Still trying to learn all about the Gutenberg editor?
It’s a simple process of typing, click the plus icon to add blocks and move pieces around within your document.
But what do the Blocks actually do?
Well, I have a guide right here for you, below there’s a video followed by a complete list.
Let’s get to it!
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Most Used
This is more of a simple concept and area more so than a set of blocks.
The ‘Most used’ area at the top literally features the blocks you use the most. So over time as you use WordPress this will adapt to your editing style and show you the most relevant blocks that you regularly use – saving you time scrolling through searching!
Common Blocks
The following blocks are the most common and well sued through out the WordPress community, as they are the simple blocks you would use mostly for your content.
Here’s a quick guide:
- Paragraph – basic text block
- Heading – creates larger headings on your page, adjustable from Heading 1 and down to heading 6 – good to know for SEO!
- Image – insert an image. You can align center, left or right.
- List – create a bullet point or numbered list.
- Quote – this block is designed to insert a quote with a section specifically for the author of that quote underneath.
- Video – upload and insert a video.
- Gallery – insert a gallery of images, clickable or not!
- Audio – Upload and insert an Audio file.
- Cover – a visual block which allows you to add an image and type text over the top of it. Check this one out for yourself (or in the video earlier in this post)
- File – Add a file that people can download with a nice button.
Inline Elements
At time of writing, this section was quite small, with on option:
Inline Image – Add an image that sits inside a line of text, acting as a character (so to speak). Handy for small in sentence images.
Formatting
Now we’re getting into the fancier stuff. These are more advanced elements that may or may not be useful to you.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Custom HTML – got some HTML code to insert that needs to function within your post or page? Add it in one of these blocks.
- Classic – This inserts a block which acts completely as the old classic WordPress editor, right within your content.
- Code – This is used for sharing code that doesn’t function on the page, so readers can copy or view it.
- Preformatted – Similar to above, this is a block with basic formatting for text or code.
- Pullquote – A visual text block you can add information or a quote into – you can also wrap this block to the left or write of text to create a cool effect within your articles.
- Table – A table you can edit where you choose how many rows and columns to insert
- Verse – Perfect for writing poetry and verse – keeps all line breaks and spaces in tact (where as some text areas would remove spaces and line breaks).
Layout Elements
These layout elements help you to control the flow and, uh, layout of your blog posts and pages.
Here’s what you have to play with:
- Separator – Adds a line in between blocks for visual separation
- Page Break – Split your pages and posts up into multiples pafes with a page break
- Columns – Add columns onto yourpage or post
- Button – Add a rectangular button with a link attached
- Media & text – A block which pops an image on one side and text on the other
- More – A marker defining where the ‘read more’ link should go.
- Spacer – Add a black space between blocks
Widgets
These are functional widgetized areas you can add for a little extra functionality.
Here’s what you have to play with:
- Shortcode – If you have a plugin installed that uses shortcodes, put them here.
- Archives – List the months and year of old blog post entries so people can explore your blog throughout the years
- Categories – A list of Blog Post Categories
- Latest Comments – Show your latest Comments here
- Latest Posts – List your most recent Blog posts/
Embeds
OK, I won’t go into detail here.
Below WordPress have created blocks specifically for you to embed content form other platforms. So below I have taken a screen shot so you can see what options you have:
Reusable Blocks
Reusable blocks are blocks you can save (any of the above) and reinsert into other blog posts with the content and options intact.
They are linked and update globally and are exceptionally powerful. I created a post here if you would like to explore further.
That’s all, well kind…
With your basic WordPress install, the above is what you get!
But you can also find plugins in your WordPress Repository that allows you to add more blocks and functionality. I won;t go into detail but do a search in your plugins area to find more!
Otherwise, I hope you found that guide useful. I recommend getting in and having a play yourself so you can see what’s possible. Otherwise, have an excellent day and thanks for dropping by!
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