WordPress has released Gutenberg version 13.0, featuring numerous enhancements that bring it closer to becoming the user-friendly website builder it aims to be.
This update is significant because the features in this plugin will be included in the core of WordPress 6.0, set for release on May 24, 2022. This is a major development in the publishing world.
WordPress Gutenberg Editor
Gutenberg is a visual website builder designed to simplify the process of building websites for publishers.
It enables creating websites through a drag-and-drop or point-and-click interface on a virtual canvas, allowing users to visualize their site’s appearance as they design it.
Instead of manipulating code, publishers manipulate web page elements like the header or footer, known as Blocks.
This method of building websites has existed in various forms since the late 1990s, beginning with the introduction of Macromedia (now Adobe) Dreamweaver.
This style, often referred to as a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) interface, allows users to design web pages visually.
WordPress plugins like Divi and non-WordPress SaaS website builders have long provided similar visual website builder interfaces, helping publishers create sites with ease.
Gutenberg is WordPress’ version of this visual website builder interface, simplifying website creation.
The benefit of Gutenberg is its integration into the WordPress core, theoretically enabling faster website performance than third-party plugins.
Gutenberg 13.0 brings multiple enhancements that will make WordPress 6.0 a significant advancement for publishing.
Gutenberg Blocks
Gutenberg’s design interface employs “blocks” to describe web page sections.
Sections like the header, navigation menu, and widget areas are considered blocks.
Each block can be individually moved and styled, providing flexibility in web page design.
For example, the block at the top of the page for the featured image can be styled easily. Just click the block to add text or a background image and use the contextual menu to make adjustments.
Select Text Across Blocks
An innovative feature in Gutenberg 13.0 (and WordPress 6.0) is the ability to select text across multiple blocks.
This feature offers more freedom in creating web pages without being constrained by arbitrary rules, such as not being able to select text across multiple blocks.
Page Level Patterns
This feature moves Gutenberg closer to being an easy-to-use website builder.
Introduced in 2020 in Gutenberg version 7.8 as an API for developers, the patterns feature facilitates creating layout patterns for page sections.
The latest version enables page templates as starting points for web page layouts, making it easier to customize pages.
Stack or Row Layout Manipulation
Continuing the goal of easing WordPress design, Gutenberg now allows organizing selected blocks as layouts of blocks or rows with the use of a contextual menu.
Block Border Control
The new BorderControl component refines an existing feature, allowing users to control block borders’ style, color, and width via a contextual menu.
Use Featured Image in Cover Block Button
The updated cover block adds a button to instantly use the web page’s featured image.
Though it sounds minor, this functionality is essential for integrating the post’s featured image into the page effectively.
There are many more cumulative improvements in Gutenberg 13.0 contributing to making this a meaningful update to the WordPress block editor, which will be included in the next version of WordPress, version 6.0.
Citation
Read the Official WordPress Announcement
What’s new in Gutenberg 13.0?
