Blocks are the atomic building units of the WordPress Block Editor. Patterns are pre-designed combinations of blocks — ready-made hero sections, pricing tables, testimonials, call-to-action banners, page layouts. Together they let you build professional page designs with no code and no third-party page builder. This guide covers every block category, the customisation controls available for every block, how to find and insert patterns, and the critical difference between synced and unsynced patterns that trips up most new users. There are also UK-specific tips on legal-notice reuse and brand consistency.
What blocks and patterns actually are · Block categories at a glance · Customising blocks · Working with block patterns · Creating your own patterns · Synced patterns (formerly Reusable Blocks) · Third-party block plugins · Tips for better layouts · UK-specific uses for synced patterns · Frequently asked questions
The Block Editor takes a modular approach: every element of a page is a block. A paragraph of text is a block. A heading is a block. An image, a button, a three-column layout, a YouTube embed — each is its own block with its own settings.
Patterns go a level up. A pattern is a pre-designed layout of multiple blocks, already arranged and styled. Instead of building a testimonial section from scratch (image block + quote block + caption + Columns block containing text), you insert a pattern that already includes all of that, then customise the text and images.
Blocks give you flexibility; patterns give you speed. Used together they cover 90% of the design work most UK small business sites need — without hiring a designer, buying a premium theme, or installing Elementor / Divi / similar third-party page builders.
WordPress organises blocks into categories. Browse via the + (Block Inserter) in the top-left corner, or type / followed by the block name in an empty line.
Plugins register their own blocks. WooCommerce adds products, cart, checkout. Contact form plugins add form blocks. SEO plugins add FAQ schema and How-To blocks. These appear in their own category or under Widgets.
Select any block; the Settings sidebar on the right updates to show options for that block type. What is available depends on the block, but most blocks share common controls.
Text colour, background colour, link colour. Choose from theme palette or enter a custom hex value. The Cover block additionally supports gradient backgrounds and overlay opacity.
Font size, font family (if the theme registers fonts), line height, letter spacing, text decoration. Heading blocks let you switch between H1–H6 levels.
Margin (space outside the block) and padding (space inside). Values in pixels, em, rem or percentages via the Dimensions panel.
Border width, style, colour; border-radius for rounded corners. Useful on Group and Column blocks to create card layouts.
Custom CSS classes (for theme-level or Additional CSS styling), HTML anchor (for in-page linking), optional title attribute.
Access via the block toolbar's three-dot menu > Show more settings if the sidebar is hidden.
Patterns are the fastest way to build professional page sections.
Once inserted, the pattern is a group of regular blocks. Customise everything: text, images, colours, layout, spacing. Remove blocks you do not need; add new ones. No lock-in.
A typical UK SME launches a site with a limited design budget. Patterns give you polished layouts for free. A testimonial pattern looks professional without commissioning a designer. A pricing-table pattern saves hours of manual alignment. A hero pattern provides a strong above-the-fold first impression.
If a particular layout recurs across your site — a banner, a CTA, a team member card — save it as a pattern and reuse.
Your new pattern appears in the Block Inserter > Patterns > My Patterns. Insert into any page or post like a built-in.
Manage all custom patterns at Appearance > Patterns — rename, edit, delete.
The critical concept:
Synced patterns were previously called Reusable Blocks. WordPress renamed them to better describe their behaviour.
To customise a single instance without affecting others, click the three-dot menu on the synced pattern block and select Detach. That instance becomes regular blocks, independent of the original.
Editing a synced pattern updates every page using it. If you are not sure how many pages that affects, check the Appearance > Patterns screen or do a content search before making changes.
The built-in Block Editor covers common needs. For specialised blocks:
Principle: start with the built-in blocks. Only add a block plugin when you hit a specific need the core does not cover. Avoid installing multiple block plugins — they often provide overlapping blocks and bloat the editor.
Wrap related blocks (heading + paragraph + buttons) in a Group block. Gives you a single container you can move, style and space as a unit.
Two-column layouts (image + text) or three-column feature grids use the Columns block. Responsive by default — columns stack vertically on mobile.
Use heading levels correctly: one H1 per page (usually the page title), H2 for major sections, H3 for sub-sections. Search engines and screen readers rely on this hierarchy.
Cramming blocks too close together makes pages hard to read. Use the Spacer block or add margin/padding to create breathing room between sections. More whitespace almost always improves readability.
60%+ of UK web traffic is mobile. Click Preview > Mobile in the editor before publishing. Check column stacking, font sizes, button tap targets.
Once you have a CTA, testimonial layout or feature grid that works, save it as a pattern. Every future page becomes faster to build and visually consistent.
Synced patterns are particularly useful for compliance and brand elements that need to stay identical across a UK business site.
What is the difference between a block and a pattern?
A block is a single unit (paragraph, image, button). A pattern is a pre-designed combination of blocks. Blocks are the atoms; patterns are the molecules.
Should I use synced or unsynced patterns?
Synced for content that must stay identical across instances (CTAs, legal notices). Unsynced for layouts where structure is shared but content differs (team cards, service descriptions).
Can I export patterns to use on another site?
Yes. Appearance > Patterns, select a pattern, use the options menu to export. Import the JSON file on the other site.
How do I make a pattern responsive?
Patterns built with native WordPress blocks (Columns, Group) are responsive automatically — columns stack vertically on narrow viewports. Check on mobile via the editor's preview toggle.
Why can I not find a pattern I know I saved?
Look under Appearance > Patterns for a full list. Or in the Block Inserter > Patterns > My Patterns. If still missing, it may have been deleted by another admin; restore from a backup.
Can I share patterns with other users on the same site?
Yes. Patterns saved by any user are visible to all users with permission to edit pages/posts. No additional configuration.
Are custom blocks from plugins safe to use?
Generally yes if from reputable plugins with many active installs and recent updates. Be cautious with abandoned or rarely-updated block plugins — stale blocks can break after WordPress core updates.
What happens to a pattern if I deactivate the plugin that added it?
Built-in WordPress patterns survive. Plugin-added patterns disappear from the inserter but instances already placed on pages remain rendered (unless the plugin was generating dynamic content). Pages using the pattern do not break.
Can I use the Full Site Editor to design patterns?
Yes. Block themes' Full Site Editor lets you design and save patterns visually. See the FSE guide.
Do patterns work in the Classic Editor?
No. Patterns require the Block Editor. Sites running the Classic Editor plugin cannot use patterns — another reason to adopt the Block Editor for new content.
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