WordPress has evolved significantly, and with Full Site Editing (FSE) now available in some themes, it’s worth understanding how this powerful feature differs from the traditional Block Editor. In this guide, we’ll break it down step by step, including how to access these tools and manage your site effectively.
Is Full Site Editing Available for Your Site?
Full Site Editing (FSE) is only available if your WordPress theme supports it. Not all themes have FSE enabled, so your site might only use the Block Editor. It’s important to understand whether your theme offers this functionality, as it affects how you’ll edit your site.
What’s the Difference Between Full Site Editing and the Block Editor?
- Full Site Editing (FSE):
Allows you to edit templates that control the layout and design of your entire site, including headers, footers, and repeating sections like blog previews. With FSE, you can make site-wide changes from one place. - Block Editor:
Focuses on editing the content of individual pages or posts. It’s great for modifying text, images, and other specific elements without affecting the rest of your site.
Note About the Admin Bar
If you’re using a self-hosted WordPress site (WordPress.org), you’ll see the admin bar—a black bar at the top of your website when logged in. This provides quick access to editing tools, including options for both FSE and the Block Editor.
For WordPress.com users, the admin bar is not available. Instead, you’ll need to access editing tools through the WordPress dashboard.
Real-World Example: A Client’s FSE-Enabled Site
To illustrate how FSE and the Block Editor work together, let’s look at a recent project I worked on:
- The Homepage:
The client’s homepage was entirely managed using FSE. This meant all content and layout changes had to be made through the Full Site Editor. - The “Pages” Template:
For general pages like “About Us” or “Contact,” the theme used a “Pages” template. This template had:- A content section at the top of each page that changed for every individual page.
- Repeating sections below the content that displayed the latest blog posts and a footer. These repeating sections appeared consistently across all general pages.
How to Edit Individual Pages
When making changes to the unique content of a specific page (like the “About Us” text or images):
- Navigate to the page on the front end of your site (e.g., visit the About Us page).
- Click Edit Page in the admin bar.
- This opens the Block Editor, allowing you to adjust the content for that individual page without affecting other parts of the site.
How to Edit the Pages Template
To edit elements that appear across all standard pages—such as the blog post preview section or footer—you’ll need to adjust the “Pages” template using FSE. Here’s how:
- Navigate to any general page on the front end of your site (e.g., the About Us or Contact page).
- Click Edit Site in the admin bar.
- This opens the Full Site Editor, where you can make changes to the template itself. For example, you can adjust the layout, edit repeating sections, or update site-wide elements like the footer.
Wrapping It Up
Full Site Editing and the Block Editor give you powerful tools to manage your WordPress site, but knowing when and where to use each is key:
- Use Edit Page to update content on individual pages.
- Use Edit Site to modify templates and make site-wide changes.
For self-hosted WordPress.org users, the admin bar simplifies this process by providing quick access to both tools. If you’re using WordPress.com, you’ll need to navigate the dashboard to achieve the same results.
By understanding how FSE and the Block Editor complement each other, you can confidently manage your site and ensure it reflects your unique vision—whether it’s updating individual pages or tweaking templates for a consistent look and feel.
