WordPress Blocks are the fundamental components of the WordPress block editor, also known as the Gutenberg editor. Introduced in WordPress version 5.0, the block editor revolutionized content creation by providing a more flexible and intuitive way to design and structure content.
I’ve written several articles about blocks; however, I recently discovered that even after over five years (December 6, 2018) of blocks becoming part of the WordPress Full Site Editing (FSE) experience, many users still don’t fully understand, use, or know what blocks are. So we’ll cover that today.
In simple terms, Blocks are individual units of content, each serving a specific purpose or containing particular types of content. They can range from simple elements like paragraphs and images to more complex elements like galleries, videos, buttons, etc. The best part about Blocks is they allow users to easily manipulate and arrange content within the editor without knowing HTML or CSS.
The most remarkable thing about blocks is that before blocks, you had to customize elements via code in the theme or CSS files that affected your site globally. Now, you can customize content, display, and variables on a page-by-page, block-by-block basis.
Key Points About WordPress Blocks:
Modularity: Each piece of content (paragraph, image, column, headline) is a separate block, allowing easy rearrangement and customization for each, independent of all the others on the page. This modular approach simplifies the creation of complex layouts.
Diverse Types: The block editor has built-in blocks for common content types, such as paragraphs, headings, images, lists, quotes, and more. Many third-party plugins and themes offer additional block types to extend functionality.
Custom Blocks: Users can also create custom blocks or “patterns” to suit their specific needs. This is particularly useful for businesses or individuals that want to standardize certain types of content or add specialized functionality just for each pattern.
Reusable Blocks: WordPress allows you to save blocks or groups of blocks as reusable blocks. This means you can create complex layouts or content structures and reuse them across multiple pages or posts with just a click, saving time and ensuring consistency.
Block Patterns: WordPress introduced block patterns, pre-designed block layouts that users can easily insert into their content and customize from there. These patterns help users quickly create visually appealing layouts without starting from scratch. Or having to “know code.”
Here are some of the most commonly used blocks in the WordPress block editor:
Paragraph Block: The Paragraph block is the most basic and commonly used block. It allows you to add text content to your posts or pages. You can format text, add links, and style it using the block settings.
Heading Block: The Heading block is used to add headings and subheadings to your content. It offers different levels of headings (H1 to H6) for structuring your content hierarchically.
Image Block: The Image block lets you add images to your posts or pages. You can upload images from your computer or choose from your media library. The block provides options for alignment, resizing, and adding captions to images. The theme I use includes an Advanced Image block that adds the ability to add shadows, filters and much more.
Gallery Block: The Gallery block allows you to create image galleries within your content. You can upload multiple images simultaneously and arrange them in a grid or mosaic layout. Users can click on individual images to view them in a lightbox.
List Block: The List block lets you create bulleted or numbered lists. You can add items to the list and format them as needed. This block is useful for creating lists of features, benefits, or steps. And, with my favorite block theme, Kadence, you can use icons instead of just dots or numbers, as I do here.
Quote Block: The Quote block displays quotations or excerpts from your content. It provides styling options for displaying quotes in different formats, such as pull quotes or block quotes. Kadence includes a Testimonial block that can also be used for these purposes. So you can see how you can use any block however you want. (See below.)
Button Block: The Button block allows you to add call-to-action buttons to your content. You can customize the text, link URL, button style, and alignment options. This block is useful for encouraging user interaction or driving traffic to specific pages. You can easily add a button anywhere you want.
Separator Block: The Separator block adds horizontal lines or dividers between different sections of your content. It helps to separate content and improve readability visually. There is also a spacer block to add space where you need it between blocks.
Embed Block: The Embed block allows you to embed content from external sources such as YouTube videos, tweets, Instagram posts, and more. Simply paste the URL of the content you want to embed, and WordPress will automatically fetch and display it in your post or page.
Table Block: The Table block lets you insert tables into your content. You can add rows and columns, adjust column widths, and enter data directly into the table. This block is useful for presenting information in a structured format. You can also use independent column and row blocks as you see fit.
The Best Way to Learn How to Use WordPress Blocks:
Official WordPress Documentation: Start with the official WordPress documentation on the block editor. It provides comprehensive guides and tutorials on using different blocks, creating custom blocks, and working with block patterns.
Online Tutorials and Courses: Numerous online tutorials focus on the WordPress block editor. Websites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and YouTube offer courses tailored to different skill levels.
Experimentation: The best way to learn is often by doing. Spend some time experimenting with different blocks within the WordPress editor. Create test pages or posts where you can try out different block types and combinations to see how they work together.
Community Forums and Support: Engage with the WordPress community through forums, social media groups, or local meetups. You can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others who are using the block editor.
Practice Regularly: Learning to use WordPress Blocks effectively takes practice like any new skill. Set aside time regularly to work with the block editor and experiment with its features. The more you use it, the more comfortable and proficient you’ll become.
By combining these learning methods and dedicating time to practice, you can quickly become proficient in using WordPress Blocks to create dynamic and visually appealing website content. You’ll soon discover that blocks are less intimidating or complex than you thought.
These are just a few examples of the most used blocks in the WordPress block editor. Many third-party plugins and themes offer additional blocks to extend the editor’s functionality.
I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.
Winston Churchill
Blocks Make Creating Your Website Easier
Now, you have a solid idea of the benefits of using blocks. If you are still using the classic editor or a theme that is not block enabled, as they say, “no time like the present.”
As you become more familiar with the block editor, you may discover new blocks that suit your specific needs, create unique patterns, and enhance your content creation workflow. Plus, you’ll be able to customize your website just how you want it—no coding required.
Keep learning, trying, and experimenting. You’ll have your website precisely how you envisioned it in no time. How cool is that?
Also, check out my articles about WordPress and blocks below for more on how blocks work. Then, you can hit the ground running!
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