Gutenberg is the common name for WordPress’s Block Editor. You build a post or page from independent blocks—paragraphs, headings, images, lists, videos, galleries and more—then configure each selected block with its toolbar and sidebar. Add blocks with the inserter, a plus button, or a slash command; use a synced pattern when repeated content must update everywhere, and an unsynced pattern when each copy should remain editable.
The interface changes between WordPress releases, themes and plugins. The directions below reflect WordPress documentation updated through September 2026; check the labels in your installed version if a control has moved.
What is Gutenberg?
“Gutenberg” is the project name associated with WordPress’s modern editing experience. WordPress’s user documentation calls the current editor the Block Editor, WordPress editor or Gutenberg editor. It became WordPress’s default editor with WordPress 5.0 in December 2018.
The Classic Editor remains available through the Classic Editor plugin if you prefer the older editing experience.
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What is a block?
A block is a discrete content element in a post or page. A paragraph, heading, image, list, video, gallery, embed and many layout elements can each be a separate block. Select a block to edit it, change its settings or move it without treating the entire page as one undivided document.
Block controls are contextual: the toolbar and sidebar options depend on the selected block, your theme and where the block is being used. Post or page settings are separate from settings for the currently selected block.
How do I add a block?
- Choose the Block Inserter (+) in the top toolbar, then select or search for a block.
- Use the plus button that appears in the content area at the position where you want the new block.
- Click in the content area and type
/, followed by the block name, then choose a result.
After insertion, type or configure the block, then select another block to continue building the page.
Where are block settings?
Click the block you want to change. Its inline toolbar appears next to the block, while additional options normally appear in the editor sidebar. If the sidebar is not visible, open the editor’s settings panel from the top toolbar. The available controls are not identical for every block and can be changed by the active theme or plugins.
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What is the difference between a pattern and a synced pattern?
A pattern is a saved collection of blocks that you can insert as a starting layout or repeated design. WordPress renamed “Reusable Blocks” to Patterns in version 6.3.
| Question | Synced pattern | Unsynced pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Should an edit update every use? | Yes. The inserted instances stay linked, so changing the synced content updates all of them. | No. Each insertion becomes independently editable. |
| Best fit | Repeated content that must stay identical, such as a standard notice or call to action. | A reusable layout or starting point that each page should customize. |
| What if the need is structure or site-wide design? | Compare patterns with template parts and other site-structure tools; repeated content, repeated structure and repeated design are different use cases. | |
When inserting or editing a pattern, verify whether it is marked synced before changing it: a synced edit has site-wide consequences.
Can I make the editor less cluttered?
Open the three-dot menu in the editor and choose Preferences. Preferences let you adjust the editing experience and show or hide available options and panels. Names and locations can vary by WordPress version, so use the controls shown in your installation.
Does Gutenberg support columns and nested blocks?
Yes, the block system includes layout containers such as columns, and blocks can be placed inside other blocks. A container’s toolbar and sidebar determine how its inner blocks are arranged. Select the parent container when you need to change the overall layout, or select an inner block when you need to change only its content.
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Can I rearrange blocks by dragging them?
Blocks can be moved independently with the move controls in their toolbar. Drag-and-drop availability and behavior can differ by editor version, device, theme and the block being moved; when dragging is inconvenient, use the block’s move arrows or the list view to select the exact block.
Are there keyboard shortcuts for Gutenberg?
The editor provides keyboard shortcuts, but the available combinations and supported actions can change between releases and operating systems. Open the editor’s help or shortcuts panel in your version rather than relying on a shortcut list from an older release.
Can themes or plugins change blocks?
Blocks are extensible. A theme can add or override a block’s styling, and plugins can register additional blocks or extend existing ones.
Block styles versus block variations
- Block style: changes the presentation of an existing block.
- Block variation: provides a related version of a base block, potentially with different settings or implementation.
The WordPress developer FAQ describes creating new blocks as a major extension point. For implementation details, use the current WordPress developer documentation because APIs and examples evolve.
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Is Gutenberg accessible?
Do not assume that every Gutenberg workflow works with every assistive technology. The WordPress developer FAQ explicitly states: “Not every aspect of Gutenberg is accessible at the moment.” Accessibility status can change, and a workflow that works with one screen reader, keyboard setup or browser may not work with another.
- Test the exact editing and publishing workflow with the assistive technology your team uses.
- Keep WordPress, themes and plugins updated, while checking release notes for changes that affect your workflow.
- Report reproducible accessibility problems through WordPress’s current accessibility channels.
How is block content stored, and can developers parse it?
WordPress extends its existing post-content format rather than storing posts only as JSON in post metadata. The saved content remains human-readable HTML, with HTML comments marking block boundaries and attributes so WordPress can identify and render the block structure in different contexts.
Developers can parse that content with the JavaScript function wp.blocks.parse( postContent ) or the PHP function parse_blocks( $post_content ). Treat the parsed result as an implementation detail that should be handled through current WordPress APIs, not by deleting the identifying comments manually.
Can I opt out of Gutenberg?
Yes. Install and activate the Classic Editor plugin if your site or workflow requires the classic editing interface. Decide at the site or user level according to the plugin’s settings and your compatibility needs; block-based content and newer site-editing features may still be relevant elsewhere in WordPress.
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What should I check when a control is missing?
- Select the intended block; post settings and block settings are different panels.
- Open the three-dot menu and check Preferences in case a panel or option was hidden.
- Confirm whether the theme or a plugin changes the block’s available controls.
- Check the WordPress version and current documentation because interface labels and locations change.
- If the issue concerns assistive technology, test the complete workflow rather than a single button.
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