Building Gutenberg Blocks with ACF as a Stopgap

WordPress introduced the block editor (Gutenberg) to revolutionize content creation. While it brought many benefits, developers still face challenges when it comes to creating custom blocks. In this article, we will explore how to use Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) to create Gutenberg blocks as a solution until more complex requirements can be addressed.

Understanding Gutenberg Blocks

Gutenberg blocks allow content creators to build layouts and insert various elements in a more visual way. Each block can represent text, images, or more complex functionalities.

Using ACF to Create Blocks

ACF offers a powerful way to manage custom fields, and with its integration into the block editor, it becomes feasible to build custom blocks quickly.

Steps to Create a Custom Block

1. Install ACF and ACF Pro: Ensure you have both ACF and ACF Pro installed and activated.
2. Create a Field Group: Go to the ACF admin panel, and create a new field group for your block.
3. Set the Block Settings: In the field group settings, specify that this group should be available for a Gutenberg block by providing the block name. For example, my_acf_block.
4. Register the Block: Use the following PHP code in your theme’s functions.php:

   if ( function_exists('acf_register_block_type') ) {
       acf_register_block_type(array(
           'name'              => 'my_acf_block',
           'title'             => __('My ACF Block'),
           'render_template'    => 'template-parts/blocks/my-acf-block.php',
           'category'          => 'formatting',
           'icon'             => 'block-default',
           'keywords'          => array('acf', 'quote'),
       ));
   }
   

5. Create a Template File: Create the my-acf-block.php file in the template-parts/blocks directory to define the HTML structure for the block.

Example Code for the Block Template

<div class="my-acf-block">
    <h2><?php the_field('block_title'); ?></h2>
    <p><?php the_field('block_content'); ?></p>
</div>

Conclusion

Using ACF to create Gutenberg blocks allows developers to provide flexible content creation options without diving deep into JavaScript coding. This method acts as a practical stopgap until more sophisticated block development skills are acquired.