{"id":42351,"date":"2023-11-10T07:00:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T15:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=42351"},"modified":"2025-05-21T21:10:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T04:10:38","slug":"switch-to-wordpress-block-themes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/switch-to-wordpress-block-themes\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Switch From A Classic Theme To WordPress Block Themes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a fan of Legos, then you\u2019ll love WordPress block themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting with version 5.9, WordPress offers full support for block themes. This was a major change for most sites, which were built on what are now known as \u201cclassic\u201d themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But switching from a classic theme to a block-based theme does require a bit of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explain how they work and what steps you can take to move from the old style to the new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It won\u2019t be quite <\/b>as fun as putting together a 3,441-piece, 2005 collector\u2019s model Death Star. But we\u2019ll do our best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is A WordPress Block Theme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Block themes allow users and website admins to customize the layout of their pages and content using editable and reusable blocks of content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally known as \u201cfull site editing<\/a>\u201d (FSE) or \u201csite editing,\u201d these themes add modular, block-based functionality to your theme\u2019s layouts and templates. Similar to how the Gutenberg editor<\/a> introduced blocks<\/a> and block templates that can be used within your pages and post content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now, you\u2019re able to customize the layout and content on your entire site (including page templates and custom templates) using visual, drag-and-drop style blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Block<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These new visual editing features make it extremely easy to build new page structures or customize any page’s content beyond just what\u2019s inside the page body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means you won\u2019t need to rely on developers to customize your theme files or build custom templates to add things beyond words and images to your content. Instead, you\u2019re able to customize the content using the editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual blocks can be created and designed to fit within a responsive layout and match the color and typography of your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, you can create and use shareable block patterns<\/a>. These are pre-made blocks created by individuals, companies, and WordPress developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All together, block themes turn WordPress into a more modular and flexible system. It emulates much of the functionality of other drag-and-drop style website builders made popular by companies like Squarespace and Wix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Themes built on the block framework generally come with pre-built custom blocks that match the design and style of the website. You can then use those blocks within your site wherever you need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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