Getting Started with the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) in 2026

What Is the WordPress Block Editor?

The WordPress Block Editor, commonly called Gutenberg, is the default content editor in WordPress. Introduced in WordPress 5.0, it replaced the Classic Editor with a modular, block-based system where every piece of content — a paragraph, image, heading, or embed — is an individual block that you can arrange, customize, and rearrange independently.

By 2026, Gutenberg has evolved far beyond a simple content editor. With Full Site Editing (FSE), it now controls entire site layouts including headers, footers, templates, and template parts. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, from basic block editing to advanced site-building techniques.

Core Blocks Overview

WordPress ships with over 90 core blocks organized into categories. Here are the ones you will use most frequently:

Creating Content with Blocks

Adding Blocks

There are several ways to add blocks to your content:

• Plus button (+): Click the plus icon in the toolbar or between blocks to open the block inserter
• Slash command: Type / followed by a block name (e.g., /image, /heading) for quick insertion
• Command palette: Press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac) to search for any block or action
• Drag and drop: Drag blocks from the inserter panel directly onto the canvas

Configuring Blocks

Every block has two configuration areas:

1. Toolbar: Appears above the selected block with common actions (alignment, bold, italic, link)
2. Sidebar panel: Provides detailed settings including colors, typography, spacing, and advanced options

Organizing Blocks

Arrange your content by moving blocks up or down using the arrows in the block toolbar, or drag them to a new position. You can also use the List View panel (Shift+Alt+O) to see your entire document structure and drag blocks within the tree.

Reusable Blocks (Synced Patterns)

Reusable blocks — renamed to Synced Patterns in 2026 — let you create a block or group of blocks once and insert them across multiple posts and pages. When you update the synced pattern, every instance updates automatically.

Common uses for synced patterns:

• Call-to-action sections that appear on multiple pages
• Author bio boxes used across blog posts
• Standardized disclaimer or affiliate disclosure notices
• Newsletter signup forms
• Contact information blocks

To create a synced pattern: select blocks, click the three-dot menu, choose "Create pattern," name it, and toggle "Synced" on. To insert it later, find it in the Patterns tab of the block inserter.

Block Patterns

Block patterns are pre-designed arrangements of blocks that you can insert and customize. Unlike synced patterns, they are not linked — editing a pattern instance does not affect other uses.

Built-in Patterns

WordPress includes patterns for common layouts: hero sections, feature grids, testimonial layouts, pricing tables, and more. Your active theme may register additional patterns optimized for its design system.

WordPress.org Pattern Directory

The WordPress.org pattern directory offers thousands of community-contributed patterns. You can browse, preview, and copy patterns directly from the inserter or from the pattern directory website.

Creating Custom Patterns

Build your own patterns by arranging blocks, selecting them all, and creating a pattern from the block menu. Custom patterns appear in the "My Patterns" section of the inserter, making them reusable across your site.

Full Site Editing Basics

Full Site Editing (FSE) extends block editing beyond post and page content to your entire site structure. With a block theme, you can edit:

• Templates: Control the layout of specific page types (single post, archive, 404, search results)
• Template Parts: Edit reusable sections like headers and footers
• Global Styles: Set site-wide colors, typography, spacing, and layout defaults
• Navigation: Build and manage menus visually

Accessing the Site Editor

Navigate to Appearance → Editor in your WordPress dashboard. This opens the site editor where you can browse templates, edit template parts, and adjust global styles. Note that FSE requires a block theme — classic themes use the traditional Customizer instead.

Templates vs Template Parts

Customizing Blocks with theme.json

The theme.json file is the configuration hub for block themes. It controls:

• Color palettes and gradients available in the editor
• Typography presets (font families, sizes, line heights)
• Spacing scales and layout widths
• Which block features are enabled or disabled
• Default styles for specific blocks

Theme developers use theme.json to create a consistent design system. As a site owner, you can modify these settings through the Global Styles interface in the site editor without editing the file directly.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Learning keyboard shortcuts significantly speeds up your editing workflow:

Gutenberg vs Classic Editor

Some WordPress users still prefer the Classic Editor plugin. Here is how the two compare:

The Classic Editor plugin is still maintained, but WordPress development has fully committed to the block editor. New features, themes, and plugins increasingly target Gutenberg first.

Block Plugins That Extend Gutenberg

While core blocks cover most needs, these plugins add specialized functionality:

• Flavor Plugin: Adds advanced blocks like tabs, accordions, pricing tables, and post carousels
• Flavor Plugin: Provides content-focused blocks for better writing experiences — progress bars, click-to-tweet, alerts
• Flavor Plugin: Offers design-oriented blocks with animation and advanced styling options
• Flavor Plugin: Extends Gutenberg with blocks specifically designed for FSE themes
• Flavor Plugin: Adds query and filter blocks for dynamic content display

When selecting block plugins, choose ones that follow WordPress coding standards and generate clean markup. Avoid plugins that load heavy JavaScript frameworks, as they negate Gutenberg's performance advantages.

Practical Tips for Efficient Block Editing

Use the List View

For complex pages, the List View (Shift+Alt+O) is essential. It shows your entire document structure as a tree, making it simple to select nested blocks, reorder sections, and understand your page hierarchy.

Group Blocks for Bulk Actions

Select multiple blocks (click first, Shift+click last) and group them. Grouped blocks can be styled together, moved as a unit, and converted to patterns. This is particularly useful for creating consistent sections.

Lock Blocks to Prevent Accidental Changes

Lock important blocks to prevent accidental moving or deletion. Right-click a block and choose "Lock" to restrict modifications. This is helpful for templates or content managed by multiple editors.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts Aggressively

The difference between efficient and slow block editing often comes down to keyboard shortcuts. Learn the five most common shortcuts first (slash command, duplicate, delete, save, undo), then expand your repertoire as you become comfortable.

For a comparison with Elementor and other page builders, see our Elementor vs Gutenberg comparison and our broader page builder comparison guide. If you are choosing a theme that works well with Gutenberg, read our theme selection guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use the Classic Editor?

Yes. The Classic Editor plugin remains available and is maintained by the WordPress team. However, it receives only maintenance updates — no new features. WordPress recommends migrating to the block editor for access to modern features and ongoing development.

Does Gutenberg work with all WordPress themes?

Gutenberg works with both classic and block themes. Classic themes support block editing within post and page content. Block themes additionally support Full Site Editing for headers, footers, templates, and global styles. For the full FSE experience, you need a block theme.

How do I convert Classic Editor content to blocks?

When you open a Classic Editor post in Gutenberg, WordPress wraps the content in a Classic block. You can click "Convert to blocks" to transform the content into individual blocks. Review the conversion afterward, as complex layouts may need manual adjustment.

Are Gutenberg pages slower than Classic Editor pages?

No. Gutenberg generates clean HTML that is comparable to or leaner than Classic Editor output. The block editor adds no significant frontend overhead. The editor interface itself (in the admin) uses more resources than the Classic Editor, but this does not affect what visitors experience.

Can I create custom blocks without coding?

Yes, to a degree. You can create custom block patterns by arranging existing blocks. For truly custom blocks with unique functionality, you need JavaScript (React) development. Several plugins offer no-code block builders, though they have limitations compared to coded solutions.

What are synced patterns, and how do they differ from regular patterns?

Synced patterns (formerly Reusable Blocks) are linked across all their instances. Editing one updates all of them. Regular patterns are templates — inserting one creates an independent copy that you can modify without affecting other uses. Use synced patterns for content that should be consistent everywhere (CTAs, disclaimers). Use regular patterns for layouts you want as starting points.

How do I troubleshoot block editor issues?

Common solutions include: clearing your browser cache, deactivating plugins one by one to identify conflicts, switching to a default theme temporarily, and checking your browser's developer console for JavaScript errors. Most block editor issues stem from plugin conflicts rather than core problems.

Is Full Site Editing ready for production use?

As of 2026, Full Site Editing is stable and production-ready. The feature set has matured significantly with each WordPress release. However, the ecosystem of block themes and patterns is still growing. If you need extensive pre-built templates, you may find the selection more limited compared to classic theme options.