[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #65398: "Special Characters must be escaped" warning in Theme File Editor for functions.php

[WordPress Trac]

#65398: "Special Characters must be escaped" warning in Theme File Editor for
functions.php
--------------------------+-----------------------------
 Reporter:  terraGirl     |      Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect (bug)  |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal        |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Themes        |    Version:  7.0
 Severity:  minor         |   Keywords:
  Focuses:                |
--------------------------+-----------------------------
 Since WP 7.0 warnings have appeared in the theme file editor on
 functions.php triggered by chevrons.

 How to reproduce
 1. On a WP site with a classic theme go to Appearance > Theme File Editor
 2. Select to edit the functions.php file

 You will see a warning for every code using chevrons < > including the
 opening php tag

 I would expect not see any warnings about chevrons in PHP files; and for
 the error message not to recommend escaping.

 [[Image(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/t6a0dxnm9mzh6rqh55u6h/2026-06-03
 -functionsphp-track.jpg?rlkey=ss5b5lolfcs9kzbca4ciajlcg&raw=1)]]

 [[Image(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/j9qh3whplovipb221aa14/2026-06-03
 -errors-track.png?rlkey=pherqcsymmovx0vc7igp8flqr&raw=1)]]

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/65398>
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