Build websites like a boss: The power of block styles explained
Looking for Creative Inspiration?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Explore Over 2,000 Patterns, 164 Layouts, and 14,000+ Icons with MaxiBlocks!👇
Key takeaways:
- Block styles 101: We’ll crack the code on Gutenberg’s built-in block styles, making your design process smoother than a freshly paved road (minus the roller sounds).
- Step-by-step block style guide: Consider this your instruction manual for learning block styles. No need for a PhD in code, we’ll make it easy-peasy.
- Discover how MaxiBlocks: Discover how MaxiBlocks swoops in like a design hero, offering a library of block patterns and SVG icons for ultimate creativity.
What are block styles in WordPress? Block styles are predefined styles for content blocks within your webpage, enabling you to maintain a consistent and harmonious look across your site. Originating from the late 1990s with CSS, these styles have evolved to become integral to web design, especially with the Gutenberg editor’s introduction in WordPress 5.0.
Definition of block styles
In the context of digital design, typically refers to predefined styles for a specific type of content in a web page or application. They are commonly used in content management systems and website builders. They can be applied to different elements of a webpage, including text, images, buttons, and more. They help in creating a consistent and harmonious look and feel throughout a website or digital product by defining attributes like colour, font, alignment, spacing, and more.
The historical context of block styles
The origin of block styles can be traced back to the advent of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) in the late 1990s, which brought the ability to separate style and content in web design. The idea of ‘blocks’ of content became popular with the introduction of Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress. These systems allowed non-technical users to create and manage web content more easily.
They are integral to modern web design and content creation for several reasons:
- Consistency: WordPress blocks styles help maintain a consistent visual language across a website or application, which is essential for brand identity.
- Efficiency: By reusing predefined styles, designers and content creators can speed up the design process and maintain consistency.
- Usability: For content creators with limited design knowledge, block styles can make the content creation process simpler and more efficient.
Block styles and their impact on various aspects of digital space
They play an important role in shaping different areas of the digital world
- User experience (UX): They contribute to a cohesive and intuitive user experience by maintaining visual consistency.
- Website aesthetics: They help establish an appealing visual hierarchy and layout, which are vital for a site’s aesthetics.
Understanding the basics of Gutenberg block styles
Gutenberg styles refer to predefined designs applied to specific content elements within the Gutenberg editor of WordPress. The Gutenberg editor, introduced in WordPress 5.0, uses an element-based system for building and editing content. Each element (e.g., paragraph, image, quote, etc.) can have multiple style variations, and these are what we refer to as ‘styles’.
For example, a ‘Quote’ element could have various designs that change the quotation marks, font, colour, or layout of the element. These are defined by the theme or can be custom-defined by a developer. They offer an easy way to add design variations to it without needing to write custom CSS each time.
They offer an easy way to customize the appearance of blocks, providing more creative freedom while maintaining consistency. This enhanced customization allows for a more personalized and unique design, while still adhering to the overall visual language of the website or application.
CSS frameworks improve efficiency by allowing designers and developers to define and reuse styles, saving time and reducing errors. They simplify the design process for content creators, enabling customization without coding knowledge. Additionally, they ensure a consistent user experience, enhancing brand recognition and user navigation.
Step-by-step guide on applying Gutenberg block styles
- Login to your WordPress dashboard: Navigate to your WordPress website and log in to the admin dashboard.
- Create or edit a post/page: From the left-hand sidebar of your dashboard, hover over ‘Posts’ or ‘Pages’, then click on ‘Add New’ or choose an existing post or page to edit.
- Add a block: Click on the ‘+’ button to add a new block to your post/page. Choose the type of block you want to add, such as a ‘Paragraph’, ‘Image’, ‘Heading’, or ‘Quote’.
- Choose a block style: Once you’ve added it, look for the ‘it’ tab in the right-hand sidebar. If your chosen block type has additional styles, they will appear under the ‘Styles’ section. Click on the style you want to apply to your block.
- Customize the block (optional): Depending on the type and style, you may have additional customization options available in the sidebar, such as font size, colours, or alignment. Adjust these settings as desired.
- Preview your changes: Click on ‘Preview’ at the top of the screen to see how the block style looks on your site. If you’re happy with it, proceed to the next step. If not, return to the editor and make any necessary adjustments.
- Publish or update your post/page: Once you’re satisfied with your changes, click on ‘Publish’ (for a new post/page) or ‘Update’ (for an existing post/page) to make your changes live.
How do Gutenberg block-based theme styles work?
WordPress themes based on this new approach allow for the entire layout to be built using elements, instead of separate PHP files for different sections of the site like the header, footer, and sidebar. This is made possible through a unified ‘template’ system.
- Structure: These themes are constructed using templates and template parts, which are composed of elements. For example, the header of a site, traditionally managed by a PHP file in classic WordPress themes, can now be built using elements (like Site Title, Navigation, etc.) within a template or template part.
- Styles: The elements in such a theme are defined using a combination of CSS and a theme.json file. The theme.json file is a configuration file that allows you to set default styles for individual elements (such as colour, typography, and layout) and global styles (that apply to the entire website). This provides a more detailed level of control over the appearance of the website, without writing custom CSS for each element.
- Customization: These themes fully utilize the Full Site Editing feature in WordPress. Users can directly edit all areas of the website from the WordPress admin area, like headers, footers, sidebars, and more – not just the content area. This is achieved through the use of element styles, which can be selected and customized within the Gutenberg editor.
- Consistency: Element designs used in such a theme ensure consistency across the website. Since the same elements are used across different parts of the website, it helps maintain a uniform look and feel throughout the site.
- Flexibility: Since every part of the website is an element, these themes offer unparalleled flexibility. Users can add, move, or customize elements and their styles in any part of the website – something that was not possible (or at least not easy) with traditional WordPress themes.
How to style your website using MaxiBlocks
A Maxi block style card is a feature of the MaxiBlocks WordPress page builder that allows you to customize the appearance of your website. Style cards provide an easy way to change the colours, fonts, links, and hovers of your website with just one card. You can choose from pre-made style cards or create your own custom style card by opening the Maxi toolbar, selecting “Style cards,” and clicking the “customize card” button. This allows you to have complete control over the style settings and create a consistent and polished look across your website that reflects your brand’s identity.
Frequently asked questions
- What is WP (WordPress) and the WordPress editor?
WordPress (WP) is a popular content management system used to create websites and blogs. The WordPress editor, also known as Gutenberg, is the default editor in WordPress, which allows you to create content in a block-based layout. - What are core blocks?
They are the default block types that come with WordPress core. Examples include the paragraph block, image block, button block, and many more. - What is a custom block style and how can I create one? A custom block style allows you to give a unique appearance to a specific element, in addition to its default look. This can be achieved by utilizing the registerBlockStyle function in JavaScript and defining the desired CSS class in a stylesheet.
- How do I use the registerBlockStyle function?
The registerBlockStyle the function takes two arguments. The first argument is the name of the block, like ‘core/paragraph’ for the paragraph block. The second argument is an object defining the name of the style and the CSS class that applies the style. - How do I apply CSS styles to a block?
You can apply CSS styles to an element by defining them in your theme’s stylesheet or as inline styles. These styles are associated with a unique CSS class, which can be assigned to the element in the editor. - How can I learn more about creating custom blocks and styles?
There are numerous online tutorials that offer detailed guidance on creating custom elements, establishing patterns, and unregistering styles. - What are block patterns?
Patterns are pre-designed arrangements of elements. They enable you to easily incorporate intricate layouts into your pages or posts, and can be modified as desired. - What is the difference between server-side and client-side block rendering?
Server-side rendering refers to the process of displaying content by the server, while client-side rendering involves the use of JavaScript to display content in the user’s browser. Both approaches have their advantages and can be selected based on the complexity and requirements of the content. - What is the Gutenberg plugin?
The Gutenberg plugin is an extension for WordPress that offers features and improvements to the block editor before they’re merged into WordPress Core. It’s an excellent tool for developers and early adopters who want to test and explore the latest developments. - Where can I find official documentation on the block editor and create custom block styles?
The official WordPress developer handbook offers extensive information on the editor, customizing styles, establishing patterns, and more. It’s a valuable resource for both learning and reference.
WordPress itself
Official Website
wordpress.org – This is the official website for WordPress, where you can download the software, find documentation, and learn more about using it.
WordPress Codex
codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page – This is a comprehensive documentation resource for WordPress, covering everything from installation and configuration to specific functionality and troubleshooting.
WordPress Theme Directory
wordpress.org/themes – The official WordPress theme directory is a great place to find free and premium WordPress themes. You can browse themes by category, feature, and popularity.
maxiblocks.com/go/help-desk
maxiblocks.com/pro-library
www.youtube.com/@maxiblocks
twitter.com/maxiblocks
linkedin.com/company/maxi-blocks
github.com/orgs/maxi-blocks
wordpress.org/plugins/maxi-blocks