What Is Gutenberg?

What Is Gutenberg, And Why Do We Use It?

The world of web design and content creation is constantly evolving, and we’d like to think that WordPress users are at the forefront of these changes. One of the most significant developments in recent years is the introduction of the Gutenberg editor. Named after the inventor of the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg, this block-based editor has revolutionised the way we create and manage content on WordPress. In this post, we’ll explore what Gutenberg is, and why it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to build and manage dynamic, visually appealing websites with ease.

What Is Gutenberg?

Gutenberg is a “block-based” editor introduced with WordPress 5.0, replacing the classic WordPress editor. Named after Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, this editor represents a revolutionary shift in how content is created and managed in WordPress.

The Essence of Gutenberg: Block-Based Editing

At its core, Gutenberg is a block-based editor. Unlike the classic editor, which relied heavily on short-codes and HTML, Gutenberg breaks down content into individual blocks. Each block serves as a container for a specific type of content—such as paragraphs, images, videos, galleries, headings, lists, and more. This modular approach allows us to build – and our clients to manage – complex layouts with ease and precision.

Key Features of Gutenberg.

1. Intuitive UI: The drag-and-drop functionality makes it simple for users to add, move, and customise blocks. It’s much, much easier for clients to use when building new pages – and it’s got a very simple learning curve. Most clients get the hang of how to add and remove blocks in minutes.
2. Enhanced Customisation: Each block comes with its own set of customisation or editability options, allowing for a high degree of personalisation without delving into code. WordPress has always been quite good at this, and ACF allowed for a large amount of flexibility too, but Gutenberg helps take that to the next level.
3. Reusable Blocks: Users can save blocks to be reused across different pages and posts, improving efficiency and consistency. This is also helpful because clients begin to see their website less as “templates and pages” and more as blocks, which can be used to easily create, remove, and edit sections very easily.
4. Extensibility: Developers can create easily custom blocks, expanding Gutenberg’s capabilities to suit specific needs. It affords a lot of flexibility to us as a web agency – so even clients with particularly specific needs or requirements can be catered for; there’s not much you can’t make customisable / a block.

Challenges.

Despite its numerous advantages, Gutenberg is not without its headaches. Transitioning from the classic editor or ACF to Gutenberg can be a learning curve for some users, particularly if you’ve relied upon them heavily for a long time. There may also be compatibility issues with older themes and plugins. However, the WordPress community is continuously working on improving the editor and addressing these concerns.

Conclusion

Gutenberg is more than just an editor; it’s a new way of thinking about content creation in WordPress. Its block-based approach offers unparalleled flexibility and control, empowering users to create rich, dynamic content without needing to write a single line of code. While the transition may require some adjustment, the benefits it brings in terms of usability, performance, and future-readiness make it a valuable tool in the WordPress ecosystem.