=== Essentials – Essential Elements for WordPress ===
Contributors: beautifulplugins
Tags: scroll to top, reading progress bar, reading time, custom scrollbar, blocks
Requires at least: 6.3
Tested up to: 7.1
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.2.9
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A lightweight toolkit of small, toggleable site features: scroll to top button, reading progress bar, reading time and a custom scroll bar.

== Description ==
**Essential Elements** adds the small features most WordPress sites end up needing, without installing a separate plugin for each one.

Every feature is a **module** you switch on or off from one screen. Disabled modules load nothing at all, and enabled modules only load a few kilobytes of CSS and plain JavaScript, with no jQuery and no external requests.

[**🚀 Essential Elements Pro**](https://beautifulplugins.com/plugins/essential-elements-pro/) | [**📄 Documentation**](https://beautifulplugins.com/docs/essential-elements/) | [**💻 Support**](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/essential-elements/)

= ⬆️ Scroll to Top Button =
Add a button that takes visitors back to the top of long pages.

* Bottom left or bottom right position
* Icon, background and hover colors
* Accessible: a real keyboard-focusable button with a screen-reader label
* Respects the visitor's "reduce motion" setting

= 📊 Reading Progress Bar =
Show how far a visitor has scrolled through the page.

* Top or bottom of the screen (sits below the admin bar when logged in)
* Bar and text colors
* Percentage label

= ⏱️ Reading Time =
Display "1,240 words, 7 minutes read time" on your posts.

* Insert automatically before or after the content
* Choose which post types show it
* Set the reading speed (words per minute) and an optional label
* Word counting works with every language, including Bengali, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese
* **Reading Time block** to place it anywhere, including inside a Query Loop

= 🎨 Custom Scroll Bar =
Match the browser scroll bar to your brand.

* Track, thumb and hover colors
* Scroll bar width

= 💎 Essential Elements Pro =
[Essential Elements Pro](https://beautifulplugins.com/plugins/essential-elements-pro/) adds premium modules to the same dashboard:

* **Announcement Bar**: a top or bottom notice bar with a call to action button, scheduling, a countdown timer and dismiss memory.
* **Click to Chat**: floating WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, phone, SMS and email buttons with business hours.
* **Content Protection**: discourage copying with right-click, text selection and copy shortcut protection, with an optional "Read more at" link on copied text.

= Developer friendly =
* `esse_modules_list` filter to register your own modules on the Modules screen
* `esse_init` action that fires once all modules are loaded
* `esse_screen_ids` filter to load the admin styles on your own pages

== Installation ==
1. Install the plugin from **Plugins → Add New**, or upload the `essential-elements` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`.
2. Activate the plugin.
3. Go to **Essentials → Modules** and switch on the modules you want.
4. Click **Configure** on a module card to adjust its settings.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==
= Will this slow down my website? =
No. A module that is switched off loads no files. Enabled modules use small CSS files and plain JavaScript with no jQuery dependency.

= Can I disable features I don't need? =
Yes. Every module is switched on or off from **Essentials → Modules**.

= Is it compatible with my theme? =
It works with both block themes and classic themes. All output is added with standard WordPress hooks.

= Does the plugin collect any data? =
No. Essential Elements does not track visitors, set cookies or contact external services.

= What happens to my settings when I uninstall? =
Settings are kept unless you enable **Delete plugin data on uninstall** in **Essentials → Settings**.

= Where can I get help? =
Post in the [support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/essential-elements/) or read the [documentation](https://beautifulplugins.com/docs/essential-elements/).

== Screenshots ==
1. Progress Bar Settings
2. Scroll to Top Settings
3. Custom Scroll Bar Settings
4. All Modules Settings

== Changelog ==
= 1.2.9 (14 October 2026) =
* New: Modules screen now shows the modules available in Essential Elements Pro.
* New: `esse_init` action and `esse_icons` filter for extensions.
* Fix: Scroll to Top button was loading the wrong stylesheet and appeared unstyled.
* Fix: Re-activating the plugin no longer resets module settings to their defaults.
* Fix: Turning a module on or off could store the wrong state.
* Fix: Reading Time now counts words correctly in non-Latin languages.
* Fix: Progress bar placed at the top no longer hides behind the admin bar.
* Improvement: Scroll to Top is now a keyboard-accessible button with a screen-reader label.
* Improvement: Frontend scripts rewritten without jQuery and throttled for smoother scrolling.
* Improvement: Reading Time styles only load on the post types where it is shown.
* Improvement: Removed the duplicate "Enable" option from each module's settings page; use the Modules screen instead.
* Improvement: Color settings are validated as hex colors.

= 1.2.5 – 1.2.8 =
* Maintenance: Routine compatibility releases.

= 1.2.4 (21 August 2026) =
* Compatibility: Ensured compatibility with the latest version of WordPress 7.1.

= 1.2.1 (14 July 2026) =
* Fix: Fixed few known issues and bugs.

= 1.2.0 (19 June 2026) =
* New: Update plugin UI and settings page for better user experience and easier navigation.
* New: Reading Time Estimation module - automatically displays "X words, Y minute read time" before or after your post content, with configurable post types, reading speed, label, and word count.
* New: Reading Time block - place the estimated reading time anywhere in the editor with options for reading speed, word count, icon, and label.
* Fix: Fixed some bugs and issues.
* Compatibility: Ensured compatibility with the latest version of WordPress 7.0.

= 1.1.0 (19 May 2026) =
* Fix: Addressed some bugs and issues.

= 1.0.1 (11 February 2026) =
* New: Added new features and improvements.
* Fix: Fixed some bugs and issues.

= 1.0.0 (11 April 2025) =
* Initial release of the plugin.

== Upgrade Notice ==
= 1.2.9 =
Fixes the unstyled Scroll to Top button and settings being reset on re-activation. Recommended for all users.

== License ==
Essential Elements for WordPress is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License v2 (GPLv2). You may use, modify, and distribute this software under the terms of the GPLv2 license. See https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html for more details.
