Understanding Gutenberg: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide to the WordPress Builder
Building a website can be a daunting task, with many steps and decisions to make along the way. One crucial aspect is choosing the right content builder plugin to create your website’s layout and design. Fortunately, WordPress has a built-in solution called Gutenberg, which is supported by popular themes and offers a wide range of features for new users.
But what exactly is Gutenberg, and how can you get started with it? In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the ins and outs of Gutenberg and how it can help you create stunning WordPress posts and pages.
Gutenberg is WordPress’ default block-based content editor and page builder. It uses visual content blocks to simplify the process of creating layouts and adding content. These content blocks include various options such as text blocks (paragraphs, headings, lists), media blocks (images, galleries, videos), embed blocks (Twitter, YouTube, WordPress), design blocks (buttons, columns, separators), widget blocks (archives, categories list, search), and more.
Gutenberg also offers Full Site Editing (FSE) capabilities. If you are using a FSE theme, you can use Gutenberg to design different parts of your WordPress site, including the header, footer, and page templates. Additionally, depending on the plugins you have installed, you may have access to additional Gutenberg blocks related to those plugins. For example, WooCommerce adds product blocks, Contact Form 7 adds a form block, and Meta Slider adds a slider block.
One of the biggest advantages of Gutenberg is that it comes pre-installed with WordPress 5.0 and does not require any additional installation. However, if you prefer a more traditional WordPress editing experience or if your theme is designed for the original editor, you can install the free Classic Editor plugin to disable Gutenberg and revert back to the classic tinyMCE editor.
So, what sets Gutenberg apart from the Classic Editor? Gutenberg is a visual front-end editor, meaning you can see the rendered versions of your blocks and customizations as you create your posts and pages. This makes it easier to design custom layouts on a per-page basis. On the other hand, the Classic Editor is a text-based back-end editor where you cannot see how your content will look until it is published. The Classic Editor is primarily used for adding content to posts and pages styled by your theme, while Gutenberg offers more advanced options for creating layouts and rich-media content.
While Gutenberg is generally easy to use, there is a learning curve when getting started. However, once you familiarize yourself with the editor and its features, you can quickly become proficient in using Gutenberg to create professional-looking content.
To demonstrate how to use Gutenberg, let’s walk through the process of creating a WordPress post from scratch:
1. Navigate to Posts > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. In the Gutenberg editor, start by adding a title for your post in the Title block.
3. Below the title, start typing to create a new paragraph block. Each time you hit Enter, Gutenberg will automatically create a new paragraph block. You can convert these blocks into different types, such as images, headings, covers, galleries, forms, and more.
4. Customize your paragraph block using the formatting toolbar. You can change the block into a verse, quote, heading, list, code, or preformatted text. You can also style the text using bold, italics, strikethrough, underline, alignment options, and add links or inline images.
5. Add images to your post by clicking the plus (+) icon and selecting the Image tab. You can upload an image or choose one from your media library. Gutenberg automatically adds a new paragraph block below the image.
6. If you want to add downloadable files like PDFs or videos, create a new paragraph block and click the plus (+) icon. Navigate to Common Blocks and select the File tab. Upload your file, and Gutenberg will add a download button to your post.
7. To add a quote, create a new line and click the plus (+) icon. Navigate to Common Blocks and select the Quote tab. Type your quote inside the block.
8. You can also embed media from sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and more. Click the plus (+) icon, navigate to Embeds, select the site, and paste the URL. Gutenberg will convert the link into an embedded video or media player.
9. If you want to add a button, create a new line or block and click the plus (+) icon. Navigate to Layout Elements and select the Button tab. Customize the button text and add a link.
10. To create columns in your post, click the plus (+) icon, navigate to Layout Elements, and select the Columns tab. Gutenberg adds two columns by default, and you can add content to each column.
These are just a few examples of what you can achieve with Gutenberg. Depending on your needs, you can also explore third-party Gutenberg blocks that offer additional functionality and options. Some recommended plugins include Spectra and Otter Blocks, which provide a wide range of blocks for different purposes.
In conclusion, Gutenberg is a powerful and intuitive content editor that allows you to create professional-looking posts and pages without coding knowledge. By familiarizing yourself with its features and taking advantage of its various blocks and customization options, you can unleash your creativity and design outstanding websites with ease.
So, why not give Gutenberg a try? Take some time to explore its capabilities and see how it can transform your WordPress experience. Happy editing!
