The Gutenberg editor for WordPress transformed the web content creation process, bringing it right up-to-date for 21st-century web design.
Rather than fiddling about with HTML to create rather linear content, you can use Gutenberg to build out attractive layouts with modular blocks, buttons, galleries, and more.
So, as Gutenberg celebrates its fifth anniversary, let’s reflect on how it has transformed the WordPress experience for users, developers, and content creators alike.
A Brief History of Gutenberg
The Gutenberg project, named after Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, was introduced in late 2018 as part of WordPress 5.0.
It aimed to modernise content editing by replacing the classic WordPress editor with a block-based editor.
How Gutenberg Works
Using the Gutenberg editor is straightforward. Rather than using HTML and other code to build modular content, you select blocks from a drop-down menu in the editor.
You can also insert custom code into blocks to build more complex layouts or user experiences.
Gutenberg has undoubtedly made content creation more accessible by simplifying popular content components like headings, images, galleries, embeds, etc.
Here are some of the most commonly used Gutenberg blocks:
- Paragraph Block: This is the most basic and frequently used block. It’s designed for adding simple text content. Users can adjust the size, colour, and other text settings.
- Image Block: The image block allows users to insert images into their posts or pages. It provides options for resizing, aligning, and adding captions to images.
- Heading Block: Essential for structuring content, the heading block helps create headings and subheadings. This block helps organise content for both readers and search engines.
- List Block: Used for creating bulleted or numbered lists, this block is ideal for presenting information clearly and concisely.
- Gallery Block: The gallery block enables users to display multiple images in a grid format. It’s great for neatly showcasing a collection of images.
- Button Block: This block is used to add call-to-action buttons. Users can customise the text, link, and appearance of the button.
- Embed Block: The embed block allows users to embed content from various platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook directly into their posts.
- Spacer and Divider Blocks: These blocks are used to add space or a dividing line between elements, helping to break up content and improve layout.
- Quote Block: Ideal for highlighting quotations or special text, this block offers different styles and formatting options.
- Column Block: The column block lets users create multi-column layouts, enabling more complex page designs without custom coding.
Future of Gutenberg
Gutenberg has helped keep WordPress the leading content management system (CMS) around today, even despite the increasing popularity of competitors like Webflow, Squarespace, etc.
It will continue to evolve as developers offer new methods of creating cutting-edge, responsive content.
Blue Bee loves to build smooth, functional, and aesthetically stunning web content that leverages Gutenberg’s full capabilities.
Contact us to learn more about our web design and digital marketing services.