WordPress Block Themes: Block Themes and Block Patterns Explained

As WordPress continues to evolve, so does the way we design and build websites. With the introduction of Full Site Editing (FSE), we’ve entered a new era where Block Themes and Block Patterns play a central role in how our sites look and function.

Let’s dive into what Block Themes and Block Patterns are, how they differ, and how we can use them to create more flexible and beautiful websites.

What Are WordPress Block Themes?

Block Themes are a new type of WordPress theme that are built entirely with blocks. These themes leverage the power of the Gutenberg block editor to allow us to customize every part of our site—from headers and footers to templates and content areas—without writing custom PHP templates.

Key Features of Block Themes:

Fully compatible with Full Site Editing (FSE)
Use of theme.json for global settings and styles
All templates and parts are created using blocks (.html files)
High design flexibility without needing a child theme

A Basic Structure of a Block Theme:

my-block-theme/
├── block-templates/
│   ├── index.html
│   └── single.html
├── block-template-parts/
│   ├── header.html
│   └── footer.html
├── patterns/
│   └── test.html
├── styles/
│   └── style.css
├── functions.php
├── style.css
├── theme.json

Example of theme.json in a Block Theme:

{
  "version": 2,
  "settings": {
    "color": {
      "palette": [
        {
          "slug": "primary",
          "color": "#0073aa",
          "name": "Primary"
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "styles": {
    "elements": {
      "h1": {
        "typography": {
          "fontSize": "2.5rem"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

This file gives us centralized control over global styles like fonts, colors, and spacing—without editing any CSS.

What Are WordPress Block Patterns?

Block Patterns are predefined collections of blocks that we can insert into pages or posts to speed up the design process. Think of them like reusable design sections—call to actions, hero sections, testimonials—that can be dropped in with one click.

Why We Love Block Patterns:

Reusable and modular
Speeds up page design
Customizable after insertion
Encourages consistent design

Registering a Custom Block Pattern in a Theme:

We can register patterns by adding a PHP file in the patterns/ directory and hooking into it in functions.php.

Example: `patterns/call-to-action.php`

<?php
register_block_pattern(
    'mytheme/call-to-action',
    array(
        'title'       => __('Call to Action', 'mytheme'),
        'description' => _x('A full-width call to action section.', 'Block pattern description', 'mytheme'),
        'content'     => '<!-- wp:group {"align":"full","backgroundColor":"primary","className":"cta"} -->
                            <div class="wp-block-group alignfull cta has-primary-background-color">
                              <h2>Ready to start your journey?</h2>
                              <p>Join us today and build your future.</p>
                              <a class="wp-block-button__link" href="/signup">Get Started</a>
                            </div>
                          <!-- /wp:group -->',
        'categories'  => array('call-to-action'),
    )
);

Block Themes vs Classic Themes

Feature	Classic Themes	Block Themes
Template Language	PHP	HTML + Gutenberg Blocks
Customizer Support	Yes	Limited
FSE Compatibility	No	Yes
`theme.json` Support	No	Yes
Developer Focus	More code-heavy	Visual-first, block-based

Best Practices When Using Block Themes and Patterns

Use theme.json to manage styles globally.
Keep templates modular—use template parts for headers, footers, etc.
Take advantage of WordPress’s native block patterns directory.
Encourage team members to reuse patterns for brand consistency.

Conclusion

Block Themes and Block Patterns aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the future of WordPress. Whether we’re building for clients or crafting our own sites, these tools give us greater flexibility, faster development, and more power over design—all while embracing a no-code/low-code philosophy.

Lakshyajeet.