How to Use WordPress Block Patterns: Beginner’s Guide?

How to WordPress Block Patterns?

WordPress block patterns are predesigned arrangements of blocks that you can use to add common design elements to your posts and pages quickly. Here’s how to use block patterns in WordPress:

1. In the WordPress editor, click on the “Add block” button in the upper right corner of the editor.
2. In the “Add block” panel, click on the “Patterns” tab.
3. Scroll through the list of available block patterns and click on the one you want to use.
4. The block pattern will be added to your page. You can then click on the blocks within the pattern to edit them.
5. When you’re finished editing the block pattern, click the “Publish” button to save your changes.

Note: Block patterns are available in WordPress 5.5 and later. If you are using an older version of WordPress, you may not have access to this feature.

How to create Block Patterns in WordPress?

To create your block patterns in WordPress, follow these steps:

1. In the WordPress editor, create a design using blocks that you want to save as a pattern.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the editor and select “Save as block pattern”.
3. In the “Save block pattern” modal, enter a name for your pattern and click the “Create block pattern” button.
4. Your block pattern will now be available in the “Patterns” tab of the “Add block” panel. You can use it in any post or page by following the steps listed in my previous response.

Note: When creating a block pattern, you can include specific blocks or exclude certain blocks from the way. To do this, click on the block you want to include or exclude and then click the “Include in block pattern” or “Exclude from block pattern” button in the block toolbar.

How to Find More Block Patterns to Use on Your Website?

There are several ways you can find more block patterns to use on your WordPress website:

1. Install a plugin: Several WordPress plugins add additional block patterns to the WordPress editor. For example, the “Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg” plugin includes a variety of patterns that you can use to add various design elements to your site.
2. Explore the WordPress block pattern directory: WordPress maintains a directory of block patterns that you can browse and use on your site. To access the directory, go to “Appearance > Patterns” in the WordPress dashboard.
3. Check out third-party resources: There are many websites and online communities that offer free block patterns that you can use on your WordPress site. For example, the WordPress Codex maintains a list of block pattern resources that you can explore.
4. Create your block patterns: If you can’t find a block pattern that meets your needs, you can always create your own by following the steps listed in my previous response. This can be a great way to customize your site and create unique design elements.

Remember to always properly attribute any block patterns that you use from third-party sources.

How do use and Share Your Block Patterns?

To use your block patterns in WordPress, follow these steps:

1. In the WordPress editor, click on the “Add block” button in the upper right corner of the editor.
2. In the “Add block” panel, click on the “Patterns” tab.
3. Scroll through the list of available block patterns and click on the one you want to use.
4. The block pattern will be added to your page. You can then click on the blocks within the pattern to edit them.
5. When you’re finished editing the block pattern, click the “Publish” button to save your changes.

To share your block patterns with others, you can do the following:

1. Export the block pattern: You can export your block pattern as a JSON file by going to “Appearance > Patterns” in the WordPress dashboard and clicking on the “Export” button next to the pattern you want to share. This will allow you to share the block pattern with others and import it into other WordPress sites.
2. Share the block pattern through a plugin or theme: If you have developed a plugin or theme that includes your block pattern, you can share it with others by publishing the plugin or theme on the WordPress plugin repository or theme directory.
3. Share the block pattern on a community or resource website: Some many online communities and resources allow you to share and download block patterns. You can share your block pattern on one of these sites to make it available to others.

Remember to properly attribute any block patterns that you use from third-party sources and follow any applicable license terms.

How to Create WordPress Block Patterns Manually?

To create block patterns manually in WordPress, you will need to create a block pattern plugin or add the block pattern code to your theme’s functions.php file. Here’s a general outline of the steps you can follow:

1. Create a new plugin or add the code to your theme’s functions.php file: If you are adding the block pattern code to your theme, skip to step 2. If you are creating a plugin, start by creating a new plugin and adding the necessary plugin header information.
2. Register your block pattern: Use the register_block_pattern function to register your block pattern. This function takes several arguments, including the name of the pattern, a description, and the HTML code for the pattern.
3. Test your block pattern: Activate your plugin or refresh your site to see if the block pattern is available in the WordPress editor.

Here is an example of how you might use the register_block_pattern function to register a block pattern:

codefunction register_my_block_pattern() {
    register_block_pattern(
        'my-plugin/my-block-pattern',
        array(
            'title' => __( 'My Block Pattern', 'my-plugin' ),
            'description' => _x( 'A simple block pattern with a heading and a paragraph.', 'Block pattern description', 'my-plugin' ),
            'content' => '<!-- wp:heading -->
                            <h2>My Block Pattern</h2>
                            <!-- /wp:heading -->
                            <!-- wp:paragraph -->
                            <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec eleifend tellus vel nisi tristique, eu porta est aliquet.</p>
                            <!-- /wp:paragraph -->',
        )
    );
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_my_block_pattern' );

This code will register a block pattern with a heading and a paragraph, which you can then use in the WordPress editor.

Note: To create more advanced block patterns, you may need to use more advanced techniques, such as using PHP to generate the HTML code for the pattern or using custom block types. You may also need to familiarize yourself with the WordPress block editor and block development in general.

How to Remove a Block Pattern in WordPress?

To remove a block pattern in WordPress, you will need to deactivate the plugin or theme that registered the block pattern. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to the WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to “Plugins” or “Appearance > Themes” in the left-hand menu, depending on whether the block pattern was registered by a plugin or a theme.
3. Locate the plugin or theme that registered the block pattern and click the “Deactivate” link.
4. The block pattern will no longer be available in the WordPress editor.

Note: If you are unable to deactivate the plugin or theme that registered the block pattern, you may need to use FTP to delete the plugin or theme files from your server. You should only do this if you are sure you no longer need the plugin or theme and are comfortable using FTP.

Alternatively, you can also remove the block pattern by unregistering it using the unregister_block_pattern function. This function takes the name of the block pattern as an argument. Here is an example of how you might use it:

codefunction unregister_my_block_pattern() {
    unregister_block_pattern( 'my-plugin/my-block-pattern' );
}
add_action( 'init', 'unregister_my_block_pattern' );

This code will remove the block pattern with the name my-plugin/my-block-pattern from the WordPress editor.

What to The Difference Between Reusable Blocks and Block Patterns?

Reusable blocks and block patterns are two features in WordPress that allow you to save and reuse blocks and block layouts on your site. Here are the main differences between the two:

1. Reusable blocks are individual blocks that you can save and reuse on your site. They can contain any type of block and can be inserted into any post or page on your site.
2. Block patterns are predesigned arrangements of blocks that you can use to add common design elements to your posts and pages quickly. Block patterns are typically used for more complex layouts and design elements and are typically used multiple times on a site.
3. Reusable blocks are saved and managed on a per-site basis, while block patterns are saved and managed globally. This means that reusable blocks can only be used on the site they were created on, while block patterns can be used on any site.
4. Reusable blocks are edited directly in the WordPress editor, while block patterns are typically edited using code. This means that reusable blocks are more suitable for users who are comfortable using the WordPress editor, while block patterns are more suitable for developers who are comfortable working with code.

In general, reusable blocks are more flexible and can be used for a wide range of purposes, while block patterns are more specialized and are typically used for more specific design elements. Both features can be useful for saving time and streamlining your workflow when building and maintaining a WordPress site.