Complete Guide to Create Custom Block in WordPress

If you’ve been using WordPress for a while, you’re probably familiar with the Gutenberg block editor. It’s a fantastic tool that lets you create content quickly using a variety of pre-made blocks. But sometimes, these blocks don’t quite fit your specific needs. The good news here is that you can create custom block in WordPress tailored to your site’s design and functionality.

In this blog, we’ll discuss how to create a custom block in WordPress. Whether you want to manage it yourself or hire WordPress developers, you will be equipped with essential insights to improve your site’s user experience. So, let’s begin.

Why to Create a Custom WordPress Block

Creating a custom WordPress block offers the flexibility to design features tailored specifically to your website’s goals. Here are a few reasons why it can be a valuable step.

Address Unique Functionality Needs

Suppose you run a recipe blog and want to include a specialized recipe block that automatically formats ingredients, instructions, and cooking times in a visually appealing way. While standard text blocks could work, a custom block allows you to design a more user-friendly and engaging recipe layout.

Similarly, for a travel website, you might need a custom map block that highlights specific locations using your brand colors and design elements.

Maintain Consistent Branding

Imagine you want a consistent look for all your call-to-action buttons across the site. With a custom block, you can ensure the same design, color scheme, and font are used everywhere without relying on manual styling each time.

This is especially useful for businesses needing to stay on brand, like a digital marketing company that wants uniform service feature blocks across their site.

Reduce Reliance on Multiple Plugins

Instead of installing multiple plugins that each add one small feature (like a pricing table or customer review section), you can create a custom block that combines all those features in a way that best suits your needs.

For example, a SaaS company might need a pricing table block that dynamically adjusts based on the user’s selection—something not easily done with standard plugins.

Better User Experience

Custom blocks aren’t just for the front-end. They also make the back-end easier for content creators. For example, if you manage a news website, you can create a custom block that allows editors to easily insert article summaries with thumbnails and source links, simplifying their workflow.

By building a custom block, you ensure that your website not only looks and functions the way you envision but also creates a smoother workflow for your team behind the scenes.

How to Create a Custom Block in WordPress

Now that we’ve explored why creating a custom block can be a game-changer for your website, let’s dive into how you can actually build one.

Don’t worry—whether you’re a developer or new to WordPress, the CMS offers flexible options for creating custom blocks.

To build custom WordPress blocks, you have two options: (1) creating with a plugin and (2) creating with custom code.

Creating a WordPress Custom Block with a Plugin

If you’re not comfortable with coding, don’t worry! You can still create custom blocks in WordPress using a plugin. One great option for beginners is WPCode. This plugin allows you to create custom blocks without writing a single line of code, making it easy to extend the functionality of your site.

Let’s walk through the process of creating a custom “Author Bio” block.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

First, you need to install and activate the plugin. Once activated, head to Code Snippets » + Add Snippet from your WordPress admin dashboard.

Step 2: Create a New Snippet

On the Add Snippet page, click the Use Snippet button under the Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet) option. This will take you to the Create Custom Snippet page, where you’ll start by typing a name for your block. Let’s call it Author Bio Block.

Step 3: Select the Block Snippet Option

From the Code Type dropdown in the right corner, select Block Snippet. This will reveal an Edit with Block Editor button in the Code Preview box.

Click the button, and a prompt will appear asking you to save the snippet to load it in the block editor. Hit Yes to proceed.

Step 4: Customize Your Block in the Block Editor

Now you’re in the block editor, where you can create your custom block. For this tutorial, we’re building an Author Bio block to add a personalized touch to your blog posts.

Click the Add Block button in the top left to open the block menu. Drag and drop the Media & Text block into the editor to create a space for a photo and short bio. You can add an author’s image, write their name, and include a brief bio.

Feel free to get creative—add the Social Icons block to link to your author’s social profiles or the Heading block to title the section Meet the Author.

Step 5: Fine-tune the Design

Next, customize the look of your block by adjusting the text size, font style, and background color from the block settings on the right-hand side. You can even use the Columns block if you want to show multiple author bios in a grid layout for a team page.

Step 6: Save and Insert Your Block

Once you’re happy with your custom block, click the Update button to save your settings. Then, click the Return to WPCode Snippet button at the top to head back to the snippet page.

Step 7: Configure the Block’s Location

Scroll down to the Insertion section and select Auto Insert mode. This ensures your custom Author Bio block will be automatically inserted wherever you choose on your site.

From the Location dropdown menu, choose Insert After Post if you want to display the Author Bio at the end of each post. You can also choose to display it after a certain number of paragraphs, in between specific sections, or even after a certain number of posts.

Step 8: Use Conditional Logic (Optional)

WPCode also allows you to set conditional logic for your custom block. For example, if you want to display the Author Bio only on blog posts or specific category pages, you can create a rule by enabling the Smart Conditional Logic toggle.

Click Add New Group, and from the dropdown, choose Post Category. Now, select the specific category (e.g., Blog Posts) where you want the block to appear.

Step 9: Activate the Snippet

Once everything is configured, toggle the switch from Inactive to Active and click Update. Your custom Author Bio block will now appear on your site in the locations you’ve chosen.

Creating a WordPress Custom Block with Custom Code

If you’re comfortable with HTML and CSS, this method gives you full control over how your custom block looks and functions. In this section, we’ll guide you through creating a custom Author Bio Block using the Genesis Custom Blocks plugin.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

First, install and activate the Genesis Custom Blocks plugin from your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Create a New Custom Block

• Go to Custom Blocks » Add New in your admin panel.
• Give your block a name (e.g., ‘Author Bio Block’).
• On the right side, configure the block’s properties:

• Icon: Choose an icon that represents the block.
• Category: Add a category to help organize blocks (e.g., ‘Author’ or ‘Profile’).
• Keywords: Add up to three keywords (e.g., ‘author’, ‘bio’, ‘profile’) so you can easily find the block later.

The slug will auto-generate based on your block name.

Step 3: Add Custom Fields

Now, we’ll add fields that allow you to insert specific content into the block. For the Author Bio Block, let’s add three fields:

• Image Field: To upload the author’s profile picture.
• Text Field: To display the author’s name.
• Textarea Field: For the author’s short bio.

Here’s how:

• Click the + button to add a field.
• Set the Field Label to describe the field (e.g., ‘Author Image’ for the profile picture).
• The Field Name will automatically populate based on the label.
• Choose the appropriate Field Type (e.g., Image for the author’s profile picture).
• Optionally, add Help Text for each field if needed (e.g., to guide other authors or admins on what to input in the block).
• Repeat these steps to create fields for the Author Name and Author Bio.

Step 4: Organize and Manage Fields

You can drag and reorder the fields by using the handle next to each field label. To edit or delete a field, simply click on the field label and adjust the settings in the right column.

Step 5: Publish the Block

Once all the fields are added and configured, click the Publish button on the right-hand side to save your custom block.

Step 6: Create a Custom Block Template

Although your block is now created, it won’t display properly on the front end until you define how the content should appear using HTML and CSS.

• Switch to the Template Editor tab.
• Add HTML under the Markup tab to structure your block’s layout. For the Author Bio Block, you can use the following HTML:

<div class="author-bio-block">
  <img src="{{author-image}}" class="author-image">
  <h4 class="author-name">{{author-name}}</h4>
  <p class="author-bio">{{author-bio}}</p>
</div>

Next, switch to the CSS tab and style the block. Here’s a basic CSS example:

.author-image {
  border-radius: 50%;
  max-width: 100px;
  margin: 10px;
}

.author-name {
  font-size: 18px;
  font-weight: bold;
}

.author-bio {
  font-size: 14px;
  line-height: 1.6;
}

.author-bio-block {
  padding: 20px;
  border: 1px solid #ddd;
  background-color: #f9f9f9;
}

Step 7: Preview Your Custom Block

Before previewing the block, you’ll need to provide some dummy data.

• Go back to the Editor Preview tab and enter test data (e.g., a sample image, author name, and bio).

• Click the Update button to save your changes.
• Now, switch to the Front-end Preview tab to see how your block will look on the live site.

Step 8: Use the Custom Block

Once everything is set, you can use your custom Author Bio Block just like any other block:

• Open any post or page in the WordPress editor.
• Click the Add Block button and search for your block by name or keywords.
• Fill in the fields with actual author details, and the editor will automatically display a live preview.
• After you save and publish the post, your custom block will appear on the front end of your website.

FAQs on Creating a Custom Block in WordPress

Wrapping Up

Creating custom blocks in WordPress gives you the power to tailor your website to your exact needs. Whether you want to simplify content creation for your team with an intuitive block or add unique design elements that plugins can’t offer, custom blocks are a great way to enhance your site’s functionality.

If you’re building a recipe blog, adding custom features like formatted ingredient lists, or running a SaaS website and need dynamic pricing tables, custom blocks can help you do all of this with ease. You no longer have to rely on external plugins that may slow down your site or offer only part of the solution. Instead, you can create exactly what you need and maintain full control over your branding and layout.

Why settle for generic blocks when you can create something unique? Whether you’re coding or using a plugin, the flexibility of WordPress lets you shape your website as you envision it.

If you’d prefer to have expert help in developing custom blocks or want to improve your website’s performance with tailored solutions, feel free to get in touch with our team of expert WordPress developers. We’re ready to help you bring your vision to life.