What is Gutenberg Block Editor and How Gutenberg Works

For those new to WordPress, the term “Gutenberg” may be unfamiliar. It is referenced in various plugin and theme descriptions, but its significance may not be immediately clear. Gutenberg, also referred to as the Block Editor, provides users with a more user-friendly interface for designing posts and pages. It has taken the place of the WordPress Classic Editor to offer a more intuitive web-building experience. This post will provide an in-depth analysis of Gutenberg and is organized into sections for easy navigation.

Let’s get started!

What is Gutenberg?

Gutenberg, a block-based editor, was introduced in WordPress 5.0 released in November 2018. Since then, numerous website owners have opted to replace the classic editor with Gutenberg. 

Gutenberg is now the default editor for WordPress installations. 

For those who are unsure about the function of Gutenberg, we will provide a comprehensive overview in this post and guide you on how to experiment with the block editor.

The current format of the Classic WordPress Editor, which is powered by the open-source TinyMCE editor, has not undergone significant changes since its inception.

The development of the core WordPress platform progresses slowly, resulting in outdated features such as the Classic Editor, which some users view as no longer suitable. In the past few years, there has been a rise in the popularity of visual and user-friendly methods for producing online content. One such example is the availability of website builders like Wix and Squarespace, as well as page builder plugins (including Elementor and Divi) created by the WordPress community. These tools enable users to design layouts using various elements through a drag-and-drop interface. 

Therefore, WordPress has developed its own page builder, Gutenberg, in response to the current trend.

Gutenberg is a block-based editor for WordPress which resembles popular page builder tools. It provides the capability to add customizable blocks including images, paragraphs, lists, and buttons to a page or post.

The benefits of using Gutenberg for your website

For those who use Classic Editor, there may be a decision to make about switching to Gutenberg. Additionally, those unfamiliar with both editors may be interested in determining if Gutenberg is the superior choice. Here are the benefits of using the Gutenberg block builder we analyzed for your website:

  • The process of creating content is made more user-friendly and accessible for those new to it.
  • Gutenberg allows you to preview your content in a format that closely resembles its appearance on the front end.
  • The content creation experience is streamlined by removing the requirement for individual shortcodes.
  • Gutenberg offers additional opportunities to tailor your content by utilizing a range of distinct components.
  • Gutenberg eliminates the requirement to install a standalone page builder plugin.
  • The default editor for WordPress is Gutenberg nowadays, as the Classic Editor is no longer supported by the WordPress team since 2022. It is recommended to switch to Gutenberg if still using the old editor.

Create your website with a visual website builder

Here is your step-by-step guide to try Gutenberg for your website:

  • Once WordPress is installed, Gutenberg can be accessed on your site by opening a new post or page as it will be enabled. 
  • If a WordPress site has been updated to the latest version and was previously using the Classic Editor, there is now an option to use both editors simultaneously.
  • To ensure the optimal user experience, it is recommended to test the opening of a post in the Block Editor on a local or staging site in order to identify and fix any potential issues. 
  • You can also experiment with Gutenberg on the editor’s official page on your WordPress site. 
  • This tool provides a way to become acquainted with the Block Editor prior to utilizing it on your website. Users have the ability to view the available blocks, customize settings, and access other features.

How Gutenberg works

The Gutenberg Block Editor allows for content creation using individual blocks, with a variety of block types available. These can be accessed by clicking on the plus icon or within the page itself.

One way to add text or media to a page is through a simple paragraph or image block, but there are also other options such as creating lists, galleries, tables, and more.

After choosing a block, it will be included in your post or page. From there, customization can be done by accessing the toolbar settings by clicking on the block. Additional options for customization are available in the sidebar on the right-hand side.

In the case of using a Paragraph block, various adjustments can be made such as creating an anchor link or altering the color and typography of the text.

Gutenberg allows users to add content as blocks, customize them with available settings, and arrange them in preferred order on the page. The possibilities are endless with the ability to add blocks for paragraphs, images, videos, galleries, audio, lists and much more. WordPress offers a wide range of blocks for all common content elements, and even more can be added through plugins. 

Additionally, Gutenberg includes a variety of pre-designed block patterns.

Users have the ability to utilize pre-made designs for various elements on their website, such as headers and galleries. These designs can be tailored to meet specific needs. Additionally, users can save customized elements as reusable blocks for efficient use in future posts and pages.

It is recommended to experiment with Gutenberg, test various blocks, and gain familiarity with its functionality. This will allow for individual assessment of its comparison to the Classic WordPress editor and commonly used page builders.

Gutenberg is a simplified WordPress editor that allows for the creation of pages and posts through the use of blocks.

The default editor for WordPress is now Gutenberg, and although the Classic Editor is still accessible, support for this tool has been discontinued by the WordPress team.

It is recommended to become familiar with the Gutenberg Editor and its features, and to refer to the WordPress Block Editor tutorial  and for further guidance.

After getting familiar with the Gutenberg Editor, we recommend you to install our ShowPro theme and conference plugin for your conference and event website needs. With ShowThemes’ expanded functionalities built upon Gutenberg Editor, our conference and event plugin allow anyone to easily build powerful, aesthetically pleasing and functional websites with features comparable to page builders like Elementor or Brizy, without any added code. 

With its emphasis on sales and audience engagement, the ShowPro event and conference theme and plugin built by ShowThemes is the perfect choice for anyone looking to create an unforgettable event or conference. Its popularity in the WordPress repository for the conference, event and show market only reinforces its status as a top conference and event theme and plugin player in the industry.