{"id":652,"date":"2025-03-13T13:40:56","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T20:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comm.engineering.asu.edu\/pitchfork\/?p=652"},"modified":"2025-04-16T09:59:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T16:59:33","slug":"18-creating-patterns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comm.engineering.asu.edu\/pitchfork\/2025\/03\/18-creating-patterns\/","title":{"rendered":"18. Creating Patterns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is a pattern?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A pattern is a predefined arrangement of blocks that can be saved and reused across different pages and posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When would you use one?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For example, you may have a page layout that is commonly used in your website, such as a hero block followed by text, followed by a row of three cards. Rather than building that layout from scratch each time, you can create a pattern of that layout and add it to new pages for a pre-built, editable page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patterns can be big or small. Rather than a whole page, you can have a small piece of content, such as a standard call to action group that has a header, paragraph and button. This too can be a pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patterns are saved into the WordPress theme files so that you can use them over and over, inserting them into pages from the block inserter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standard patterns vs. synced patterns<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WordPress has two types of patterns: standard and synced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a standard pattern?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Standard (non-synced) patterns can be inserted and edited to create a unique instance of the pattern. When you put a standard pattern in a page and edit it, the original pattern does not change, and no other copies (instances) of that pattern that you have placed on any other page change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of standard patterns as single, editable, disconnected templates for content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a synced pattern?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A synced pattern is a pattern that you want to remain exactly the same every place that you use it. Synced pattern copies (instances) are connected. When you change one, you change them all, on every page where they are in use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, you might like to have a form to enroll subscribers to your newsletter. The call to action has a title, introductory text, the form and a submit button. You would like to have this form at the bottom of your news page, your social media page and your homepage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a good case for using a synced pattern, because no matter where you place the form, you want it to be exactly the same. And if you want to change it later, you can update it in one location and the changes will “sync” to the other locations through the synced pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of synced patterns as one object, that can be displayed in many places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standard patterns<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How to create a standard pattern<\/h3>\n\n\n\n