A new version of the Special Text Boxes plugin has been released.

What’s new:

  • The plugin’s admin page is built using React.js.
  • Plugin data is fetched from the backend via the WordPress REST API.
  • Blocks have been added for inserting STBs into text when editing in Gutenberg and for adding STBs to widget areas.
  • The plugin’s stylesheets are written using CSS Flexbox.

Administrative page

The administrative page of the previous version of plugin was developed using jQuery and JavaScript ES5. In the new version, the admin interface is built with JavaScript ES6+ (ES2020) and the React library. This has significantly improved page performance, enhanced security and stability, and prevented potential bugs arising from namespace conflicts with other plugins.

jQuery is a JavaScript library created by John Resig in 2006. Its primary purpose is to simplify Document Object Model (DOM) manipulation, event handling, animation creation, and AJAX requests in web development. The library provides a compact and convenient API that abstracts away cross-browser differences and allows for writing less code.
React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces (UI). Its primary goal is to help developers create interactive, dynamic interfaces that update quickly and predictably as data changes.

Access to plugin management is now available via the “Settings” menu.

All navigation within the plugin admin pages is handled via its own menu.

Plugin Data

Plugin data is stored in the site’s database. To retrieve it, the administration page must communicate with the site’s backend. In the previous version, the plugin made requests via the WordPress AJAX API. In the new version, the plugin makes requests via the WordPress REST API.

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) in WordPress is a technology that enables data exchange with the server without a full page reload. This makes the interface more dynamic and responsive—for example, allowing you to load posts when clicking a “Load More” button, submit contact forms, or check username availability in real time.
The WordPress REST API provides an interface for applications to interact with a WordPress site by sending and receiving data as JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) objects. It serves as the foundation for the WordPress block editor and enables themes, plugins, or custom applications to offer powerful new interfaces for managing and publishing content on a WordPress site.

Blocks

A “Special Text” editor block has been added for insertion in the Gutenberg editor and widget areas.

Styles

The technology for rendering text blocks has been changed in the new version. Flexbox is now used in the CSS styles.

Flexbox is a modern method for positioning elements within a container. It emerged as an attempt to resolve issues associated with older layout techniques.

The primary advantage of Flexbox is its responsiveness. Elements can automatically adapt to changes in the container’s available space—shrinking, stretching, or wrapping to a new line.

Flexbox has now become the standard for the majority of layouts.

Plugin

If you are interested in the source code for the Special Text Boxes plugin, you can find it on GitHub.

Special Text Boxes
Highlights any portion of text as text in the colored boxes.

Author: minimus, version: 6.6.1, updated: September 13, 2026,
Requires WP version: 5.6 or higher, tested up to: 7.1.3.
Download (258 498 hits) (21 votes)

© 2026, minimus. All rights reserved.