In December 2018 with the release of WordPress 5.0, the Block editor (also known as Gutenberg) became the new default post editor, replacing the editor that has been around since the beginning, now called the “Classic” editor.
The Block editor is much more powerful than just a text editor, making it easier to build page layouts and integrate text with visual page elements, without any coding needed.
It has been installed on the OpenLab for the past year, but the Classic editor has been the default, until now. After the OpenLab summer release on August 4, the Block editor will become the default for all new sites, but the Classic editor will still be available for use on any site, or on individual posts and pages. Existing sites currently using the Classic editor will not be switched to the Block editor, unless you choose to change editors.
We encourage everyone to start using the Block editor, and explore all that you can do with Blocks! However, we have instructions for how to switch to the Classic editor if you would prefer to keep using it.
The Classic editor will be officially supported by WordPress through the end of 2021, and while it will likely continue to work for some time after that, it will become more obsolete over time.
We have a number of pages in OpenLab Help, including:
- What is the Block editor?
- Working with blocks
- Writing a post
- Adding images & other media
- Embedding video and other media
There are also many helpful tutorials and introductions online. Here are a few good ones:
- Say Hello to the New Editor (WordPress.org)
- How to Use the New WordPress Block Editor (Code in WP)
- How to Use the New WordPress Block Editor (WP Beginner)
- The Complete Anatomy Of The Gutenberg WordPress Editor (Smashing Magazine)
And as always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns, or stop by our virtual office hours!
