Block patterns are one of the most useful features introduced in WordPress 5.5. In short, block patterns allow you to save and reuse groups of blocks to speed up your content creation workflow. If you find yourself repeatedly creating the same types of content structures, or want to encourage consistency across your site, block patterns are for you. In this complete guide, we'll cover everything you need to start leveraging block patterns in WordPress.
TL;DR - What Are Block Patterns in WordPress?
Block patterns allow you to save and reuse groups of blocks in the WordPress editor. For example, you could save your site's header or footer as a pattern. Then, insert that pattern whenever you need that same header or footer again. This saves time compared to copying and pasting, and ensures consistency.
The Benefits of Using Block Patterns
There are several key benefits to using block patterns in WordPress:
- Speeds up content creation - Rather than building certain content blocks from scratch each time, reuse patterns to cut out repetitive work.
- Provides consistency - Use patterns to ensure headers, footers, call-to-action blocks, etc. appear the same site-wide.
- Encourages reuse of effective blocks - Identify high-performing content structures and save them as patterns for reuse.
- Allows collaboration and sharing - Block patterns can be shared across teams or the WordPress community.
Finding and Using Existing Block Patterns
WordPress core includes selection of useful block patterns to get you started. To use them, look under "Patterns" when adding a new block. The patterns include call-to-action boxes, headers, quotes, and more.
There are also plugins that add additional block pattern libraries, like Atomic Blocks, Stackable, and CoBlocks. Browse their pattern collections to find ones that suit your site's needs.
Inserting a pattern is as easy as selecting it from the pattern inserter. Some patterns allow you to customize colors, text, etc. before inserting.
Creating Custom Block Patterns
While existing patterns are great, you'll often want to create custom patterns tailored to your content needs. Here's how:
- In the editor, build out the group of blocks you want to save as a pattern.
- Select all the blocks.
- Give your pattern a name/description.
- Click "Save as Reusable Block" to save as pattern.
Tips when creating custom patterns:
- Name patterns clearly so they're easy to find later.
- Organize patterns into categories as your library grows.
- Create header/footer patterns to maintain consistent branding.
- Design multiple variations of a pattern for flexibility.
Advanced Block Pattern Tips
- Make patterns editable - Allow customization of certain elements upon insertion.
- Promote reuse - Link relevant patterns in your style guide or docs.
- Localization - You can translate patterns into multiple languages.
- Avoid overly rigid patterns - Ensure they're flexible for different contexts.
Conclusion
Block patterns are a game-changer for WordPress content creation. Take advantage of their ability to speed up workflows and provide consistency across your site. Start by leveraging WordPress' built-in patterns, then create custom patterns tailored to your needs. Implement tips like making patterns editable and promoting reuse to get the most value. With strategic use of patterns, you can streamline how you build, manage, and scale WordPress content.
