What are WordPress block themes, and why should you use one?

Block themes, unofficially sometimes also referred to as Full Site Editing or FSE themes, are a new generation of WordPress themes entirely built with blocks. As a result, all areas of a website, such as the Header or Footer, can now be edited by the user in the block editor.

Previously, most WordPress users were already used to editing pages and post contents in the block editor. Now with block themes, we use the same familiar environment to edit elements of a WordPress site that were hidden behind a curtain.

To do this, block themes introduce powerful new features to WordPress users called Full Site Editing features.

The really cool thing about this development is that all these features are WordPress core features. So we don’t need to rely on a Page builder plugin to be able to edit our entire WordPress website in a visual editor.

Full Site Editing

These new editable areas of block themes can be accessed via the new Editor (under Appearance/Editor). This Editor looks like the already familiar post and page block editor. Once the Editor is open, you will see your current front page, and you can start to edit it.

You can also view a list of all editable elements (Templates and Template Parts) via the Editor sidebar menu. Click on the WordPress icon in the top-left corner of the Editor to open the menu.

Templates and Parts

From here, you can access the list of Templates and Template Parts that can be edited. You can even create your own Templates and Parts.

Styles

Styles is an additional feature of block themes and replaces many of the global theme settings previously available via the Customizer.

You can access the Styles settings when you click on the Styles icon while in the Editor.

Here, you can change the theme’s fonts settings and customize the global theme’s color palettes.

You can also add a custom color palette.

Next, you can edit the default block settings and change them.

Currently, Styles is still in Beta and moving forward we will see a lot more powerful features added to Styles.

What is the difference between Full Site Editing features and page builder plugins?

One reason to use a block theme with Full Site Editing features in comparison to a page builder plugin like Elementor is that Full Site Editing is a WordPress core feature. Therefore, using a block theme makes you independent of an external plugin.

Sure, page builder plugins offer a lot of features and right now many of them are not yet available with FSE. But for many websites, the options page builder plugins come with are often bloated and unnecessary.

Block themes in comparison offer a new lightweight core WordPress solution that will mature with each release cycle. Block themes and FSE solve many of the problems WordPress users have been struggling with in the past.

Be ready for the future of WordPress

Block themes and Full Site Editing is just getting started, and therefore naturally many things are still a little rough around the edges.

But the possibilities will grow and for many WordPress projects it’s already a smart choice to use a block theme now, even if it means to temporarily settle for a minimal or compromised solution. As a benefit, you will be ready for the future of WordPress now, and you won’t need to switch your website to a block theme later on.

We’ve been working with Full Site Editing features since they were first added via the Gutenberg plugin mid 2021. It’s amazing how far FSE has already come in such a short time. Many of the initial hiccups and limitations have been solved already or are being actively worked on.

Conclusion

At the moment, a block theme might not be the best solution yet for every WordPress website out there, but block themes are growing in their options week by week. So it’s a smart move to follow the development very closely and consider starting to learn more about block themes by choosing one for a private website or a smaller project.

To give feedback, follow the WordPress community Slack channel #fse-outrech-experiment. Learn WordPress and our YouTube channel have helpful tutorials and workshops.

If you have questions about block themes and FSE, leave me a comment or reach out on Twitter. I would love to hear from you.