TinyMCE, WYSIWYG HTML Editor, has been the visual editor of WordPress for many years. It is user-friendly and intuitive. There’s no coding knowledge/language required. It allows bloggers to create/edit tables, choose lower or upper case letters for any ordered lists, pick squares/disks for unordered lists, replace text, change font sizes, justify your text, insert emoticons, and more.
However, it does not have the modern and advanced functionality an HTML Editor should have. It is not built with a drag and drop feature, causing concerns and a headache to many. So, content creators use shortcodes and HTML, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.
The long wait is over with the WordPress Gutenberg. Launched in 2017, Gutenberg has been creating noise online. But what makes it different from WordPress’ previous HTML Editor? Read on for more!
Pros
Contents
- Pros
- Multiple Block Types
- It Still Comes with TinyMCE Editor
- Old Posts are Refactored
- Building Blocks is Easy
- Blocks Are Easy to Search Within a Tap of a Button
- The Transfer of Blocks is Effortless
- Enjoy Writing Mode in Full-Screen
- Built with Easy to Navigate Information Box
- Technical Knowledge is not Needed
- Add Call to Actions Like a Pro
- Cons
Multiple Block Types
Limited block types are daunting. Say bye to the hassles with Gutenberg! Each audio, paragraph, video, image, blockquote, and heading is a separate block. It features new and effective content types that you can add to each of your pages and posts. Configuring the style and color is no brainer, thanks to its Button block. It introduces in-post widgets, columns, separators, and spacers. Plus, it gives content creators full access to block that SoundCloud, Reddit, Meetup.com, and other third-party embeds.
It Still Comes with TinyMCE Editor
Gutenberg is still available with the TinyMCE editor, which you can find under/within Classic. A new name but the same quality. In fact, you can add images and create headings without a hard time. It is ideal for those who are adjusting to the latest WordPress HTML Editor. The transition from TinyMCE editor to Gutenberg does not happen instantly. So, take your time, and there is no pressure.
Old Posts are Refactored
The launch of Gutenberg has raised concerns for bloggers and other content creators. They wonder what will happen to their old posts. Well, every post created before Gutenberg is refactored automatically. You can also update your page with new content thru the TinyMCE interface in the Classic block. So, there is nothing to worry about.
Building Blocks is Easy
Developer-friendly WYSIWYG HTML Editor? Do not look further than Gutenberg. As a plugin developer, you can create your own blocks without relying on shortcodes. It is convenient.
But for those plugin developers who get used to shortcodes, Gutenberg will also not be a problem. Building blocks are seamless and less stress-free.
Blocks Are Easy to Search Within a Tap of a Button
Searching for blocks in a WYSIWYG editor does not need to be complicated. Gutenberg comes with a built-in block search that allows bloggers, plugin developers, or content creators to find the blocks they need. All blocks are organized well. They are divided into different groups, including Inline Elements, Formatting, and Layout Elements. The block search is intuitive and good.
The Transfer of Blocks is Effortless
Who says moving Gutenberg blocks is troublesome? There are two ways to move blocks. First, you can use the up and arrow icons in every block. Second, the HTML editor features an excellent drag and drop functionality. That means you can drag and drop every block to anywhere you like within a document. It saves both of your time and effort, indeed.
Enjoy Writing Mode in Full-Screen
Another advantage of Gutenberg is that it takes every blogger’s writing experience to the next level. Designed with the client’s convenience and happiness in mind, Gutenberg allows everyone to write posts in Fullscreen mode without any distraction throughout the process, leading to productivity and quality results. It is also comfortable to switch the Fullscreen mode on and off.
Perhaps, you frequently check out statistics to your posts. Gutenberg’s information box allows you to do that with a click of a mouse. Unlike the competition, it counts words, blocks, headings, paragraphs, and other important details in a document. It also displays your document outline with precision and consistency.
Technical Knowledge is not Needed
Before, only web developers could edit the content of all types. Today is different as there are easy-to-use content management systems to take advantage of try. While the variety of CMS is overwhelming, WordPress is famous for a reason. Its existing HTML editor, Gutenberg, does not require any technical knowledge to edit content. It is ideal for beginners and even less tech-savvy content creators.
Add Call to Actions Like a Pro
A post has many elements, including a quality content, interesting images, and CTAs. It is good news you have crafted or written a compelling content with good images. But it does not stop there. It is time to create CTAs, and Gutenberg can come into play. While some editors require a third party plugin or HTML, Gutenberg provides you with the option to add CTAs without any hassle.
Cons
Like the TinyMCE and other WYSIWYG editors, Gutenberg has some drawbacks you should know. A few of them are highlighted below:
The UI Takes Time to Learn and Understand
TinyMCE offers an editing experience that is quite similar to MS Word and other word processors. Gutenberg is not the same thing. Your post, for example, needs to be broken into blocks, which is not a specialty of many content creators. But you will get used to it as time goes by, and constant practice can make a big difference. You can also contact WordPress customer support/service for more information!
The Risks of Breaking Plugins and Themes are High
Gutenberg’s team strives to make the transition stress-free and smooth. But something worse may happen along the way. Experts believe that the HTML editor might break existing frameworks, plugins, and themes.
While there are Gutenberg-ready plugins and themes, do not update your production site to WordPress 5.0 right away. Thorough and careful testing should not be ignored. Although it requires extra time, all your efforts will pay off.
Some Keyboard Shortcuts do not Function/Work
TinyMCE editor falls short in drag and drop functionality. But that does not mean it is not a superb visual editor of WordPress. It is beginner-friendly and available with many keyboard shortcuts. Unfortunately, some of them do not work anymore with Gutenberg.
Before, you could make an H2 heading with an Alt + Shift + 2 combination. In Gutenberg, you have to change the block type within the visual editor. It is tedious for beginners, but you will adjust after some time.
Is Gutenberg a Fantastic Choice?
Of course! Despite its disadvantages, Gutenberg remains a feature-packed, state-of-the-art, and quality WYSIWYG HTML editor of WordPress. So, what are you waiting for? Give Gutenberg a try and see how it works. Enjoy editing your content with this rich text editor!