The latest version of WordPress – WordPress 5.0 – is expected later this year, and as always with an update, it brings with it a number of changes. For instance, this new version will include the Gutenberg editor, which is intended to provide a great deal of ease of use. In this article, you will read a brief overview of what you can expect from WordPress 5.0, and the Gutenberg editor in particular.
Less chaos and even more clarity – that is what is expected from the latest WordPress version. With the introduction of the Gutenberg editor, about which much has already been written, we are saying goodbye to the current editor used to add content to your pages, posts, and any products. The current editor as we still use it operates on the basis of one large page, a bit like a Microsoft Word document. However, there are already all kinds of possibilities to manage and modify your content in a kind of block format. Ours too. framework includes a handy page builder that makes editing content a matter of dragging blocks.
So why is a Gutenberg editor still necessary, you might be thinking? The block-based editors currently in use are mostly built on plugins or custom-built editors, as is also the case with our framework. This means that all these editors differ from one another; there is no general block-based editor that everyone can work with. And that is where the Gutenberg editor makes the difference: because this editor is used and maintained by the entire WordPress community, the quality and clarity of the editor will improve rapidly.
What does that look like, then?
This is what the current default WordPress editor looks like:
And this is an example of the Gutenberg editor:
Advantages of the Gutenberg editor:
- You have more time left for writing texts because editing pages and posts becomes much easier;
- Any potential shortcodes are no longer visible in the editor;
- 'Strange pages' after copying text from Word or Google Docs are a thing of the past;
- Adjusting the background of content blocks is very easy;
- Adding content is easier because the content is built from block elements;
- There are more options for embedding various (social) media such as Twitter, Instagram, Screencast, etc.;
- Thanks to the text columns, you can place your text in two, three, or four columns;
- And there is much more to discover!
And what does our WordPress project manager Dennis say about this new update? “Using the new editor should be easier for the user. Of course – as with any update – opinions are divided on Gutenberg as well. It is possible that you might lose sight of the forest for the trees due to the many new options. The Gutenberg editor could be counterproductive, especially for inexperienced users. On the other hand, there are countless tutorials and tips available online, and our support department is naturally ready to answer all your questions about the (new) WordPress editor. Personally, I am therefore really looking forward to the release of Gutenberg.”