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In WordPress, the Visual editor is the default editing mode in the Block Editor: the interface for building posts and pages from individual content blocks. This guide covers the current Block Editor, also called Gutenberg; it does not cover older interfaces that may also be called a visual editor. WordPress made the Block Editor its default with WordPress 5.0 in December 2018. WordPress explains the editor and its workspace.
How do you use the WordPress block editor?
Posts and pages are made of blocks. Add the content block you need, select it to expose its toolbar, and use its settings to adjust how it appears or behaves. The available controls differ by block.
1. Find the right block in the inserter
Open the block inserter and search by name or browse its categories. Choosing a Heading, List, Quote, or other suitable block is more reliable than trying to make an unrelated block behave like one. See WordPress’s instructions for adding a block.
2. Insert a block with a slash command
While writing in a paragraph, type / and search for the block you want. This is a quick way to switch from typing to inserting a block without leaving the writing flow. The exact shortcut behavior and available commands are documented in the Block Editor keyboard-shortcut reference.
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3. Check both the block toolbar and its settings
Select a block and inspect its toolbar as well as the settings sidebar. Toolbar actions give you controls for the selected block, while the sidebar offers additional settings where available. For an Embed block, for example, options can depend on the embedded content. WordPress’s guide to working with blocks describes selecting and configuring blocks.
4. Use List View to navigate the page
List View shows the page’s blocks in a structured list, making it easier to select a particular section on a long or nested page than to click through the canvas. Open it from the editor interface or use the shortcut for your operating system: Shift+Alt+O on Windows, or Control+Option+O on Mac, according to WordPress’s shortcut reference.
5. Select several blocks when editing a section
When a set of adjacent blocks belongs together, select multiple blocks to move or group them as a unit instead of changing each one separately. Grouping is useful when you want to treat a collection as one layout element. The selection and grouping controls are covered in WordPress’s block workflow documentation.
6. Move or duplicate blocks instead of rebuilding them
Use the selected block’s toolbar actions to move or duplicate content when you need another instance or a different position. Keyboard shortcuts can be faster for repeat edits, but their combinations vary between Windows and Mac; check the current shortcut list before relying on a particular combination.
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7. Use heading blocks to show document structure
Use Heading blocks to divide a post or page into meaningful sections, then choose the heading level that reflects each section’s place in the content. A heading should describe the content that follows; do not choose a level solely for its visual size. WordPress provides a dedicated Heading block in its blocks list.
8. Choose the text block that matches the content
Paragraphs, headings, lists, quotes, code samples, and tables serve different purposes. Use the corresponding block rather than forcing all content into paragraphs: a List block preserves list structure, while a Code block is designed for code and a Table block for information arranged in rows and columns. The WordPress blocks list describes these built-in options.
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9. Start from a pattern when you need a layout
A pattern inserts a collection of blocks that you can adapt, rather than making you assemble a layout from scratch. Use one as a starting point, then edit its blocks for the content and design of the current post or page. WordPress’s Block Patterns guide explains inserting and customizing patterns.
10. Decide whether a pattern should stay synced
An unsynced pattern is a reusable starting layout whose inserted blocks can be customized independently. A synced pattern keeps its content coordinated across its uses, so editing one instance updates the others. If you want one use to become independent, detach it. WordPress renamed Reusable Blocks to Patterns in WordPress 6.3; its patterns documentation covers syncing and detaching.
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11. Do not confuse patterns with template parts
Patterns are layouts or starting points for content. Template parts are shared pieces of site structure used across templates. Choose a pattern for reusable content arrangements; use a template part when the goal is shared site structure. WordPress details the distinction in Comparing Patterns, Template Parts, and Synced Patterns.
12. Check your theme before looking for Site Editor pattern management
The Site Editor’s pattern-management interface requires an installed and activated block theme. If you do not see the expected Site Editor controls, first check the active theme rather than assuming the feature is available in every WordPress setup. See WordPress’s Site Editor patterns documentation.
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13. Use an Embed block when the content need not be uploaded
An Embed block can display supported external content without uploading that content to your WordPress site. This is useful when you want to show a remote item rather than add a local media file. The supported workflow and options are explained in WordPress’s Embed block guide.
14. Learn a few shortcuts, then consult the full list
Shortcuts can speed up frequent actions such as saving, undoing, opening List View, duplicating blocks, or opening the shortcut panel. For example, WordPress lists Ctrl+S on Windows and Command+S on Mac for saving; Shift+Alt+H on Windows and Control+Option+H on Mac opens the shortcut panel. Use the current official shortcut reference for your operating system, since combinations can differ and the list may change.
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