where pressing Enter would trigger logout of all sessions
• Improved browser compatibility for IE8/9, especially for the Customizer and Media Library
• Fixed term management issues including duplicate slug checks across taxonomies
• Corrected pagination link generation with custom format arguments
• Fixed Customizer settings to properly return default values

Migration Guide

No special migration steps are required for WordPress 4.1.1. This is a standard maintenance release that can be applied through the WordPress automatic update system or by downloading the update from WordPress.org.

If you've made customizations to core files that were modified in this release, you should review those changes and reapply your customizations after updating.

Upgrade Recommendations

WordPress 4.1.1 is recommended for all users running WordPress 4.1. This maintenance release fixes several bugs that could affect your site's functionality, particularly if you:

• Use the Customizer extensively
• Work with taxonomies and term management
• Have visitors using older browsers like IE8/9
• Use pagination with custom parameters
• Rely on the Media Library for audio and video content

The update process is straightforward and can be performed through the WordPress admin dashboard. As with any update, it's always recommended to back up your site before proceeding.

Bug Fixes

User Interface Fixes

• Fixed logout buttons that were incorrectly defaulting to submit type, causing accidental logouts when pressing Enter in forms
• Improved positioning of admin notices with the .notice class
• Fixed TinyMCE image toolbar visibility when images are wider than the editor
• Ensured the Media Library filter selects don't jiggle when the spinner shows

Browser Compatibility Fixes

• Improved IE8 compatibility for the Customizer by using square bracket notation for default keywords and Underscores indexOf for arrays
• Fixed IE8/9 issues with uploading files using the HTML4 Plupload handler
• Fixed IE8 JavaScript errors when removing MediaElement players
• Added missing jQuery UI dependencies for puff and scale effects

Core Functionality Fixes

• Fixed WP_Date_Query date validation for hour = 0 and array values
• Corrected category_exists() to properly handle parent parameter (default to null rather than 0)
• Fixed term updates to allow duplicate slugs across different taxonomies
• Ensured plugin update rows display even for non-WordPress.org plugins
• Fixed pagination links generation to respect custom format arguments
• Ensured Customizer settings properly return default values when not dirty
• Fixed TinyMCE iframe element selection to work with browser extensions
• Added proper context for 'Previous' and 'Next' strings in post pagination
• Passed $resource_type to 'get_ancestors' filter as documented

New Features

No significant new features were added in this maintenance release. WordPress 4.1.1 focuses on bug fixes and improvements to existing functionality from the 4.1 release.

Security Updates

While WordPress 4.1.1 is classified as a maintenance and security release, no specific security vulnerabilities were explicitly mentioned in the commit messages. The security improvements appear to be general hardening of the codebase rather than fixes for specific CVEs or vulnerabilities.

Performance Improvements

This release doesn't include significant performance improvements as it primarily focuses on bug fixes. However, some of the fixes may indirectly improve performance by correcting inefficient code paths and preventing unnecessary operations.

Impact Summary

WordPress 4.1.1 is a targeted maintenance release that addresses several regressions and bugs from the 4.1 release. The impact is primarily positive, fixing issues that could affect form submissions, media handling, and administrative functions.

The most notable fixes include:

• Correcting the behavior of form submissions where pressing Enter would trigger logout buttons
• Fixing Customizer functionality to properly handle default values
• Improving browser compatibility, especially for IE8/9
• Addressing term management issues with duplicate slugs and parent parameters
• Fixing pagination link generation with custom formats

These changes improve the overall stability and usability of WordPress 4.1 without introducing breaking changes. The fixes are particularly important for sites with older browser support requirements and those using advanced taxonomy or pagination features.