Introduction to Full Site Editing in WordPress
The world of WordPress is evolving rapidly, and one of the most groundbreaking developments in recent years is Full Site Editing (FSE). Introduced as part of the Gutenberg project, Full Site Editing empowers users to take complete control over every part of their WordPress website, directly from the block editor. No longer confined to just editing posts and pages, users can now customize headers, footers, sidebars, templates, and even theme structures without touching a single line of code. This new approach redefines what WordPress themes are and how site customization is approached, ushering in a new era for web designers, developers, and everyday users.
What is Full Site Editing?
Full Site Editing is a feature in WordPress that allows users to edit their entire website using blocks, the same visual editor introduced in WordPress 5.0. With FSE, the traditional distinction between theme files and content editing is blurred. Now, every part of the site — from the header to the footer — can be customized using the block-based interface. This means you can create, modify, and design global elements like site titles, navigation menus, post templates, and archive pages directly within the editor.
Full Site Editing became available as a stable feature with WordPress 5.9, marking a major shift in how themes and customization work. Instead of relying solely on PHP templates and the Customizer, site owners can now use template parts and block themes to shape their entire website layout and appearance.
Evolution of WordPress Themes
Traditional WordPress themes have long depended on PHP templates, CSS files, and functions defined in the theme’s functions.php file. Site customization was limited to what the theme developer provided, and making deeper changes often required child themes or coding knowledge. The introduction of the Customizer provided some flexibility, but it still fell short of true visual design freedom.
With Full Site Editing, WordPress themes are moving toward a block-based architecture. These new “block themes” are built entirely using HTML and JSON files, relying on blocks for layout and design. Instead of PHP templates like header.php and footer.php, FSE themes use template parts stored in the block-templates and block-template-parts folders. The result is a more intuitive, modular system that gives users full control over the structure and style of their site.
The Site Editor: A Visual Playground
At the heart of Full Site Editing is the Site Editor — a visual interface that brings together template editing, global styles, and block-based customization into a single cohesive experience. When using a compatible block theme, the Site Editor lets you select and edit templates such as the homepage, single post layout, page templates, and even category archives.
You can edit template parts like the header and footer independently or design entire page structures from scratch. Want a unique layout for your blog posts? Create a custom template and assign it where needed. The flexibility that once required complex theme development is now achievable with a few clicks.
Global Styles and Theme.json
One of the most powerful aspects of Full Site Editing is the introduction of Global Styles, controlled via the theme.json file. This file allows theme developers and designers to define default styles for typography, colors, layout spacing, and more, all in one centralized location.
Global Styles make it easier for site owners to maintain consistency across their website. Rather than tweaking styles in multiple places or editing custom CSS, users can adjust settings for fonts, link colors, button styles, and background colors from within the editor itself. These changes are applied across all blocks and templates, ensuring a unified visual identity.
For theme developers, theme.json simplifies the process of delivering consistent and scalable designs. It also reduces reliance on custom CSS or third-party styling frameworks, as much of the design logic is now handled directly within the WordPress core.
Customizing Headers, Footers, and More
In the past, customizing your site’s header or footer often required diving into the theme’s PHP files or relying on widgetized areas. Full Site Editing eliminates this barrier. Using the Site Editor, you can modify or completely rebuild these sections using blocks.
Want to add a dynamic navigation menu, search bar, and logo to your header? Simply insert the corresponding blocks and style them visually. Need a custom footer with social links, contact details, and a newsletter signup? You can build it block by block, previewing the changes live as you go.
Because all of these sections are built using the same block editor, the experience remains consistent. No more jumping between the Customizer, widgets screen, and theme files — it’s all integrated into one place.
Template Editing: Beyond Posts and Pages
Template editing is another key benefit of Full Site Editing. While the classic editor and even the block editor were limited to individual posts and pages, FSE extends block-based customization to site templates themselves.
You can edit templates like single, archive, page, 404, and more. These templates control how content is displayed site-wide. With FSE, you’re no longer restricted by what your theme developer decided for your blog post layout or archive pages. You can tailor these templates to match your brand, user experience goals, and content strategy.
You can even create entirely new templates and assign them to specific pages or post types. For example, you could create a unique landing page template with no header or footer, or a special layout for your product pages.
The Rise of Block Themes
Full Site Editing relies on a new type of theme: the block theme. Unlike classic themes, which use PHP for rendering templates, block themes use a mix of HTML and JSON, taking full advantage of blocks and the Site Editor.
Popular block themes like Twenty Twenty-Two, Twenty Twenty-Three, and Neve FSE offer a glimpse into the future of theme design. These themes are lightweight, flexible, and designed to work seamlessly with the block editor and FSE tools.
While classic themes will continue to be supported for the foreseeable future, the shift toward block themes is clear. For theme developers, this means adapting to new tools and workflows. For users, it means greater flexibility and control.
Challenges and Learning Curve
Despite its many advantages, Full Site Editing does come with a learning curve. Long-time WordPress users accustomed to classic themes and the Customizer may find the new interface unfamiliar. Additionally, because FSE is still evolving, some features are not yet as refined or intuitive as they could be.
For developers, transitioning from PHP-based themes to block themes may require rethinking their approach to theme structure, style management, and templating. However, the long-term benefits — including easier customization, better performance, and cleaner design workflows — make it a worthwhile investment.
WordPress is actively improving FSE with each release, and a growing number of tutorials, resources, and community support channels are emerging to help ease the transition.
Full Site Editing for Agencies and Freelancers
For web design agencies and freelance developers, Full Site Editing opens up new possibilities for delivering highly customized websites more efficiently. Instead of building complex child themes or relying heavily on page builders, designers can leverage the Site Editor and block themes to craft unique, client-specific layouts with less technical overhead.
FSE also enhances collaboration with clients, allowing them to make changes to their site’s design without risking code-level breakage. With user roles and permissions, developers can limit which parts of the site clients can access, preserving design integrity while empowering content updates.
As clients demand faster delivery times and more control over their sites, agencies that embrace FSE will be better positioned to meet these expectations.
The Future of WordPress Theme Design
Full Site Editing represents a paradigm shift in how WordPress websites are designed and managed. By moving to a block-based, visual-first approach, WordPress is becoming more accessible to non-developers while still offering powerful tools for professionals.
As FSE matures, we can expect the ecosystem of block themes, design patterns, and template libraries to grow rapidly. The line between themes and page builders will continue to blur, offering users a seamless, unified design experience.
Whether you’re a beginner building your first blog or a seasoned developer crafting bespoke digital experiences, Full Site Editing is transforming WordPress into a more modern, intuitive platform.
Conclusion
Full Site Editing is more than just a new feature — it’s a fundamental reimagining of how WordPress themes and customization work. With FSE, the entire site becomes editable using blocks, giving users unprecedented freedom to design, modify, and personalize their websites. While it may take some time to adjust to this new approach, the potential it unlocks is enormous.
For users, designers, and developers alike, embracing Full Site Editing means stepping into a new era of WordPress — one that’s more flexible, visual, and future-focused than ever before.
Also Read: Firewall Solutions for WordPress: What to Use in 2025
