Understanding the Difference Between WordPress Site Editor and Page Editor in FSE

Don’t Confuse Site Editor and Page Editor in WordPress FSE

With the advent of Full Site Editing (FSE) in WordPress, users now have more power and flexibility than ever before to design and customize their websites. However, with great power comes great responsibility—and sometimes, confusion. One of the common points of confusion for users diving into FSE is the difference between the Site Editor and the Page Editor. This article aims to clarify what each editor does and how to use them effectively, ensuring you don’t get tangled in the web of possibilities.

What is the Site Editor?

The Site Editor is a comprehensive tool introduced in WordPress FSE that allows you to design and manage the global aspects of your website. Think of it as the command center for your site’s overall layout and structure.

What You Can Do with the Site Editor:

1. Global Styles and Design: The Site Editor enables you to define and customize the global styles for your website, including typography, colors, and spacing. Changes made here apply to your entire site, ensuring consistency.
2. Header and Footer: With the Site Editor, you can create and edit your site’s header and footer. These elements appear on every page, and the Site Editor makes it easy to ensure they look exactly how you want.
3. Templates and Template Parts: You can design and manage templates and template parts (such as the header, footer, and sidebar). Templates control the layout for different types of content (e.g., single posts, archive pages), while template parts are reusable sections of a template.
4. Site-Wide Components: You can add, remove, or edit site-wide components like menus, sidebars, and widgets. The Site Editor’s blocks allow you to place and customize these elements with precision.

When to Use the Site Editor:

• When you need to set or adjust the overall look and feel of your website.
• When creating or editing site-wide elements like the header, footer, or sidebar.
• When designing templates that will be used across multiple pages or posts.

What is the Page Editor?

The Page Editor, on the other hand, is more specific and focused. It allows you to design and edit individual pages and posts. It’s where you get into the nitty-gritty details of your site’s content.

What You Can Do with the Page Editor:

1. Content Creation: The Page Editor is where you create and edit the content of your pages and posts. Using blocks, you can add text, images, videos, galleries, and more.
2. Layout Customization: While the Site Editor sets the overall layout and style, the Page Editor lets you tweak the layout for specific pages or posts. You can add or remove blocks, arrange them in different layouts, and apply custom styles.
3. Page-Specific Elements: If you need to add elements that are unique to a particular page—such as a specific call-to-action, form, or gallery—the Page Editor is the place to do it.
4. Inline Editing: The Page Editor allows for inline editing, meaning you can see how your content will look on the front end as you’re editing it.

When to Use the Page Editor:

• When creating or editing the content of individual pages or posts.
• When you need to customize the layout or design of a specific page or post.
• When adding page-specific elements that don’t need to appear across the entire site.

Avoiding Confusion: Tips for Users

1. Understand the Scope: Remember that the Site Editor affects the entire site, while the Page Editor affects individual pages or posts. Think big-picture with the Site Editor and specific content with the Page Editor.
2. Start with the Site Editor: Begin by setting up your global styles, header, footer, and templates in the Site Editor. This creates a consistent foundation for your site.
3. Move to the Page Editor: Once your global elements are in place, switch to the Page Editor to create and customize your individual pages and posts.
4. Leverage Templates: Use the Site Editor to create templates that streamline the process of building new pages and posts. This ensures consistency and saves time.
5. Experiment and Learn: Don’t be afraid to experiment with both editors. The more you use them, the more intuitive they will become.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between the Site Editor and the Page Editor in WordPress FSE is crucial for efficiently managing and customizing your website. The Site Editor provides the tools to design and control the overall look and structure of your site, while the Page Editor allows you to fine-tune and perfect the content of individual pages and posts. By leveraging the strengths of both editors, you can create a cohesive, visually appealing, and highly functional website. Happy editing!