The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the availability of the Joomla 5.3 Beta 2 for testing and it's Bug Squashing Time!

What is this release for?

There are two main goals for Beta releases:

• Providing developers with the basis to test their extensions and reporting any issues well before the final release
• Allowing users to discover the new features introduced to Joomla 5.3.

For a complete list of known backward compatibility issues for version 5.3, please see Potential backward compatibility issues in Joomla 5.3 on the documentation site.

What is this release NOT for?

This beta version of Joomla 5.3 is not suitable for production sites. It is for testing only.

Where to get it?

Download Joomla 5.3 Beta 2

To always use the latest build of Joomla 5, we invite you to use the nightly build packages (updated every night).

When is the final release due?

Joomla! 5.3 (general availability) will be released on or about 16th April 2025. The planned milestones are:

Alpha

• Alpha 1: 26. Nov 2024
• Alpha 2: 24. Dec 2024
• Alpha 3: 24. Jan 2025

Beta (Feature Freeze)

• Beta 1: 18. Feb 2025 
• Beta 2: 04. Mar 2025 (This release)
• Beta 3: 18. Mar 2025 

Release Candidate (Language Freeze)

• RC1: 01. Apr 2025

Stable Release

• 15. Apr 2025

Please note that dates may be subject to change depending on the availability of volunteers and circumstances beyond our control.

What’s new in Joomla 5.3 Beta 2?

We are firmly committed to making the next generation of Joomla the best. These are the features that have been committed to version 5.3. 

• [5.3] Upmerge 2025-02-18 by @richard67 in #44935
• [5.2][system tests] Do not delete tuf metadata by @SniperSister in #44866
• [5.2] Set column alias for BannerTable, fix warning on Save As Copy by @joomdonation in #44864
• [5.2] Translation Update by @joomla-translation-bot in #44919
• [5.2] PHP Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated by @alikon in #44876
• [5.3] Remove unused variable store Exception in try catch block by @joomdonation in #44892
• [5.3] Use str_starts_with function for libraries code by @joomdonation in #44915
• [5.3] Use str_ends_with function for libraries code by @joomdonation in #44916
• [5.3] Changes unneeded null check to ?? operator for libraries by @joomdonation in #44918
• [5.3] Use ternary operator for libraries by @joomdonation in #44921
• [5.3] Remove unused exception variable in try catch block for libraries by @joomdonation in #44922
• [5.3] Use str_starts_with function for modules and plugins by @joomdonation in #44936
• [5.3] Use str_ends_with function for modules plugins by @joomdonation in #44937
• [5.3] Use str_contains function for libraries code by @joomdonation in #44917
• [5.3] Use str_contains function for modules plugins by @joomdonation in #44938
• [5.3] Display Mail Templates data use current language by @joomdonation in #44953
• [5.3] Use Null Coalescing Assignment Operator For Components by @joomdonation in #44878
• [5.3] Avoid warning when deleting media file/folder by @alikon in #44989
• Add border last element media breadcrumbs by @drmenzelit in #44995
• [5.2] Disable compat plugin for system tests by @heelc29 in #44997
• [cypress] Update Menu.cy.js by @brianteeman in #45005
• [5.2.4] com_contact : Send Copy to Submitter does not work anymore by @conseilgouz in #44988
• Redesign carousel implementation to reflect documentation - bug fix by @iteidrm in #44488
• [5.3] better use str_starts_with by @heelc29 in #44998
• [5.3] Combine multiple unset call into one call by @joomdonation in #44983
• [5.3] Change isset($var) && multiple times to one isset call by @joomdonation in #44982
• [5.3] Simplify code using PHPCS Fixer no_unneeded_control_parentheses rule by @joomdonation in #44981
• [5.3] Improve api app code using rector rules by @joomdonation in #44975
• [5.3] Change list() to array destruct for libraries code by @joomdonation in #44973
• [5.3] Change list() to array destruct for modules and plugins code by @joomdonation in #44970
• [5.3] Changes unneeded null check to ?? operator for modules and plugins by @joomdonation in #44969
• [5.3] Remove unused exception variable in catch for modules and plugins by @joomdonation in #44967
• [5.2] Fix set frontediting option from CLI after installation by @QuyTon in #44978
• [5.3] Fix MailsHelper::loadTranslationFiles bug by @joomdonation in #44952
• [5.3] Fix dispatcher ACl checks: ignore any non-display tasks by @SniperSister in #44951
• [5.2] Add legacy message to content modules by @bembelimen in #44366
• [5.3] Handle fields event in EmailCloak plugin by @rdeutz in #44923
• [5.3] Category View: Fix meta tag for author by @Hackwar in #44903
• [5.2] Composer update maximebf/debugbar to 1.23.6 by @richard67 in #44901
• [5.3] Make mailtemplate information available in mail template layout by @SniperSister in #44896
• [5.3] Replace calls to dirname(__FILE) with DIR by @janschoenherr in #44882
• [5.3] Remove unnecessary array internal pointer resets by @janschoenherr in #44881
• [5.3] Use null coalescing assignment operator for modules and plugins by @joomdonation in #44972
• [5.3] Fix field group permission check by @joomdonation in #44956
• [5.3] Fields batch copy category by @chmst in #44943
• [5.x][docu] Minor fix sudo by @muhme in #45031
• [Cypress] PHP Backend Notice com_media/Files by @muhme in #44976
• [5.3] Remove unsed variable messages from enqueue messages by @chmst in #42948
• [5.3] Upmerge 2025-02-28 by @richard67 in #45034
• [5.3] Mail template outlook background by @webgras in #44985
• [5.3] Remove useless sprintf function call by @joomdonation in #45036
• [5.3] fine grain task notification mail by @alikon in #44604
• [5.3] CMSPlugin: Deprecate use of DispatcherAware and LanguageAware by @Fedik in #43430
• [5.3] Fix code logic in admin controllers by @joomdonation in #45037
• [5.3] Remove un-used imports by @joomdonation in #45042
• [5.3] Fix core update information retrieval after changing the update channel or stability options by @SniperSister in #44954

What are the plans for Joomla 5.3?

We have been in the state of “Feature Freeze” since Beta 1. This means, no new feature will be added. New functionality can be contributed to Joomla! 6.0 planned for the end of this year.

The following features have been merged:

• Add Files folder to Media component and to "FileSystem local" adapter. This will change the default location for files from images to files for new installations. [43532]
• The test mail button in the global Joomla configuration now sends the test mail to the currently logged in user and not the email address of the configuration. [44002].
• Further improve the routing in Joomla
• Remove all legacy code usage in the core itself and prepare better internal error handling with exceptions
• Task history view in the back end task scheduler. [42530]

Google is shifting their email authentication method, which means a basic authentication via username + password is not possible anymore very soon. Therefore it could be that the oAuth method will be implemented into core, if we find someone to contribute. If you’re a PHP developer and interested in contributing, please reach out to us on Mattermost.

To learn more about our development strategy, please read this article.

How can you help with Joomla 5.3 development?

To help ensure the 5.3 release and our major features are “production-ready”, we need your help testing releases and reporting any bugs you may find at issues.joomla.org.

Most of all, we encourage extension developers to roll up their sleeves, seek out bugs and test their extensions with Joomla 5.3 and communicate their experience.

Where can I find documentation about Joomla 5?

There are some tutorials to help you with Joomla 5. You can find the existing ones, like creating a Plugin or a Module for Joomla 5, namespaces conventions, prepared statements, using the new web asset classes and many more in https://docs.joomla.org/Category:Joomla!_5.x

We encourage developers to help write the documentation about Joomla 5 on docs.joomla.org and manual.joomla.org to help and guide users and other extension developers.

A JDocs page will help developers to see the existing documentation and the documentation still needed.

We invite you to check it regularly, update it and provide the missing content.

Related information

If you are an extension developer, please make sure you subscribe to the extension developer channel https://joomlacommunity.cloud.mattermost.com/main/channels/extension-development-room

Where you can join the community of extension developers.

• Working with the Joomla Feature Tracker
• General developer mailing list
• Joomla developer network
• Joomla and UI framework

A Huge Thank You to Our Volunteers!

A big thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to the release!