Block Themes vs. Classic Themes
Block Themes are the newer style of WordPress themes and the default on the OpenLab. All parts of the site, including the headers, footers, and template pages are all made up of WordPress blocks. It allows you to pull from a premade library of site layouts instead of starting from scratch, and doesn’t require users to have prior knowledge of PHP programming. You can directly customize headers, menus, and logos for a more streamlined site building experience.
Classic Themes are the old default editor for WordPress. They require basic knowledge of PHP coding, and are no longer the focus of WordPress updates and new content. They may not be as flexible or easy to customize as block themes, and can take longer to load. Some templates can’t be edited without plugins, and you may not be able to fully utilize some of the newer features of WordPress.
| Block Themes or Full Site Editing themes on OpenLab | Classic Themes or Customizer themes on OpenLab |
| -Default editor of WordPress, uses both the site editor and customizer -Relies on almost exclusively blocks to build the site, easy to click and drag as needed -Beginner friendly- allows users to pull from a premade library of layouts instead of having to start from scratch -Different storage location than Classic themes -Direct customization for headers, menus, logos -Easier to utilize new features of WordPress -Don’t have to start from scratch -Full-site editing available- can create consistent style across the entire site -Useable without knowledge of PHP -Faster loading time -Streamlined site building experience | -Slightly more difficult to customize -Uses WordPress Customizer to make changes. -May not be as flexible as block themes. -Templates are used to organize files -Ideal for simple websites and quickly starting projects -Can’t edit some templates without additional plugins -May not be compatible with new features of WordPress -Requires knowledge of PHP -Lesser site security |
