Blocks – Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables

by Renzo Johnson

Description

Blocks creates reusable content blocks, global content shortcodes, and site variables for WordPress. Create content once, insert it with a shortcode in pages, posts, widgets, or page builders, and update every placement by editing the source block.

Use site variables for values such as a phone number, support email, address, price, site title, or current year. Update the variable once as a token like {{blocks:phone}} and every enabled placement displays the new value. Blocks also supports import and export for moving reusable content and variables between sites as a single JSON file.

Blocks is focused on reusable site-wide content, not on providing another decorative Gutenberg block collection. Because a block renders through a plain shortcode, the same content follows you across theme changes and builder migrations.

Full documentation, examples, and release notes live in the Blocks guide.

Reusable Content Blocks and Global Shortcodes

Create reusable content once: manage a source block and display it in multiple locations.
Insert content with a shortcode: use a shortcode such as [block id="42"] in posts, pages, widgets, templates, and builders.
Update every placement: edit the source block instead of changing repeated content one page at a time.
Define site variables: reuse values such as phone numbers, email addresses, prices, and the current year.
Built-in tokens for your site info: {{blocks:phone}}, {{blocks:email}}, {{blocks:address}}, {{blocks:year}}, {{blocks:site_title}}, and more; the blocks: prefix means tokens never collide with other plugins.
Resolve variables everywhere (optional): tokens also work typed directly into regular content, widgets, and page-builder text.
Work across editors and builders: ships integrations for Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, Bricks, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Oxygen, Breakdance, Zion, Thrive, and Fusion (Avada).
Import and export: move blocks and variables between sites using a single JSON file.
Organize reusable content: use categories and tags for larger content libraries.

Blocks is one of our free WordPress plugins. Browse the full plugin collection.

Installation

Minimum Requirements

WordPress 6.1 or greater
PHP 8.1 or greater

Automatic installation (recommended)

Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins > Add New.
Search for “Blocks”.
Click Install Now, then Activate.

Manual installation

Download the plugin zip from the Blocks plugin page.
Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, choose the zip, click Install Now, then Activate.

After activation

A new Blocks menu appears in your admin sidebar. Create your first block, copy its shortcode, and paste it anywhere on your site. The getting started guide walks you through it, including the native elements for every page builder.

Updating

Update from the Plugins screen like any other plugin. Your blocks are stored as regular WordPress content, so they are safe across updates. As with any update, we recommend backing up your site first.

Faq

How do I create reusable content in WordPress?

Create a source item under the Blocks menu, copy its shortcode (for example [block id="42"]), and paste it wherever the content should appear. Edit the source item to update every placement that uses it. See how it works.

Can I use reusable content blocks in Elementor, Divi, Bricks, or other page builders?

Yes. Blocks ships integrations for the block editor (Gutenberg), Elementor, Divi, Bricks, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Oxygen, Zion, Thrive, Breakdance, and Fusion (Avada). Add the shortcode or the native builder element where the content should appear.

What is a global content shortcode?

A global content shortcode displays content managed in one source block. The same shortcode can be placed on multiple pages, widgets, templates, or supported builder layouts, and every placement updates when you edit the source.

How do WordPress site variables work?

Define a site variable such as a phone number, email address, price, or current year and display it with a token like {{blocks:phone}} or with [blocks var="name"]. Updating the stored variable changes every supported placement. Built-in tokens cover your site info, and an optional “resolve variables everywhere” setting makes tokens work typed directly into regular content, widgets, and any page builder.

Can I move reusable blocks and site variables to another WordPress site?

Yes. The Import / Export page downloads all your blocks and variables as one JSON file and imports the same file on any other site running Blocks. Existing blocks are matched by title and are not overwritten unless you choose to.

Can I organize my blocks?

Yes. Blocks supports categories and tags, so large libraries stay manageable.

Can Blocks minify JavaScript?

Yes. The Performance settings can opt selected local WordPress script handles into PHP minification. Blocks writes immutable cached copies under uploads while preserving each handle’s dependencies, loading strategy, inline data, and footer placement. Remote scripts are never fetched, and a source or compiler failure keeps the original script URL.

Where can I get help?

Start with the Blocks documentation, or contact us directly and the developers will answer you. For ongoing help with your site, see our WordPress support plans.

Blocks Privacy

Read about our policy

Leave a Review

If Blocks is useful to you, please leave a review on WordPress.org.

Reviews

Ça marche nickel !

By haoris on March 27, 2022

Exactement ce que je cherchais pour gérer des blocs réutilisables à insérer aussi bien dans les articles que dans les widgets. Opération réussie : simple, léger, efficace, rendu impeccable et aucun conflit avec les autres plugins. Ma version de wordpress 5.9.2. Merci

Caused a js conflict on my site

By Rebecca Markowitz (beccawitz) on September 3, 2016

Caused a js conflict on my site

Good plugin, but hijacks the login and inserts links

By airheads on September 3, 2016

Love the features, but the plugin inserts a line of text that says "Site Crafted in Orlando - Florida", links the site name to WordPress.org, and adds a css that completely restyles the login. No way to turn that feature off =/

Screenshot without the plugin
Screenshot with the plugin

Hidden links and login form broken

By Steffen Jung (bubble1973) on September 3, 2016

As "hookedontronics" already mentioned in detail in his 1-star-rating this plugin adds links and also has broken my login form. I have invested hours to find out from where this bug in login form is coming.

I will uninstall it and use another block plugin. Not a good way from developer to push his plugin and seo rankings.

watch out!!! reject at all costs!

By hookedontronics on September 3, 2016

Unless you want your website to be hijacked by Renzo Johnson (http://renzojohnson.com/), STAY AWAY from his plugins. Renzo is a scam developer who inserts hidden code and links into WordPress plugins to insert several hidden links and massive keywords promoting him and his website without the user's knowledge.

The casual WordPress user may not notice, however using Google Analytics and tools such as Zippy Keyword Density, you will find that he inserts massive amounts of weblinks to his website and keywords such as: "Renzo Johnson" "Front end developer" "Orlando Developer" "Mailchimp" "Mailchimp Developer" "form" "mailchimp" "deverloper" . These will by far take priority. This will have a drastic negative affect on your SEO with sites like Google, Yahoo and others. [See blackhat SEO for more details]. Again, this has a very negative affect on your site's search engine optimization.

To remove, simply deactivate the plugin, select delete and remove all data! Further, reject this developer and spread the word. We don't need this trash.

Changelog

View the complete release history.

Reusable Content Blocks and Global Shortcodes

Minimum Requirements

Automatic installation (recommended)

Manual installation

After activation

Updating

Ça marche nickel !

Caused a js conflict on my site

Good plugin, but hijacks the login and inserts links

Hidden links and login form broken

watch out!!! reject at all costs!

26.09.03.15

26.09.01.20

26.09.01.14

26.08.31.21

26.08.30.12

26.08.30.11

26.08.30.10

26.08.30.09

26.08.30.08

26.08.22.22

26.08.22.20

26.08.22.17

26.08.22.13

26.08.21.19

26.08.07.23

26.07.19.14

26.07.13.21

26.07.13.17

26.07.12.13

026.07.07.21

026.07.07.15

026.07.05.18

026.02.22.22

026.02.10.1904

026.01.30.1153

026.01.26.01

025.12.29.19

025.12.02.02

25.11.05.1003

25.09.30.1006

1.6.55

1.6.42

1.6.23

1.6.21

1.6.6

1.6.4

1.6.3

1.6.2

1.6.1

0.3

0.0.21

0.0.19

0.0.9

0.0.8

0.0.6