Last updated on July 7th, 2024 at 10:51 am
The new Gutenberg WordPress Editor is available as a free plugin, but starting with WordPress version 5 it'll be the default option.
Image Credit: WordPress.org
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Update: While I wasn’t thoroughly impressed with the new block editor upon its initial release, the WordPress devs have made tons of improvements and it’s now my go-to editor. I’m still using page builders, but for general content – especially blog posts – the block editor is now my editor of choice.
For a long time, page-builder plugins that offered drag & drop functionality along with lots of preformatted options have been the standard for those who wanted to really customize their WordPress pages & posts. This was largely due to the fact that the WordPress editor is fairly limited.
The new Gutenberg WordPress Editor may be set to change all that and make some of those other page-builders step up their game.
This post isn’t a how-to for Gutenberg – you can find that here.
Gutenberg WordPress Editor: An Overview
In its current iteration, Gutenberg is a work in progress. The conceptual foundation, however, has already been nailed down. The new editor will use blocks as its primary content unit.
The documentation for Gutenberg indicates that while it’s currently set up for just content editing, it will eventually lay the foundation for full site customization:
Gutenberg has three planned stages. The first, aimed for inclusion in WordPress 5.0, focuses on the post editing experience and the implementation of blocks. This initial phase focuses on a content-first approach. The use of blocks, as detailed above, allows you to focus on how your content will look without the distraction of other configuration options. This ultimately will help all users present their content in a way that is engaging, direct, and visual.
These foundational elements will pave the way for stages two and three, planned for the next year, to go beyond the post into page templates and ultimately, full site customization.
~Gutenberg Plugin Page
New Features Long Overdue
Anyone who’s worked with WordPress knows you don’t always have all the tools you wish you had. The editor for posts has most of the basics, but it’s not as varied as something like Microsoft Word.
There are some new features I really like. These new features eliminate plugins and make the writing experience flow better.
Columns
By far, my favorite new item in the editor is the ability to create columns. Prior to Gutenberg, columns in content had to either be coded manually with div and float tags, or you had to use a plugin. Both options have their limitations, especially on different screen sizes.
Being able to add columns to a block of post natively will help eliminate some headaches for content managers. Right now, they’re not perfect. The padding between columns is a bit small in some themes the responsiveness could be better. Again, it’s a work in progress.
Tables
Tables are another feature that has been sorely missing from WordPress. Just like with columns, you had to either write out the HTML for a table or install a plugin.
Having tables available in the core editor will help eliminate the need for additional plugins such as TablePress.
Effortless Media Embeds
When you want to embed a YouTube video or some other type of media into your site, typically you have to find the embed code and copy/paste it into your article. Then you have to perform the sometimes tedious task of adjusting the size tags to make it how you want it.
With Gutenberg’s built-in media embeds, it’s super simple. The embed menu features just about every major media site, just select which one, enter the link and that’s it!
Easier Image Captioning
Another nice feature of Gutenberg is the ability to add a caption to an image without switching to the media screen.
As soon as you insert an image in a post, the caption area is open for editing right in the visual portion of the editor. It’s a good time-saver and helps you stay focused on the flow of writing instead of having to go off-screen for captions.
Easier Alt Text for Images
SEO folks know that every image in a post should have alt text assigned to it. And just like adding a caption to an image before Gutenberg, you had to screen swap to the media editor to do it.
Gutenberg makes alt text much easier. Anytime an image is selected in the editor, the right-hand pane automatically changes to the image tools which includes alt text. Gutenberg will allow you to keep writing without having to go off-screen to modify or change alt text.
Room for Improvement
Like any major change, the Gutenberg WordPress editor will probably leave some folks dismayed. Resistance to change, right?
The good thing is that Gutenberg is still being developed. That means WordPress users really will have some input.
One feature I’d like to see is the ability to drag and drop blocks vs. using arrows the move them up/down in the layout.
For those of us who know the old editor like the back of our hands, the adjustment to Gutenberg could come with some snags. Overall for folks who are just learning WordPress, Gutenberg might actually be easier and more intuitive.
If you have a WordPress site, especially if you write a lot, I’d highly recommend installing the Gutenberg WordPress editor on a test or staging site. That’ll help you get used to it and see if it conflicts with any of your existing plugins. Conflicts and bugs can be reported to Gutenberg’s GitHub repository.
Alternatives to Gutenberg
For those of us who have been around the WordPress industry for a while, you’ll know that page builders are not a new thing at all. In fact, they have been very popular for the last few years, with several vendors releasing page builders that have become a de facto standard of creating websites with WordPress, and Gutenberg is catching up with these players.
Two of the top plugins in this niche are Elementor and Divi, both of which have racked up hundreds of thousands of faithful users. Elementor has exploded in popularity because it starts with a completely free version just like WordPress, while Divi is also very popular, because although it is a premium plugin, it also includes a theme and various other plugins at a very competitive price, making it an excellent value purchase. If you want to read more about these two plugins, check out this highly-informative article on collectiveray.com.
Gutenberg WordPress Editor is Coming
At the time of this writing, WordPress will include Gutenberg as part of its core staring with version 5.0. You’ll still be able to install the original editor as a plugin, but one can only expect that to be supported for so long.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the new features. I’m also somewhat dreading the possibility of having to go back and modify my old posts and articles.
Sharif Jameel is a business owner, IT professional, runner, & musician. His professional certifications include CASP, Sec+, Net+, MCSA, & ITIL and others. He’s also the guitar player for the Baltimore-based cover bands, Liquifaction and Minority Report.
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