WordPress Gutenberg Block Editor: Complete Guide

Introduction

The Gutenberg block editor revolutionized WordPress content creation when it became the default editor in WordPress 5.0. Named after Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, this editor treats every piece of content as a modular "block" that can be arranged, customized, and combined to create rich layouts without coding. This comprehensive guide helps you master the block editor for efficient content creation.

Understanding the Block Concept

What Are Blocks?

Blocks are individual content elements that combine to form your pages and posts. Each block handles one type of content:

• Paragraph block for text
• Image block for photos
• Heading block for titles
• List block for bullet points

Think of blocks like LEGO pieces - individual units that snap together to build something complex.

Why Blocks?

Before Gutenberg:

• Single text box for all content
• Limited formatting without code
• Complex layouts required page builders or HTML
• Difficult to rearrange content

With Gutenberg:

• Modular content creation
• Drag-and-drop rearrangement
• Rich layouts without plugins
• Consistent styling across blocks
• Full-site editing capability

The Block Editor Interface

Top Toolbar

Left Side:

• WordPress Logo: Return to dashboard
• Add Block (+): Open block inserter
• Undo/Redo: Action history
• Details (i): Document outline, word count
• List View: Block navigation panel

Right Side:

• Save Draft: Save without publishing
• Preview: See how content looks
• Publish/Update: Make live or save changes
• Settings (gear): Toggle sidebar
• Options (three dots): View modes, tools, settings

Content Canvas

The main editing area where you:

• Add and edit blocks
• Arrange content visually
• See approximate final appearance

Settings Sidebar

Post/Page Tab:

• Status and visibility
• URL slug
• Categories/tags
• Featured image
• Excerpt
• Discussion settings

Block Tab:

• Settings specific to selected block
• Styling options
• Advanced configurations

Essential Blocks to Know

Text Blocks

Paragraph

• Standard text content
• Supports bold, italic, links
• Drop cap option
• Font size settings

Heading

• H1 through H6 levels
• H1 typically for page title only
• H2-H4 for content structure
• Important for SEO and accessibility

List

• Ordered (numbered) lists
• Unordered (bullet) lists
• Nested list support
• Start number customization

Quote

• Styled quotations
• Citation field
• Various style options

Preformatted

• Monospace text
• Preserves spacing
• Good for code or technical content

Verse

• Preserves line breaks
• Good for poetry or lyrics

Media Blocks

Image

• Upload, library, or URL
• Alt text field
• Link options
• Size and alignment
• Cropping and filters

Gallery

• Multiple images
• Column layouts
• Cropping options
• Link destinations

Video

• Self-hosted video
• Autoplay, loop, muted options
• Poster image
• Caption support

Audio

• Audio file playback
• Autoplay and loop
• Download option

Cover

• Background image with overlay
• Text overlay
• Fixed background option
• Focal point picker

File

• Document downloads
• PDF, DOC, ZIP, etc.
• Download button
• Open in new tab option

Design Blocks

Buttons

• Call-to-action buttons
• Multiple styles
• Link destinations
• Width options

Columns

• Multi-column layouts
• Percentage or fixed widths
• Stack on mobile
• Nested blocks

Group

• Container for other blocks
• Background colors
• Padding control
• Layout options

Row

• Horizontal alignment
• Wrap settings
• Block spacing

Stack

• Vertical alignment
• Spacing control

Separator

• Visual content divider
• Multiple styles
• Width options

Spacer

• Vertical spacing
• Height customization

Widget Blocks

Shortcode

• Embed shortcode content
• Plugin compatibility

Custom HTML

• Raw HTML input
• Advanced embedding
• Third-party widgets

Archives

• Post archives list
• Dropdown option

Categories

• Category listing
• Dropdown or list
• Hierarchy display

Latest Posts

• Recent posts display
• List or grid layout
• Excerpt option
• Featured image

Page List

• Automatic page menu
• Hierarchy support

Search

• Search form
• Button text customization
• Label options

Social Icons

• Social media links
• Icon styles
• Multiple platforms

Tag Cloud

• Popular tags display
• Font size range

Embed Blocks

WordPress auto-embeds from many sources:

• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Spotify
• TikTok
• And many more

Simply paste the URL, and WordPress creates the embed automatically.

Working with Blocks

Adding Blocks

Method 1: Plus Button

1. Click + in toolbar or between blocks
2. Search or browse blocks
3. Click to add

Method 2: Slash Commands

1. Type / in empty paragraph
2. Type block name (e.g., /image)
3. Press Enter to add

Method 3: Drag from Inserter

1. Open block inserter
2. Drag block to desired location
3. Drop to place

Selecting Blocks

• Click anywhere in the block
• Use List View for nested blocks
• Arrow keys to move between blocks
• Escape to select parent block

Moving Blocks

Drag and Drop:

1. Click and hold the drag handle (six dots)
2. Drag to new position
3. Release to place

Using Arrows:

1. Select block
2. Click up/down arrows in toolbar
3. Block moves one position

List View:

1. Open List View
2. Drag blocks in the list
3. Useful for complex documents

Duplicating Blocks

1. Select block
2. Open block options (three dots)
3. Click "Duplicate"
4. Or use keyboard: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + D

Deleting Blocks

1. Select block
2. Press Delete/Backspace
3. Or use block options > Remove

Grouping Blocks

Combine multiple blocks:

1. Select blocks (Shift+click or drag)
2. Click Group icon in toolbar
3. Or block options > Group

Groups allow:

• Shared backgrounds
• Unified movement
• Consistent styling

Block Settings and Styling

Block Toolbar

Appears above selected block with quick options:

• Block type indicator
• Alignment options
• Bold, italic, link (text blocks)
• Block-specific actions

Block Settings Panel

In the sidebar when block is selected:

Settings Tab:

• Block-specific options
• Layout configurations
• Behavior settings

Styles Tab:

• Color options (text, background)
• Typography settings
• Dimensions and spacing
• Border options (some blocks)

Typography Options

Available in many text blocks:

• Font size (presets or custom)
• Line height
• Letter spacing
• Text decoration
• Text transform

Color Settings

• Text color
• Background color
• Link color (some blocks)
• Gradients option
• Custom colors

Spacing and Dimensions

• Padding (inside spacing)
• Margin (outside spacing)
• Individual side control
• Preset or custom values

Advanced Block Features

Reusable Blocks

Save blocks for reuse across your site:

Creating:

1. Select block or group
2. Options > Add to Reusable blocks
3. Name your reusable block

Using:

1. Search in block inserter
2. Look in Reusable category
3. Add to content

Editing:

• Changes affect all instances
• Convert to regular blocks for individual editing

Block Patterns

Pre-designed block combinations:

1. Click + to open inserter
2. Go to Patterns tab
3. Browse categories:
   • Featured
   • Text
   • Gallery
   • Headers
   • Call to Action
4. Click to insert

Create custom patterns with plugins like:

• Block Pattern Builder
• Starter Templates

Lock Blocks

Prevent accidental editing:

1. Select block
2. Options > Lock
3. Choose:
   • Prevent movement
   • Prevent removal
   • Apply to all inner blocks

HTML Anchor

Create jump links:

1. Select block
2. Go to Advanced in sidebar
3. Enter HTML anchor (no spaces)
4. Link to it: yoursite.com/page#anchorname

Additional CSS Classes

Add custom classes for styling:

1. Select block
2. Advanced settings
3. Add class names (space-separated)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow:

Navigation

• Arrow keys: Move between blocks
• Enter: Add new block after
• Tab: Move to next input

Editing

• Ctrl/Cmd + B: Bold
• Ctrl/Cmd + I: Italic
• Ctrl/Cmd + K: Insert link
• Ctrl/Cmd + U: Underline

Actions

• Ctrl/Cmd + Z: Undo
• Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z: Redo
• Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + D: Duplicate
• Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + T: Insert before
• Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + Y: Insert after

Block Selection

• Escape: Select parent block
• Shift + Click: Select multiple blocks

View all shortcuts: Options menu > Keyboard shortcuts

Customizing the Editor

Editor Preferences

Access via Options (three dots) > Preferences:

General:

• Reduce motion
• Spotlight mode
• Distraction free writing

Appearance:

• Document panels
• Enable/disable panels

Blocks:

• Most used blocks
• Block manager (hide unused blocks)

Fullscreen Mode

Toggle via Options > Fullscreen mode

• Hides WordPress admin bars
• Maximizes editing space

Spotlight Mode

Options > Spotlight mode

• Dims inactive blocks
• Focus on current block

Top Toolbar

Options > Top toolbar

• Moves block toolbar to top
• Consistent position
• Some prefer this over floating toolbar

Common Challenges and Solutions

Block Won't Move

• Check if locked
• Try List View for nested blocks
• Select correct block level

Lost Content

• Use undo immediately
• Check revision history
• Revisions saved automatically

Can't Find a Block

• Use search in inserter
• Check Block Manager isn't hiding it
• Some blocks need plugins

Layout Doesn't Match Theme

• Use theme-specific patterns
• Check if theme supports block styles
• Custom CSS may be needed

Slow Editor Performance

• Disable unused blocks
• Reduce embedded content
• Check for plugin conflicts
• Consider hardware limitations

Classic Editor vs Gutenberg

When to Use Classic Editor

Some reasons people use Classic Editor plugin:

• Existing workflow dependence
• Plugin compatibility issues
• Complex shortcode usage
• Personal preference

Migration Tips

Moving from Classic to Gutenberg:

• Classic blocks preserve old content
• Convert blocks gradually
• Test thoroughly
• Update content incrementally

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable Gutenberg?

Yes, install the Classic Editor plugin. But Gutenberg is the future of WordPress - consider adapting.

Why do my blocks look different than the live site?

The editor provides an approximation. Theme CSS affects final appearance. Use Preview to see actual rendering.

How do I create columns?

Add a Columns block, select number of columns, then add blocks within each column.

Can I copy blocks between posts?

Yes:

1. Select block(s)
2. Copy (Ctrl/Cmd + C)
3. Paste in other post (Ctrl/Cmd + V)

How do I center a block?

Use alignment options in block toolbar. For most blocks, click the alignment icon and choose center.

Where are my custom fields?

Enable in Options > Preferences > Panels > Custom Fields. They appear below the editor.

Key Takeaways

• Blocks are modular content units that form pages and posts
• Every content type has its own block with specific settings
• Reusable blocks save time for repeated content
• Patterns provide pre-designed block combinations
• Keyboard shortcuts significantly speed up editing
• List View helps manage complex layouts
• The editor continues evolving with each WordPress release

Next Steps

Now that you've mastered the block editor basics, explore our guides on Creating Effective Landing Pages with blocks, or learn about WordPress Page Builders for even more design flexibility.

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Meta Description: Master the WordPress Gutenberg block editor with this complete guide. Learn essential blocks, settings, shortcuts, and advanced features for effective content creation.

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