WordPress Tips

WordPress is developing a new publishing tool called Gutenberg, and it aims to make your words, layout, and pictures look just as stunning as they do in your imagination – all without any code.

The Gutenberg editor uses block to generate all types of content, and it will replace inconsistent ways of customizing WordPress by aligning it with open web initiatives and modern coding standards. These content blocks transform how developers, users, and hosts interact with WordPress. The result?  Building rich web content will be easier, more intuitive, and far less technical.

What is a Content Block in Gutenberg?

Blocks represent a unified method to style content that currently needs shortcode, widgets, embeds, post formats, theme options, custom post types, meta-boxes and other formatting elements. By enabling rich customization without the need for expert knowledge of code, blocks deliver broad functionality with a consistent user experience.

The current WordPress editor is an open text window, a blank canvas for writing. However, when you want to build excitement in a post with multimedia, images, embedded content from social media, polls, or additional elements, you must use a mix of methods that are not necessarily intuitive:

• Media library/HTML for images, multimedia and approved files
• Shortcodes for specialized assets from plugins
• Pasted links for embeds
• Excerpts for subheads
• Featured images for the image at the top of a post or page
• Widgets for content on the side of a page

As WordPress tackled these issues, they embraced the concept of blocks. Each of the above items could be blocks: easy to understand and search, as well as delightfully simple to dynamical shift across a page. The block concept is truly robust and promises to deliver a superior editing and publishing experience.

The Phases of Gutenberg

Gutenberg has three planned phases. The first, aimed for inclusion in WordPress 5.0, focuses on the post editing experience and the implementation of blocks. The use of blocks enables you to focus on how your content’s appearance without the distraction of other configuration options. This ultimately will help each user to present content in a way that is engaging, visual, and direct.

These foundational elements will pave the way for phases two and three, which are planned for the next year, to go beyond the post into page templates and into full site customization. Gutenberg is transformational, and there will be ways to ensure that existing functionalities continue to work giving developers time to transition effectively. Compatibility

The Gutenberg project is also addressing compatibility issues. Blocks are now the de facto mechanism for creating content features, and NOYO Web Development recommends that developers migrate to the block system. However, there will be continuing support for existing WordPress functions with transition paths for meta-boxes, shortcodes, and custom post types.

Meta-boxes

• Some will continue to work with no changes under the new UI.
• Some can transition to new Gutenberg native extension points outside of the content area.
• Some will need updates in particular those that rely on the DOM for operating
• There will be a mechanism for conflicting meta-boxes to load the classic editor instead with a notice.
• Several can be converted to native blocks

Shortcodes

• Will continue working without changes
• There’s a planned mechanism for previewing them in place
• There is a new “shortcode block” to help inserting them

Custom Post Types

• Are supported by Gutenberg
• Can opt out by not declaring “editor” support
• Need REST API (show_in_rest) declaration
• Will be able to declare supported and default blocks

For more information on how Gutenberg will transform the user experience in building engaging and exciting content, contact us at NOYO Web Development today. It’s no cost or obligation to you.

Check out our last blog: Trends in WordPress Progressive Themes