It’s been just over a week since WordPress launched WordPress 5.9. The new release is packed with exciting new features that make site-building and editing a dream, but full-site editing is probably the most exciting aspect. This feature allows you to edit every facet of your site, from headers and footers to content and metadata. Take total control over your site’s appearance and functionality, and quickly make changes via the Site Editor.
Full Site Editing is achieved through compatible block themes, including the new default theme for WP 5.9, Twenty Twenty-Two.
Block Themes vs. Classic Themes
In block themes, everything you’d put on your site, from content to photos to navigation menus, are in blocks.
The biggest difference between block and classic themes is the ability to edit anything and everything on your site. With classic themes, your editing options depended on what the theme author allowed. If you wanted to change something beyond that, you had to dive into the code. This made editing a lot more difficult for people with little to no coding experience.
Block themes, on the other hand, grant users access to Full Site Editing — no coding required. It also puts all of your editing options in the Site Editor. You previously had to navigate to different menus, like Customizer and Widgets, to change various aspects of your site. Now, everything is in one easy-to-access location. Simply navigate to Appearance > Editor.
Site Editing also saves time by applying certain style edits across your whole site. This capability is perfect for edits like typography and link color. You can achieve consistency without having to update individual pages.
Twenty Twenty-Two
As mentioned, Twenty Twenty-Two is WP 5.9’s default block theme (and the first default block theme in WordPress history.) Twenty Twenty-Two comes pre-installed in WordPress 5.9 and includes all of WordPress’ new, exciting features. It truly is the perfect theme to get familiar with the new release.
Twenty Twenty-Two is bold yet subtle, making it versatile enough for most site needs. Of course, it’s also completely customizable. No matter your brand, you can alter this theme to complement it. Colors and typography, layouts, and patterns — the works are at your disposal. In fact, Twenty Twenty-Two is not meant to reflect the final version of your site. It’s a foundation, easy to build upon and tweak until your unique vision comes to life.
Only the Beginning
Twenty Twenty-Two is only the beginning of block themes. There are already a handful of other block themes available in WordPress 5.9, with no end in sight. As users become more and more familiar with the benefits of Full Site Editing, demand for additional block themes will increase. No doubt WordPress developers will listen.
Site-wide editing has opened up so many possibilities for customization. The sky is truly the limit. But for now, Twenty Twenty-Two is the easiest block theme to take advantage of Full Site Editing.
