There are plenty of reasons to celebrate WordPress 5.9. Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to explore some of the new features and functionalities since its release on January 25 — the most significant being Full Site Editing. Be sure to install a block theme, such as the all-new default theme, Twenty Twenty-Two, to take full advantage of the Site Editor.
What’s the Big Deal About Site Editor?
The Site Editor may be a big change from what you’re used to (namely, the Customizer), but it brings greater, more intuitive control over your site’s parts and pieces. It equips you to create the perfect representation of your brand, no coding necessary.
If you’ve already used Gutenberg blocks for posts and other page content, you’re well on your way to using the Site Editor. Only now, blocks make up everything from headers and footers to buttons and menus — if you’ve installed a block theme. Start with a page template, then use the Site Editor to drag, drop, rearrange, add, or delete blocks to customize the page. This also means you don’t need widgets to add certain features and functions — including social icons, menus, recent posts, and more — because they’re all available as blocks, too.
Site Editor vs. Customizer
The biggest learning curve in WordPress 5.9 will be getting used to the Editor instead of the Customizer. But don’t worry, using the Editor is an easier, faster experience. Essentially, the Site Editor is the next phase of WordPress site editing, replacing and enhancing everything the Customizer once enabled. There are two main differences between the two features:
Total Control
Site Editor empowers you to edit everything about your site from the front end. The Customizer allows you to edit, but your options are much more limited. For example, you can edit the text in your header via the Customizer, but with Site Editor, you can remove the header altogether, or change the header text’s size, location, typography, color, and more.
And, Customizer capabilities depend on which options the theme designer enables. Some configurations simply aren’t available for front-end customization, so you’d have to dive into code to make more tweaks.
You may have noticed that Customizer has an Additional CSS menu for this very reason. Site Editor doesn’t have a CSS option because you simply don’t need it.
One Location
The other exciting difference between Site Editor and Customizer is that the former allows you to edit everything from one universal menu. With the Customizer, you had to navigate to different editing pages for widgets, menus, metadata, and more. This takes longer, and it’s harder to learn and navigate if you’re brand new to WordPress.
Create Your Ultimate Site
At its core, the Site Editor lowers the barrier to entry for WordPress site creation and customization. Total control is not only at your fingertips — it’s easier to grasp than ever before.
Install a block theme today and start taking advantage of Full Site Editing. Whether you’re a developer or a total WordPress newbie, your ideal site is well within reach.
