Gutenberg: the innovative WordPress editor

WordPress is the most widely used content management system in the world and is continually improved. One of the biggest revolutions in WordPress history was the introduction of the block editor as part of Project Gutenberg (hence the name, WordPress Gutenberg). The block editor replaced the classic TinyMCE editor and brought a new way to create content.

What is WordPress Gutenberg?

Project Gutenberg is an initiative to modernize WordPress. It includes several phases and aims to improve the complete WordPress experience, from creating articles to the complete design of a site. L'block editor is the first major milestone of this project. It was introduced with WordPress 5.0 in December 2018 and replaces the old classic editor. Unlike the old method of word processing, which used HTML and shortcodesthe new editor is based on a modular system of blocks. Each content type, whether it's a paragraph, image, or table, is a separate block that can be individually customized. This not only makes it easier to create posts and pages, but also allows for complex layouts without having to use advanced CSS or plugin type page builder.

WordPress Gutenberg: history

The development of this WYSIWYG editor began with the aim of making WordPress more user-friendly and maintain it competitive against modern site builders. Announced in 2017, the project sparked mixed reactions, with some welcoming the innovation while others feared compatibility issues with existing tools. In 2018, a beta version of the block editor was launched as a plugin, before its integration into WordPress 5.0 in December of the same year.

Since its official integration, numerous updates have improved the functionality and usability of the tool, including the introduction of Full Site Editing in WordPress 5.8 and 5.9. Starting with WordPress 6.1, the block editor is an essential component, offering more and more design possibilities with new features like block modelsTHE reusable blocks and the theme blocks.

The WordPress block editor is based on a modular system. Each article and each page is composed of blocks which can contain various contents. It has several features that distinguish it from the old TinyMCE editor:

1. Blocks as the basis of content creation : there are different types of blocks for texts, images, videos, lists, tables and much more. Each block can be edited, moved or adjusted individually.
2. Prefabricated block models : WordPress offers block designs that allow users to quickly create professional layouts. This functionality of WordPress Gutenberg greatly contributes to its usability, as even complex layouts can be achieved without extensive technical knowledge.
3. Customizable styles and layouts : colors, fonts and spacing can be adapted for each block, without requiring knowledge of CSS.
4. Reusable blocks : Users can save their own blocks and reuse them across multiple articles.
5. Ability to edit the entire site (full site editing): Since WordPress 5.8, the block editor also allows you to edit headers, footers and other template parts directly in the editor.

Advantages and Disadvantages of WordPress Gutenberg

Like any big change, the block editor has both positive and negative aspects. A major advantage of the Gutenberg WordPress editor is its ease of use. With drag and drop functionality, content creation is intuitive. Flexible design possibilities and individual layouts (not requiring an additional page builder plugin) can also be realized thanks to the block structure of the editor. Users are also less dependent on shortcodes, because many functions previously inserted using them are now available in block form. With full site editing, entire web pages can be edited directly in the editor.

Although it offers many features, some third-party page builders offer even more flexibility or advanced features. Another disadvantage of Gutenberg is its low compatibility with older versions of WordPress and with certain plugins.

Plugins to extend the block editor

The block editor can also be extended, as is usually the case with WordPress, with numerous plugins that add additional blocks, design options and functionality. Here is a selection of the best WordPress plugins to extend Gutenberg functionality:

• Spectra : adds many additional blocks, including buttons call-to-action (CTA) advanced, information boxes and testimonials.
• Kadence Blocks : Offers customizable grid systems, advanced forms, and interactive elements with AI support.
• Stackable : contains a rich library of blocks and templates, ideal for professional designs.
• CoBlocks : focuses on layout and design elements with additional blocks for columns, galleries and headers.