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The WordPress Block Editor provides extensive customization capabilities, allowing you to tailor the editing experience to your specific needs. You can control which features are available, modify block behavior, and create a curated editing environment.

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Editor Settings

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The block_editor_settings_all Filter

The block_editor_settings_all PHP filter is your primary tool for modifying editor settings before the editor initializes: 
add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'example_customize_editor_settings' );

function example_customize_editor_settings( $settings, $context ) {
  // Modify settings here
  return $settings;
}
The filter receives two parameters:
  • $settings - Array of configurable editor settings
  • $context - Instance of WP_Block_Editor_Context containing editor information

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Common Editor Settings

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'disable_code_editor_for_non_admins' );

function disable_code_editor_for_non_admins( $settings ) {
  $can_activate_plugins = current_user_can( 'activate_plugins' );

  if ( ! $can_activate_plugins ) {
    $settings['codeEditingEnabled'] = false;
  }

  return $settings;
}

​
Controlling Available Blocks

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Allow/Deny Lists

You can control which blocks are available in the editor: 
add_filter( 'allowed_block_types_all', 'example_allowed_blocks', 10, 2 );

function example_allowed_blocks( $allowed_block_types, $editor_context ) {
  // Return array of allowed block names
  return array(
    'core/paragraph',
    'core/heading',
    'core/list',
    'core/image',
  );
}
When unregistering blocks, ensure your code runs after block registration by specifying wp-edit-post as a dependency and using domReady() to avoid race conditions.

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Block Categories

Customize block categories in the inserter: 
add_filter( 'block_categories_all', 'add_custom_block_category', 10, 2 );

function add_custom_block_category( $categories, $editor_context ) {
  if ( ! empty( $editor_context->post ) ) {
    return array_merge(
      $categories,
      array(
        array(
          'slug'  => 'custom-category',
          'title' => __( 'Custom Blocks', 'textdomain' ),
          'icon'  => 'admin-plugins',
        ),
      )
    );
  }
  return $categories;
}

​
Client-side Settings Filters

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blockEditor.useSetting.before

This powerful filter allows you to modify block-level theme.json settings dynamically: 
import { addFilter } from '@wordpress/hooks';

addFilter(
  'blockEditor.useSetting.before',
  'example/limit-column-spacing',
  ( settingValue, settingName, clientId, blockName ) => {
    if ( blockName === 'core/column' && settingName === 'spacing.units' ) {
      return [ 'px' ];
    }
    return settingValue;
  }
);

​
User-Based Customization

Tailor the editor experience based on user capabilities: 
add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'customize_by_user_role' );

function customize_by_user_role( $settings ) {
  if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_theme_options' ) ) {
    // Non-administrators get restricted features
    $settings['codeEditingEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['fontLibraryEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['canLockBlocks'] = false;
  }

  return $settings;
}

​
Template Locking

Control which parts of a template users can edit: 
function register_locked_template() {
  $post_type_object = get_post_type_object( 'page' );
  $post_type_object->template = array(
    array(
      'core/heading',
      array(
        'placeholder' => 'Add title...',
        'lock' => array(
          'move'   => true,
          'remove' => true,
        ),
      ),
    ),
    array(
      'core/paragraph',
      array(
        'placeholder' => 'Add content...',
      ),
    ),
  );
  $post_type_object->template_lock = 'all';
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_locked_template' );

​
Patterns Management

Control block pattern availability: 
// Unregister core patterns
function remove_core_patterns() {
  remove_theme_support( 'core-block-patterns' );
}
add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'remove_core_patterns' );

// Register custom patterns
function register_custom_pattern() {
  register_block_pattern(
    'my-theme/hero-section',
    array(
      'title'       => __( 'Hero Section', 'textdomain' ),
      'description' => __( 'A hero section with heading and call to action', 'textdomain' ),
      'content'     => '<!-- wp:group --><!-- /wp:group -->',
      'categories'  => array( 'featured' ),
    )
  );
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_custom_pattern' );
Control editor UI elements: 
import { registerPlugin } from '@wordpress/plugins';
import { PluginSidebar, PluginSidebarMoreMenuItem } from '@wordpress/edit-post';
import { PanelBody, TextControl } from '@wordpress/components';

const CustomSidebar = () => (
  <>
    <PluginSidebarMoreMenuItem target="custom-sidebar">
      Custom Options
    </PluginSidebarMoreMenuItem>
    <PluginSidebar name="custom-sidebar" title="Custom Options">
      <PanelBody>
        <TextControl
          label="Custom Field"
          help="Enter custom data"
        />
      </PanelBody>
    </PluginSidebar>
  </>
);

registerPlugin( 'custom-sidebar', { render: CustomSidebar } );

​
Document Settings

Add custom panels to the document settings: 
import { registerPlugin } from '@wordpress/plugins';
import { PluginDocumentSettingPanel } from '@wordpress/edit-post';
import { PanelRow, ToggleControl } from '@wordpress/components';

const CustomDocumentSettings = () => (
  <PluginDocumentSettingPanel
    name="custom-settings"
    title="Custom Settings"
    className="custom-settings-panel"
  >
    <PanelRow>
      <ToggleControl
        label="Enable Custom Feature"
        checked={ false }
        onChange={ () => {} }
      />
    </PanelRow>
  </PluginDocumentSettingPanel>
);

registerPlugin( 'custom-document-settings', {
  render: CustomDocumentSettings,
} );

​
Pre-publish Panel

Add custom checks before publishing: 
import { registerPlugin } from '@wordpress/plugins';
import { PluginPrePublishPanel } from '@wordpress/edit-post';

const PrePublishCheckList = () => (
  <PluginPrePublishPanel
    title="Publishing Checklist"
    initialOpen={ true }
  >
    <ul>
      <li>✓ Featured image added</li>
      <li>✓ SEO description completed</li>
      <li>✓ Categories selected</li>
    </ul>
  </PluginPrePublishPanel>
);

registerPlugin( 'pre-publish-checklist', {
  render: PrePublishCheckList,
} );

​
Color and Typography Controls

Fine-tune design controls: 
add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'customize_color_palette' );

function customize_color_palette( $settings ) {
  $settings['colors'] = array(
    array(
      'name'  => __( 'Primary', 'textdomain' ),
      'slug'  => 'primary',
      'color' => '#007cba',
    ),
    array(
      'name'  => __( 'Secondary', 'textdomain' ),
      'slug'  => 'secondary',
      'color' => '#ff5837',
    ),
  );

  $settings['fontSizes'] = array(
    array(
      'name' => __( 'Small', 'textdomain' ),
      'size' => 14,
      'slug' => 'small',
    ),
    array(
      'name' => __( 'Medium', 'textdomain' ),
      'size' => 18,
      'slug' => 'medium',
    ),
    array(
      'name' => __( 'Large', 'textdomain' ),
      'size' => 24,
      'slug' => 'large',
    ),
  );

  // Disable custom colors and font sizes
  $settings['disableCustomColors'] = true;
  $settings['disableCustomFontSizes'] = true;

  return $settings;
}

​
Context-Aware Customization

Customize based on post type or template: 
add_filter( 'allowed_block_types_all', 'customize_blocks_by_context', 10, 2 );

function customize_blocks_by_context( $allowed_blocks, $editor_context ) {
  // Different blocks for different post types
  if ( ! empty( $editor_context->post ) ) {
    $post_type = $editor_context->post->post_type;

    if ( 'product' === $post_type ) {
      return array(
        'core/paragraph',
        'core/image',
        'core/gallery',
        'woocommerce/product-price',
      );
    }

    if ( 'page' === $post_type ) {
      return array(
        'core/paragraph',
        'core/heading',
        'core/group',
        'core/columns',
      );
    }
  }

  return $allowed_blocks;
}

​
Best Practices

  1. Test thoroughly: Customizations affect the editing experience - test with different user roles
  2. Document your changes: Explain why certain features are restricted
  3. Consider accessibility: Ensure customizations don’t hinder content creation for users with disabilities
  4. Use progressive enhancement: Start with minimal restrictions and add more as needed
  5. Provide feedback: When restricting features, explain to users why certain options aren’t available
  6. Stay updated: Block editor features evolve - review customizations with each WordPress update

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Common Use Cases

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Simplified Editor for Contributors

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'simplified_editor_for_contributors' );

function simplified_editor_for_contributors( $settings ) {
  if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_theme_options' ) ) {
    $settings['codeEditingEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['fontLibraryEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['enableBlockInspectorTabs'] = false;
    $settings['canLockBlocks'] = false;
  }
  return $settings;
}

add_filter( 'allowed_block_types_all', 'basic_blocks_for_contributors', 10, 2 );

function basic_blocks_for_contributors( $allowed_blocks, $editor_context ) {
  if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_theme_options' ) ) {
    return array(
      'core/paragraph',
      'core/heading',
      'core/list',
      'core/image',
    );
  }
  return $allowed_blocks;
}

​
Landing Page Template

function register_landing_page_template() {
  $post_type_object = get_post_type_object( 'page' );
  $post_type_object->template = array(
    array( 'core/cover', array(
      'align' => 'full',
      'placeholder' => 'Hero section',
    ) ),
    array( 'core/group', array(), array(
      array( 'core/heading', array( 'placeholder' => 'Features section' ) ),
      array( 'core/columns', array(), array(
        array( 'core/column' ),
        array( 'core/column' ),
        array( 'core/column' ),
      ) ),
    ) ),
  );
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_landing_page_template' );

​
Next Steps

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