When working in WordPress, it’s important to remember that there are nearly infinite possibilities when it comes to design and development. Whether you’re looking for something simple or complex, the platform can more than likely deliver.
But WordPress gains new features all the time and it’s often the case that users aren’t using everything available to them. Since the addition of full-site editing and Gutenberg, creating beautiful, custom designs with WordPress can be done in a fraction of the time it used to take. Blocks are especially helpful in this regard. And block patterns even more so.
But if you’re glazing over at those concepts, don’t worry. In this article, we will be discussing how to make a block pattern in WordPress. This can be a very useful tool for creating custom designs and layouts for your website — without having to constantly swap out your theme. We will be walking you through the steps of creating the pattern, as well as some tips and tricks for making it look its best. Let’s get started!
What is a WordPress Block Pattern?
A block pattern is a predefined layout that can be quickly and easily used to create custom designs within WordPress. Block patterns are composed of multiple blocks that are already arranged in a specific way, giving you the ability to add content with minimal effort. This makes it possible to create complex designs quickly and efficiently, without needing any coding knowledge or experience.
Why Using Block Patterns in WordPress is a Good Idea
Block patterns are a great way to quickly create visually appealing designs with little effort. They save you time, as they don’t require any coding knowledge or experience. Plus, if you use them strategically, they can help your website stand out from the competition.
Let’s explore some of these key reasons to put block patterns to work in depth now.
Quickly Create Visually Appealing Designs
Block patterns allow you to create complex designs quickly and easily. All you need to do is choose a pattern that fits your needs, add your content and images, and you have yourself a beautiful design.
Save Time
As with any website creative process, time is a precious commodity. Block patterns can help you create stunning designs in just minutes, so you can spend more time on your other website-related tasks.
Stand Out from the Competition
If you use block patterns strategically, they can help your website stand out from the competition. You can create unique designs that are sure to get noticed and help you get more traffic.
Can Be Used Independent of the Theme Chosen
Because block patterns are independent of the theme you choose, they can be used with any WordPress theme. This makes them extremely versatile and allows you to create incredible designs even if you decide to switch themes in the future.
Now that we’ve discussed why block patterns are a great idea, let’s move on to how to create them in WordPress.
How to Use Block Patterns in WordPress
Using block patterns in WordPress is easy. All you have to do is open the post or page editor and click on the Add Block button, which looks like a blue square with a white + sign inside of it.
Then, click the Patterns tab and select one of the available block patterns. The pattern will then be added to your post/page with all of the blocks already placed and configured.
You can then edit each of the blocks to add your own content. This could include text, images, videos, or anything else you might need for your post or page. When you’re done editing, simply click Publish and your custom design will be live!
A Quick Look at the WordPress Block Patterns Directory
The WordPress Block Patterns Directory is a great resource for anyone looking to take advantage of block patterns. It contains a variety of different blocks that can be used in any number of ways to create unique and attractive designs. The library also contains some “starter packs”, which are collections of well-designed block patterns that offer an easy way to get started.
By using block patterns in WordPress, you can quickly and easily create stunning designs that are sure to stand out from the competition.
Key Things You Need to Know About Block Patterns
Before diving into the process of creating a block pattern, there are some key things you need to know.
First off, it’s important to note that not all blocks are eligible for use in a block pattern. Some blocks may have additional features or requirements that make them ineligible for use as part of a pattern. So be sure to double-check what blocks you’re looking to use and make sure they are eligible.
In addition, block patterns can be shared with other users, so you should also think carefully about how you name your pattern. You want to make sure that it is descriptive and easy to remember. This will help others quickly identify the pattern when searching for it.
Finally, block patterns are saved as JSON files, so it’s important to make sure that you save the file in the correct spot and format for easy retrieval.
With these caveats out of the way, let’s now discuss how to make one for yourself.
How to Create a Block Pattern in WordPress
Creating a block pattern in WordPress is relatively simple and can be done by following these steps.
1. Create a New Page or Post
First, you’ll need to create a new page or post in which to create your pattern. This can be done by going to Pages or Posts in the admin sidebar and then clicking Add New.
2. Choose Your Blocks
Next, you’ll need to choose what blocks you’d like to use for your pattern. To do this, click the + icon in the top-left corner of the editor to bring up a list of blocks. From here, you can select any available blocks. Here, we’re inserting a column layout block.
3. Arrange Your Blocks
Once you have chosen your blocks, it’s time to arrange them in a pattern that makes sense for your design. To do this, you can use the drag-and-drop feature to move blocks around until they are arranged in the way you want.
In the above example, we inserted a two-column block that contained image, heading, and paragraph blocks with a tiled gallery block placed beneath it.
4. Save Your Pattern
Now that your pattern is arranged and ready to go, it’s time to save it for later use. To do this, click on the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the editor and then click the link that says Code Editor.
Then you’ll need to copy all the code you see here and paste it into a notepad for safe-keeping.
Next, go to Appearance > Theme File Editor and access the functions.php file. Paste the following code snippet into this file:
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function function_name() { |
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register_block_pattern( |
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’slug’, |
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array( |
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’title’ => __( ’Your Title’, ’text-domain’ ), |
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’description’ => _x( ’Your Description.’, ’Block pattern description’, ’text-domain’ ), |
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’content’ => "", |
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)
|
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);
|
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}
|
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add_action( ’init’, ’function_name’ ); |
Then paste the code you copied earlier into the spot where this snippet says “content”. Then click Update File when you’re done making changes.
5. Use Your Pattern
Once you’ve saved your block pattern, it’s now ready to use! To do this, you can create a new post then click on the blue square icon with the plus sign inside it. Then select the Pattern tab. Your new block patterns should now be accessible within this list.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully created a block pattern in WordPress.
So now that you know how to create a block pattern in WordPress, you can start putting them to work for real. You can also set about sharing them. And that’s what we’ll show you how to do next.
How to Share a Block Pattern in WordPress
If you want to share a block pattern with others, you can do so by going to the WordPress Block Pattern Directory and clicking the link that says Create a New Pattern.
You’ll need to login to WordPress.org to create a pattern here. Once you do, you’ll be presented with the block editor just like on your self-hosted site. Create a block pattern layout as you would normally and when finished click Save Draft.
If you opt to make it public, then your pattern will be available for anyone to use and share with others. This is a great way to spread the word about your design and get feedback from other WordPress users on how to improve it. To do this, you’ll need to click the blue Submit button to have your pattern considered for inclusion in the directory.
And that’s it! Now that you know how to create and share block patterns in WordPress, you have everything you need to create beautiful designs quickly and easily. So go forth and start creating your own unique block patterns today!
Learn More About Gutenberg and WordPress
Creating and sharing block patterns is just one of the many great features that Gutenberg offers. To find out more about this powerful new editor for WordPress, be sure to check out our other tutorials and resources. You’ll soon discover why so many people are turning to Gutenberg for their website design needs.
WordPress Themes to Use for Your Next Project
Looking for a great theme to use with Gutenberg? Check out our top picks of the best WordPress themes that are built to take advantage of this powerful new editor.
Make Use of Block Patterns in WordPress Starting Now
Block patterns are a great way to speed up the design process in WordPress, saving you time and effort when creating custom designs. With just a few clicks, you can quickly and easily create beautiful patterns that will look great on any website. So what are you waiting for? Get started with block patterns today!