Day 25: Building Custom Block Patterns in Gutenberg

Introduction

Welcome to Day 25 of the Gutenberg development series! Today, we’ll dive into block patterns, a powerful feature in Gutenberg that allows you to create pre-designed layouts that users can add to their posts and pages with a single click. Block patterns are perfect for building common content layouts like hero sections, testimonials, pricing tables, and more, without needing to start from scratch each time.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Create and register custom block patterns.
• Use block patterns to streamline content creation.
• Organize and categorize patterns for better usability.

What are Block Patterns in Gutenberg?

Block patterns are pre-configured groups of blocks that can be inserted into the WordPress editor with one click. They allow you to save time by offering reusable layouts for common content structures. For example, you might create a pattern for a Testimonials Section or a Two-Column Layout with images and text.

Block patterns are particularly useful for:

• Speeding up Content Creation: Users can add complex layouts without needing to build them block by block.
• Maintaining Consistency: Patterns ensure that design elements stay consistent across different pages.
• Enhancing User Experience: Users can quickly access the patterns they need, making the editing process smoother.

Step 1: Creating a Basic Block Pattern

Let’s create a simple Hero Section pattern that includes a heading, paragraph, and a button.

1. Register the Block Pattern

In your theme’s functions.php file or a custom plugin, use the register_block_pattern function to define your pattern.

function my_theme_register_block_patterns() {
    register_block_pattern(
        'my-theme/hero-section',
        array(
            'title'       => __( 'Hero Section', 'my-theme' ),
            'description' => _x( 'A hero section with a heading, paragraph, and button.', 'Block pattern description', 'my-theme' ),
            'content'     => '<!-- wp:group -->
                                <div class="wp-block-group">
                                    <h2>Welcome to Our Website</h2>
                                    <p>This is a simple hero section with a call to action.</p>
                                    <!-- wp:button -->
                                    <div class="wp-block-button">
                                        <a class="wp-block-button__link">Get Started</a>
                                    </div>
                                    <!-- /wp:button -->
                                </div>
                              <!-- /wp:group -->',
            'categories'  => array( 'my-theme-patterns' ),
        )
    );
}
add_action( 'init', 'my_theme_register_block_patterns' );

Explanation:

• register_block_pattern: This function registers a new block pattern with a unique name and settings.
• title: The name displayed in the block pattern library.
• description: A brief description of what the pattern includes.
• content: The HTML content of the pattern. This is a group of blocks wrapped in standard Gutenberg block markup.
• categories: Categorizes the pattern for easier access in the pattern library.

Step 2: Organizing Block Patterns into Categories

To make it easier for users to find your patterns, you can create custom categories for them.

1. Register a Custom Category

Add a new category for your block patterns in the same function:

function my_theme_register_block_pattern_categories() {
    register_block_pattern_category(
        'my-theme-patterns',
        array( 'label' => __( 'My Theme Patterns', 'my-theme' ) )
    );
}
add_action( 'init', 'my_theme_register_block_pattern_categories' );

Explanation:

• register_block_pattern_category: This function defines a new category for your block patterns, which will appear in the Block Editor under the specified label.
• Custom Categories: Helps users find your patterns more easily, especially if you have multiple patterns for different purposes.

register_block_pattern(
    'my-theme/two-column-layout',
    array(
        'title'       => __( 'Two-Column Layout', 'my-theme' ),
        'description' => _x( 'A layout with two columns, each containing an image and text.', 'Block pattern description', 'my-theme' ),
        'content'     => '<!-- wp:columns -->
                            <div class="wp-block-columns">
                                <!-- wp:column -->
                                <div class="wp-block-column">
                                    <img src="https://via.placeholder.com/400" alt="Placeholder Image" />
                                    <p>Column 1 content goes here.</p>
                                </div>
                                <!-- /wp:column -->
                                <!-- wp:column -->
                                <div class="wp-block-column">
                                    <img src="https://via.placeholder.com/400" alt="Placeholder Image" />
                                    <p>Column 2 content goes here.</p>
                                </div>
                                <!-- /wp:column -->
                            </div>
                          <!-- /wp:columns -->',
        'categories'  => array( 'my-theme-patterns' ),
    )
);

Explanation:

• Multiple Patterns: You can register as many patterns as you need, each with its own title, description, and content.
• Two-Column Layout: This pattern uses the Columns Block to create a side-by-side layout, making it perfect for showcasing images or text.

Step 4: Using Block Patterns in the Editor

Once registered, your block patterns are available in the WordPress Block Editor.

1. Access the Block Patterns
   • Go to any post or page in the WordPress Block Editor.
   • Click the + icon to open the block inserter.
   • Navigate to the Patterns tab.
   • Search for your registered pattern categories, such as My Theme Patterns.
   • Click on a pattern to insert it into your content.
2. Customize the Pattern
   • Once inserted, you can customize the content of the pattern just like any other blocks in the editor.
   • Adjust text, images, or buttons to fit the specific needs of your page.

Step 5: Exporting and Importing Block Patterns

You can export block patterns to use them on other sites or share with other users.

1. Export a Block Pattern
   • To export a pattern, you can copy the HTML structure from the content section in functions.php and save it as a text file.
   • You can then re-register it on another site using the same method.
2. Import a Block Pattern
   • To import, simply use the register_block_pattern function on the new site, using the content you saved from the previous pattern.

Example: Sharing a Hero Section Pattern

You might create a Hero Section pattern for a client’s site and want to use the same layout on a different client’s website. By exporting and importing the pattern, you can replicate the design quickly.

Best Practices for Block Patterns

1. Keep Patterns Modular: Focus on creating small, reusable patterns that can be combined in different ways to build complex layouts.
2. Provide Descriptive Titles: Use clear and descriptive titles for your patterns to help users quickly understand their purpose.
3. Use Default Placeholders: Use placeholder images or text to make it clear where users should replace content with their own.

Conclusion: Speed Up Content Creation with Block Patterns

Block patterns are a powerful way to streamline content creation in Gutenberg, allowing users to add complex layouts with ease. By building a library of reusable patterns, you can save time, ensure consistency, and offer a better editing experience.

In this article, you’ve learned how to:

• Create and register custom block patterns.
• Organize patterns into categories for easier access.
• Use block patterns to enhance the user experience in the WordPress Block Editor.

In Day 26, we’ll explore building custom templates in Gutenberg, where you can pre-define the structure of entire posts or pages.