Every new WordPress core update is exciting, we get to see new features and see what additions we can make improve our websites.

The 4.9 WordPress update enabled users to schedule design changes in Customizer to go live at a later date,
4.8 changed the usability of widgets adding three dedicated media widgets,
4.7 gave us the eye catching video headers within a new Twenty Seventeen theme.

All of these updates are valuable making development time more efficient however this update is a particularly exciting as we are introduced to the new Gutenberg editor.

A tribute to the German inventor famous for starting the Printing Revolution the Gutenberg is a complete overhaul of the WordPress editor changing how WordPress users create content.

Gutenburg

By using this blocks concept, you can now determine what every part of your content is. Not only that, you can define their specifications per block. So, for instance, you can turn a single line of text into a quote by simply changing its block type.

Block-based writing blocks

What is really special on Gutenberg, it brings a completely new way how the editor works. It makes the content manipulation much easier as was the case previously. New content is added to Pages and Posts via blocks. You just need to click the “+” symbol in the editor. This way, you can add any type of content, such as gallery, videos or embed codes. Even custom blocks can be created.

Image source: https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/

Nested Blocks

Nested blocks mean a block that can be added or exist within another block. Thus, we are implying blocks that are usable as sub-blocks of existing ones.

By nesting blocks, you can work with additional forms of content and get better formatting for presenting your content on the frontend. It can help in layout and structuring of your content on the frontend as well.

Reusable blocks

One of the coolest things about the new WordPress editor is reusable blocks. Think of these as a completed block that you can save along with its settings. For instance, if you’ve made a cool looking layout for the intro of your blog articles, you can save this as a reusable block. After that, you only have to go to Add Block -> Saved to pick your reusable intro block. How cool is that!

What else is included in WordPress 5.0?

  • • All of the previous default themes, from Twenty Ten through to Twenty Seventeen, have been updated to support the block editor.
  • • You can improve the accessibility of the content you write, now that simple ARIA labels can be saved in posts and pages.
  • • WordPress 5.0 officially supports the upcoming PHP 7.3 release: if you’re using an older version, we encourage you to upgrade PHP on your site.
  • • Developers can now add translatable strings directly to your JavaScript code, using the new JavaScript language packs.

    Feedback from WordPress Authors

    Not everyone has a positive view on Gutenberg however as they see the editor as a threat to there own custom-made page builders.

    This is because there is a huge amount of work behind these Page Builders. Custom Page Builders become redundant once Gutenberg editor arrives. But it is not necessary to look at it as an imminent threat. So far, Gutenberg lags far behind most of the most used Page Builders.

    Get One Step Ahead

    If you’re the kind of person that believes “if it aint broke don’t fix it”, you’ll be able to stick with the classic WordPress editor for the foreseeable future. However, if you plan on adapting, you’ll want to start reading up on how Gutenberg works right away. This will give you a step ahead of your competition once WordPress 5.0 is live, and will help you determine which of your themes and plugins may be most affected.