How to use code blocks in WordPress

WordPress is a robust content management system that powers more than half of all websites on the Internet. The integrated CRM makes it easy to create a website even if you’ve never written a computer program before. While it’s very easy to display a regular block of text on a WordPress website, the same can’t be said for computer code. A code snippet must be displayed properly for viewers to analyze and understand. And that’s where WordPress code blocks come in.

If you want to know how to use code blocks in WordPress, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll walk you through the entire process so you can start sharing code snippets with your readers. Continue reading to find out more.

How to use code blocks in WordPress

Displaying a computer program as text on a regular web page can be disastrous. Many users will find it difficult to visualize and understand. Fortunately, many WordPress editors have a code blocks feature that allows you to display a computer program in code format.

Fortunately, using code blocks to display computer code is relatively easy. To get started, you’ll need to switch to the native WordPress editor, as some text plugins may not have this feature. Once you’ve done that, follow these steps to add a code block to a website page:

1. Open the web page to which you want to add a code block by clicking the “New” button.
   
2. Type “/code” and press “Enter.”
   
3. Type or paste the code you want to display and press the “Enter” key.
   
4. You can also use the code block toolbar to customize the appearance of the code you just wrote. For example, you can use the “B” button to make a line bold or the “i” button to make it italic.
   
5. Once you’ve finished creating your web page, click the “Preview” button to see what the code block will look like in a live version.
   
6. If you’re happy with the final results, hit the “Update” button so others can see the code block as well.
   

How to change the font of your code block

Typography says it all and can make or break the aesthetics of not only your code block but also the entire web page. To change the font of your code block, follow these steps:

1. Highlight the code block whose typography you want to modify.
   
2. Click the “Settings” icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
   
3. In the “Typography” p, specify your preferred font.
   
4. Click the “Update” button to save the changes.
   

You can further customize the aesthetic of the block by changing the color, background, letter spacing, and line spacing.

For example, if you have a website with a dark theme, you may also want your code block to have a different background.

How to delete a code block in WordPress

Code blocks are not permanent and, like any other element of a WordPress website, you can delete them. Here’s how to do the process:

1. Open the web page or post that has the code block you want to delete.
   
2. Click the code block you want to delete to highlight it.
   
3. In the widget that appears right at the top of the code block, click the three dots.
   
4. From the options, select “Delete code”.
   

The above action should remove the entire code block from the web page. Alternatively, you can simply select the block and press the “Delete” key. You can also press the “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “Z” keys at the same time and that should achieve the same results.

How to edit an already published code block

From time to time, you are bound to make mistakes. You could also find a better way to execute the idea through code. WordPress allows you to edit already existing code blocks by following the instructions below:

1. Open the page that has the code block you want to edit.
   
2. Click “Edit.”
   
3. Click the code block to enable code editing.
   
4. Once you are done making changes, click the “Update” button.
   

How to Add a Code Block to Your WordPress Website Using a Plugin

If you add code snippets to your website frequently, then it would be better to get a more robust plugin to help you out. A popular, powerful and excellent code block is theEvolved Syntax Highlighterplug.

This plugin has an advantage over the native WordPress editor because:

• Highlights the number of lines in a code snippet.
• Supports multiple programming languages.
• Allows your viewers to copy and paste the displayed code.

Here’s how to use the plugin to better manage code snippets on your website:

1. Install and activate theEvolved Syntax Highlighterplug.
   
2. Open the page or publish if you want to add a code block.
   
3. Enable editing and click the plus button.
   
4. Search for “SyntaxHighLighter Evolved” and open the first result that appears.
   
5. Paste or write the code in the available code block.
   
6. Click on the settings icon in the top right corner of the screen and navigate to the “Block” tab.
   
7. Specify how you want your numbering to appear and which lines of code you want to be highlighted.
   
8. You can also turn on “Make URLs Clickable” if you want your code to be clickable.
   

To change the color and formatting scheme of your code block, follow these steps:

1. Go to “Settings” and navigate to the “Syntax Highlighter” p.
   
2. Change the theme of your block.
   
3. Press “Save” and “Preview” to preview what the changes will look like in live mode.
   

Additional FAQs

How do you make a code block a clickable link?

To make a code block a link using the WordPress editor, follow these steps:

1. Select the line of code you want to act as a link.

2. From the pop-up widget, select the link icon. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl” + “K” keys on your keyboard.

3. Enter the URL you want to link the code to and press the “Enter” key.

Can I highlight code using the code block editor provided by the WordPress editor?

No, the code block provided by the native WordPress editor does not allow users to copy and paste the code. To do this, you will need the help of an advanced code block editing plugin like the “SyntaxHighligher Evolved” plugin.

Does Elementor have a code blocks feature?

Elementor is a popular drag and drop plugin used to create WordPress websites. Unfortunately, if you use the plugin to create websites, you will not find a block that allows you to format computer programs on your website. Therefore, you need to switch to the conventional WordPress editor to finish the task.

Get your website up and running

Whether you have a programming blog or just like to share code snippets on your website, knowing how to use code blocks in WordPress is very important. Code blocks will make the process easier for your readers and generally improve the user experience of your website. And as you can see, inserting code blocks is a relatively simple process, especially with the native WordPress editor.

Have you tried using the code blocks that WordPress provides? What about the SyntaxHighlighter Evolved plugin? Share with us your experience in the comments p below.