Site Editor Overview

The Site Editor is where you manage the overall structure and global layout of your site.

Start here: watch the walkthrough (5 minutes)

What the Site Editor is used for

While the Block Editor is used to create individual pages and posts, the Site Editor is used to control templates, patterns, and shared layout elements such as the Header and Footer.

Use the Site Editor when you need to:

  • Edit site-wide layout elements (Header, Footer, Navigation)
  • Manage Templates (such as 404, Search Results, or post layouts)
  • Update Patterns and Template Parts

In general, the Site Editor is used for structural and global content — not for editing individual page content.

Because changes made in the Site Editor can affect multiple pages across the site, edits should be made intentionally and carefully.

How to access the Site Editor

  1. From the WordPress Dashboard, go to Appearance → Editor
  2. The Site Editor will open

Full access to the Site Editor is typically limited to administrators. Other user roles may have limited or no access.

Key sections of the Site Editor

The Site Editor includes several main areas. The most commonly used sections are Templates and Patterns.

Templates

The Templates section is where global page and content templates are managed. Templates control how content types are structured across the entire site. Templates are typically meant to remain unchanged. However, some templates may include editable content areas that are intended to be updated occasionally.

Templates typically include:

  • 404 page
  • Search Results page
  • Single post templates
  • Archive templates
  • Custom post type templates

Because changes to Templates can impact many pages at once, editing should be done carefully and ideally by experienced editors or site administrators. Always review changes on the front end after updating a template.

Patterns

The Patterns section manages reusable layout components.

This includes:

  • Reusable patterns
  • Synced patterns (if applicable)
  • Template Parts

Template Parts — such as the Header, Footer, and primary Navigation — are managed here under the Template Parts tab. Editing Template Parts (especially the Header or Footer) is typically the most common reason to use the Site Editor.

Styles

The Styles section controls theme-level visual settings such as typography, colors, and layout defaults.

These settings are defined in the theme and should not be edited in the Site Editor.

While you can view these settings, changes should not be made here. By managing Styles in the theme code, the design system remains consistent and portable across environments.

Navigation

The Navigation section lists menus created using Navigation blocks.

This area allows you to:

  • View available menus
  • Edit multiple menus in one place

However, it is generally recommended not to edit menus here.

Instead, update menus at their source — most commonly within the Header or Footer Template Part. This helps ensure you are editing the correct instance of the menu and reduces the risk of unintended changes.

Pages

The Pages section provides a visual way to browse and preview site pages.

From here you can:

  • Search for pages
  • Preview page layouts
  • Click into a page to edit it

Only Pages are available in this section. Other content types, such as Posts, are not included.

While this can be helpful in some workflows, it is generally recommended to manage content through the WordPress Dashboard lists (Pages, Posts, or other post types) for more robust filtering and organization.

How the Site Editor relates to the Block Editor

The Site Editor uses the same Block Editor interface for editing Templates, Patterns, and Template Parts. Blocks behave the same way, and block settings appear in the same sidebar.

If you’re unfamiliar with block controls, review the Block Editor Overview documentation before editing Templates or Template Parts.

Best practices

Make small, intentional changes

Because edits in the Site Editor often affect multiple pages, avoid making large changes without reviewing carefully.

Review changes on front end

Preview is not available in the Site Editor when editing Patterns, Templates, or Template Parts. Always review changes on the front end after making updates.

Leave Styles unchanged

Theme-level Styles should not be modified in the Site Editor. This ensures consistency across environments and protects the integrity of the design system.