Block Patterns

Block Patterns are pre-built layouts made up of multiple blocks arranged in a specific structure and style. Your Pattern Library wasn’t added as an afterthought. It was built intentionally to support how you create content — quickly, consistently, and confidently.

Start here: watch the walkthrough (8 minutes)

What patterns are used for

Patterns help you build structured layouts quickly while maintaining consistency across your site. Instead of manually adding multiple blocks — such as Groups, Columns, headings, spacing, and styles — a Pattern inserts a complete layout in a single step.

Instead of building complex sections from scratch, you can insert a Pattern and start with a layout that already reflects your design system, accessibility standards, and responsive behavior. Patterns reduce friction and remove guesswork so you can focus on content.

Patterns are especially helpful when:

  • Creating landing pages
  • Building marketing sections
  • Repeating common layout structures
  • Collaborating across a content team

Using Patterns helps ensure content stays aligned with the site’s design system while reducing repetitive setup work.

How patterns support your workflow

Patterns reduce friction when building pages, allowing content teams to focus on messaging and content quality rather than rebuilding layouts repeatedly.

When Patterns are used consistently:

  • Pages feel cohesive, even when created by different contributors
  • Layout decisions don’t have to be reinvented
  • Accessibility and responsive behavior are built in
  • Editors can focus on content instead of layout mechanics

Patterns help teams move faster while maintaining a consistent, accessible experience across the site. Patterns aren’t just about speed. They help editors create content within a system that has already been thoughtfully designed.

Pattern library

Your site includes a curated Pattern Library, built intentionally to support how you create content. These Patterns are foundational to how your site is meant to be built.

These patterns are:

  • Aligned with your brand
  • Designed around your visual system
  • Structured for accessibility and responsiveness
  • Built to serve as your primary layout building blocks

Most pages can — and often should — be created primarily with Patterns. Over time, familiarity with your Pattern Library reduces decision fatigue and reinforces consistency across your content.

What patterns are included

Your Pattern Library includes common layout structures such as:

  • Media and text sections
  • Quotes and testimonials
  • Lists and multi-column grids
  • Hero sections
  • Section headings
  • Calls to action
  • And other frequently used content structures

The exact selection may vary by site, but every Pattern in your library was chosen to reflect your brand and support the types of content you publish most often.

If you find yourself building the same structure repeatedly, there’s usually a Pattern designed for it — or an opportunity to create one.

Locked patterns

The provided Patterns are locked and are not intended to be edited at the library level. This keeps your Pattern Library stable and ensures consistency across your site.

Once inserted into a page, however, they behave like standard blocks. You can update content, replace images, and tailor messaging while keeping the structural integrity intact.

Creating your own patterns

Your Pattern Library is not static. You can:

  • Create new Patterns
  • Duplicate existing Patterns and build variations
  • Expand the library as your content needs evolve

The initial library gives you a strong foundation. From there, you can grow it intentionally — based on real content workflows, not one-off design decisions.

Accessing the pattern library

There are two primary ways to access Patterns — and each serves a different purpose.

Use the Site Editor when you want to manage the Pattern Library itself. This is where you review existing Patterns, create new ones, and organize your system.

Use the Block Editor when you’re actively building a page. This is where you browse, preview, and insert Patterns into content.

Most of the time, you’ll access Patterns from the Block Editor while creating content. The Site Editor is used more intentionally when you’re improving or growing your library.

Accessing patterns from the Site Editor

Use this method when you want to:

  • Review all available Patterns
  • Create new Patterns from scratch
  • Duplicate existing Patterns
  • Manage your Pattern Library

To access:

Go to Appearance → Editor and select Patterns.

From here, you can:

  • Browse all patterns
  • Filter by category
  • Click into a pattern to review its structure
  • Create new patterns

Accessing patterns from the Block Editor

When creating or editing a page, you can insert Patterns directly into content.

  1. Click the + button in the top toolbar
  2. Switch to the Patterns tab
  3. Browse or search for a Pattern
  4. Preview it
  5. Click to insert it into the page

Using the slash command: You can also type / followed by a keyword related to the Pattern. Patterns appear in the search results with a consistent icon. Select the Pattern to insert it directly into your page.

Using patterns in your content

Patterns are essentially a collection of blocks arranged intentionally.

They provide:

  • Pre-defined layout structure
  • Spacing and alignment
  • Design system styling
  • Responsive behavior

Once inserted into a page, a Pattern becomes a collection of regular blocks. You can edit text, replace images, update links, and adjust styles, colors, and spacing as needed. Depending on your content, you may also add, remove, or reorder blocks within the Pattern. The layout foundation remains consistent, but the content becomes yours to customize.

Creating patterns

There are two ways to create Patterns.

Method 1: Create from the Site Editor

  1. Go to Appearance → Editor
  2. Select Patterns
  3. Click Add Pattern
  4. Enter a Pattern name
  5. Choose or create a Category (optional)
  6. Choose whether the Pattern should be Synced
  7. Build the layout using blocks
  8. Click Save

Once saved, the Pattern becomes available in the Block Editor for use on pages.

Method 2: Create from existing content

You can create a Pattern directly from blocks on a page.

  1. Select one or more blocks
  2. Click the Options menu (three dots) in the block toolbar
  3. Select Create pattern
  4. Enter a name
  5. Choose a category
  6. Choose whether the Pattern should be Synced

After saving, the Pattern will be available in the Pattern inserter.

This method is especially helpful when you’ve built something that works well and want to reuse it elsewhere.

Synced patterns

Synced Patterns allow the same content to appear in multiple places across the site. When you edit a Synced Pattern, every instance updates automatically.

This is useful for:

  • Reusable calls to action
  • Legal disclaimers
  • Promotional banners
  • Standardized messaging

Editing a synced pattern

  1. Select the synced Pattern
  2. Click Edit original

This opens the source Pattern for editing. Changes will apply everywhere the Pattern is used.

Detaching a synced pattern

If you want to edit just one instance:

  1. Select the synced Pattern
  2. Open the Options menu (three dots) in the block toolbar
  3. Select Detach

This converts it into regular blocks that can be edited independently. After detaching, changes will not affect the original synced Pattern.

When not to use a Pattern

Patterns are designed to handle most structured layout needs. But there are times when starting with a Pattern isn’t the right choice.

Consider building with individual blocks instead when:

  • You only need a single, simple block (like a Paragraph, Heading, or Image), such as when writing a blog post or adding straightforward content.
  • The layout is highly unique and doesn’t match any existing Pattern

Patterns are powerful because they provide structure. If you don’t need that structure, adding a full Pattern can introduce unnecessary complexity.

Used thoughtfully, Patterns simplify your workflow. Used excessively, they can add layers you don’t need.

Best practices

Start with a Pattern, not a blank canvas

If a Pattern exists for the layout you need, use it. Patterns are designed to give you a strong starting point — with structure, spacing, and hierarchy already working together. Starting from scratch often leads to unnecessary complexity or inconsistency.

Trust the system

The provided Patterns were built intentionally. Spacing, alignment, and structure weren’t chosen randomly. Small content adjustments are expected. Structural overhauls are rarely necessary.

Use synced Patterns with intention

Synced Patterns are powerful because they create consistency across multiple pages. Use them when content truly needs to stay identical everywhere — like legal language or standardized calls to action. If a section needs to vary in even small ways, detach it before editing.

Expand the library thoughtfully

If you find yourself building the same layout repeatedly, that’s a signal. Instead of recreating it each time, consider turning it into a Pattern. Over time, your library should reflect real content needs — not one-off experiments.

  1. WordPress.org: Block Patterns. Please note that your site’s Pattern Library is customized to your brand and design system, and will differ from generic examples and other sites.