Joomla is a popular and powerful content management system (CMS) that has been widely used by developers and website owners for many years. With the release of Joomla 4, a major update to the platform, users are now faced with a decision: should they stick with the familiar Joomla 3 or upgrade to the new version? In this article, we will compare Joomla 3 and Joomla 4, highlighting the key differences and improvements to help you make an informed decision.

1. User Interface and Design:  Joomla 4 introduces a refreshed user interface and improved backend design. The control panel has been revamped to provide a more modern and intuitive user experience, making it easier for both beginners and experienced users to navigate and manage their websites. Joomla 4 also offers a responsive design out of the box, ensuring that your website looks great on all devices.

2. Performance and Speed:  One of the significant improvements in Joomla 4 is its enhanced performance and speed. The underlying architecture has been updated to utilize the latest web technologies, resulting in faster page loading times and improved overall performance. This is crucial for providing an excellent user experience and optimizing your website for search engines.

3. Accessibility:  Joomla 4 places a strong emphasis on accessibility, ensuring that websites built with the CMS are accessible to users with disabilities. It follows WCAG 2.1 guidelines and offers improved support for assistive technologies, making your website more inclusive and reaching a broader audience.

4. Extension Compatibility:  While Joomla 3 has a vast repository of extensions and plugins available, the transition to Joomla 4 may require some adjustments. While many popular extensions have been updated to work with Joomla 4, some older or less popular ones might not be immediately compatible. However, the Joomla community is actively working on updating and developing new extensions for Joomla 4, so this gap is expected to close over time.

5. Security Enhancements:  Joomla 4 brings notable security enhancements, including improved password hashing algorithms and stronger user authentication mechanisms. The new version also provides better protection against common web vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of hacking and unauthorized access to your website.

6. Future Development and Support:  As Joomla 4 represents the latest iteration of the CMS, it will be the main focus of future development and improvements. Joomla 3 will continue to receive security updates and bug fixes, but new features and enhancements will primarily be directed towards Joomla 4. Therefore, upgrading to Joomla 4 ensures that you can take advantage of the latest innovations and stay up-to-date with the evolving web landscape.

As a summary:

Joomla 4 offers significant improvements over its predecessor, Joomla 3. With its modern user interface, enhanced performance, improved accessibility, and better security features, Joomla 4 provides a solid foundation for building powerful and user-friendly websites. However, the decision to upgrade should also consider factors such as extension compatibility and the specific needs of your website. It is recommended to thoroughly test your existing Joomla 3 website before making the switch to ensure a smooth transition.

If you need help when upgrading your Joomla website feel free to contact us and we are here to help you.