Creating custom blocks in WordPress unlocks the full power of the Gutenberg editor, allowing you to design reusable content elements tailored to your website’s needs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your first WordPress block.
Step 1: Scaffold Your Block Plugin
The easiest and most modern approach is to use the official @wordpress/create-block package. Open your terminal, navigate to your desired directory, and run:
npx @wordpress/create-block@latest my-custom-block --variant=dynamic
cd my-custom-blockThis command generates a new plugin folder (my-custom-block) with all the files you need to start customizing your block. The --variant=dynamic flag sets up a block that is rendered via PHP, giving you more flexibility for dynamic content
Step 2: Activate the Plugin
- Go to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins.
- Find your new plugin (e.g., “My Custom Block”) and activate it
Step 3: Insert and Test Your Block
- Create or edit a post/page in the Block Editor.
- Search for your block by its name (e.g., “My Custom Block”).
- Insert it and confirm it displays as expected2.
Check this video for more detailed explantion