Why and How to Use WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:26 am
Why and How to Use WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)
The WordPress block editor (also called Gutenberg) was introduced in December 2018, when WordPress version 5.0 was released. It was a historic moment in the progression of the WordPress open source project. Since then, we have seen how Gutenberg has changed the way people use WordPress on a daily basis.
But what does the WordPress block editor mean to you ? As a freelancer, agency owner, or business owner, how can Gutenberg simplify your ability to design, build, launch, and sell websites? With the recent introduction of Gutenberg 9.7, I was forced to try to answer that question.
Read on to learn what the WordPress block editor is, how it ghana phone number data from the classic WordPress editor , and WordPress page builders .
Table of Contents view
What is the WordPress Block Editor?
So, first things first: what is the WordPress block editor?
The WordPress block editor, also called Gutenberg, is an alternative to the traditional way we are used to creating pages and posts in WordPress.
Previously, when you edited a page or post in WordPress, you would encounter a page similar to a Microsoft Word document. The classic WordPress editor had space to add a title, then a body area for text, images, and embeds. Along the bottom, you have additional options and features to configure how that page works.
WordPress Classic Editor
What are WordPress Blocks
The WordPress Block Editor introduces WordPress blocks as a new way to add and edit your content . This approach allows you to align and stack content areas based on what they actually are, rather than putting all your content in one large editable area.
WordPress blocks can be as simple as a block of text or more complex. Gutenberg allows you to not only add content to a page or post, but also get specific information about the design and layout of the page.
WordPress Gutenberg Editor
One of the advantages of the block editor is that it offers built-in content options without the need to install separate plugins. The block editor shows you very well what your users will see on the front end.
WordPress Themes for Block Editor
The good news is that the new WordPress editor works with all WordPress themes . If you have a theme on your site that you absolutely love and want to switch to Gutenberg , you can! You don’t have to worry about checking if the builder you like is compatible with the theme you like.
There are, however, themes that have been optimized and designed specifically with the block editor in mind. For example, the latest default WordPress theme, Twenty Twenty-One , requires Gutenberg to work.
Gutenberg-based themes offer pre-built templates, which can dramatically reduce the amount of work you have to do to create a page or post.
WordPress Block Editor VS Page Builder
If you’ve used a WordPress page builder before (like Beaver Builder , Elementor , or Divi ), the block editor should actually look familiar.
Page builders are a great way to create pages and posts, and Gutenberg was developed to fulfill the exact same need, only as a built-in feature of WordPress core.
The block editor offers more flexibility with an ever-growing block library. However, it should be noted that page builders come with much more out-of-the-box functionality and are easier to use.
The main advantage of Gutenberg over page builders? Performance. Overall, using WordPress blocks for your pages and posts will improve the overall performance of your site. Especially if your site has a large number of pages, Gutenberg is better for speed and other performance metrics.
Gutenberg VS Elementor
When it comes to Gutenberg vs Elementor, the performance factor has been proven a few times with different experiments.
For example, Template Monster ran a Google website speed test before and after installing Gutenberg. The score went from 84 to 99 .
The WordPress block editor (also called Gutenberg) was introduced in December 2018, when WordPress version 5.0 was released. It was a historic moment in the progression of the WordPress open source project. Since then, we have seen how Gutenberg has changed the way people use WordPress on a daily basis.
But what does the WordPress block editor mean to you ? As a freelancer, agency owner, or business owner, how can Gutenberg simplify your ability to design, build, launch, and sell websites? With the recent introduction of Gutenberg 9.7, I was forced to try to answer that question.
Read on to learn what the WordPress block editor is, how it ghana phone number data from the classic WordPress editor , and WordPress page builders .
Table of Contents view
What is the WordPress Block Editor?
So, first things first: what is the WordPress block editor?
The WordPress block editor, also called Gutenberg, is an alternative to the traditional way we are used to creating pages and posts in WordPress.
Previously, when you edited a page or post in WordPress, you would encounter a page similar to a Microsoft Word document. The classic WordPress editor had space to add a title, then a body area for text, images, and embeds. Along the bottom, you have additional options and features to configure how that page works.
WordPress Classic Editor
What are WordPress Blocks
The WordPress Block Editor introduces WordPress blocks as a new way to add and edit your content . This approach allows you to align and stack content areas based on what they actually are, rather than putting all your content in one large editable area.
WordPress blocks can be as simple as a block of text or more complex. Gutenberg allows you to not only add content to a page or post, but also get specific information about the design and layout of the page.
WordPress Gutenberg Editor
One of the advantages of the block editor is that it offers built-in content options without the need to install separate plugins. The block editor shows you very well what your users will see on the front end.
WordPress Themes for Block Editor
The good news is that the new WordPress editor works with all WordPress themes . If you have a theme on your site that you absolutely love and want to switch to Gutenberg , you can! You don’t have to worry about checking if the builder you like is compatible with the theme you like.
There are, however, themes that have been optimized and designed specifically with the block editor in mind. For example, the latest default WordPress theme, Twenty Twenty-One , requires Gutenberg to work.
Gutenberg-based themes offer pre-built templates, which can dramatically reduce the amount of work you have to do to create a page or post.
WordPress Block Editor VS Page Builder
If you’ve used a WordPress page builder before (like Beaver Builder , Elementor , or Divi ), the block editor should actually look familiar.
Page builders are a great way to create pages and posts, and Gutenberg was developed to fulfill the exact same need, only as a built-in feature of WordPress core.
The block editor offers more flexibility with an ever-growing block library. However, it should be noted that page builders come with much more out-of-the-box functionality and are easier to use.
The main advantage of Gutenberg over page builders? Performance. Overall, using WordPress blocks for your pages and posts will improve the overall performance of your site. Especially if your site has a large number of pages, Gutenberg is better for speed and other performance metrics.
Gutenberg VS Elementor
When it comes to Gutenberg vs Elementor, the performance factor has been proven a few times with different experiments.
For example, Template Monster ran a Google website speed test before and after installing Gutenberg. The score went from 84 to 99 .