Ah the theme.json file! Now this is something that can feel like a bit of a mystery but it’s actually a powerful tool that can make your life as a WordPress website owner a whole lot easier.
You see back in the good ol’ days making custom changes to your site’s style meant into code sometimes editing multiple files and praying nothing went wrong.
But theme.json changes all that.
It’s like a central command center for all your site’s visual settings.
Want to level up your WordPress game and finally tame that theme.json file? 🤯 Let’s unlock the power of theme.json together!
Understanding the Magic of theme.json
Want to level up your WordPress game and finally tame that theme.json file? 🤯 Let’s unlock the power of theme.json together!
Think of it like this: imagine you have a beautiful garden but the plants are all jumbled up and the colors clash.
It’s pretty but it could be so much more stunning.
Well theme.json is your garden’s design plan.
It lets you dictate the colors fonts sizes and even the layout of your entire garden making it all flow together perfectly.
The Theme.json File: A Site-Wide Style Sheet
It’s basically a way to control the Block Editor the way you create content in WordPress.
You can set up default styles for different blocks making sure everything looks consistent across your site.
It’s like having a template for all your content but instead of a single template it’s more like a flexible blueprint.
How theme.json Connects with the Block Editor
Think of theme.json as the brain behind the Block Editor.
It allows you to do things like:
- Control the editor programmatically: You can dictate what features show up in the editor making it more user-friendly for yourself and anyone else working on the site.
- Integrate a block style system: This lets you manage all the different styles for individual blocks making sure they all work together nicely.
- Set preferences for users: You can control whether users can make certain changes or access specific styles ensuring everyone stays on the same page (or rather same style!).
The Rise of the Site Editor
The Site Editor which is like the “global control panel” for your site’s design came along around the same time as theme.json.
They work hand-in-hand.
Think of the Site Editor as the gardener and theme.json as their toolbox.
The Site Editor is for big overarching changes like the general look of your website while theme.json lets you fine-tune the details.
Theme.json in Action: Examples
So what exactly can you do with this magical theme.json file? Here are some examples:
- Color Palettes: You can create a consistent color theme for your entire site making sure every element from buttons to headings aligns perfectly with your brand.
- Font Sizes: You can define specific sizes for your different text blocks making sure the hierarchy of your content is clear and visually appealing.
- Block Alignment and Widths: Want your content to have a different width or be aligned differently? You can set that up in theme.json.
- Hiding and Showing Editor Options: You can tailor the editor’s functionality for different user roles making it easier for everyone to contribute.
Before You Dig In: Important Considerations
Now before you start making wholesale changes to your theme.json file there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
1. Back Up Back Up Back Up!
You know that feeling when you’re about to make a big change and your gut tells you to make a backup just in case? Well theme.json is no different.
It’s a powerful tool and if something goes wrong it can be a bit tricky to fix.
I always recommend using a plugin like Jetpack VaultPress Backup.
It’s like having a safety net; you can restore your site to a previous version in case something goes awry.
2. The Power of Staging
Think of a staging site as your website’s practice room.
It’s a copy of your live site where you can experiment with changes without affecting your public-facing website.
You can play around with theme.json test different styles and make sure everything looks just right before pushing the changes to your live site.
It’s like trying on a new outfit before wearing it in public.
Editing theme.json: A Step-by-Step Guide
you’re ready to dive into the world of theme.json? Let’s take it step by step.
1. Finding Your Theme.json File
The theme.json file usually lives in the root directory of your theme.
Think of it like a file drawer within your theme’s folder.
You can find it using an FTP client like Filezilla or you can access it through your website’s file manager.
Just follow these steps:
- Step 1: Connect to your site using FTP or your file manager.
- Step 2: Go to the
wp-contentfolder. - Step 3: Navigate to the
themesfolder. - Step 4: Select the active theme for your site. This is where you’ll find your theme.json file if your theme has one.
2. Creating a Custom Color Palette
One of the most common uses for theme.json is to establish a consistent color palette for your site.
It helps make your branding more cohesive and makes sure everyone working on the site uses the same colors.
- Step 1: Open your theme.json file.
- Step 2: You’ll want to create a
settingssection then ancolorsection inside that. - Step 3: Here’s an example of a basic color palette:
{
"settings": {
"color": {
"palette": [
{
"slug": "primary"
"name": "Primary"
"color": "#007bff"
}
{
"slug": "secondary"
"name": "Secondary"
"color": "#6c757d"
}
{
"slug": "accent"
"name": "Accent"
"color": "#28a745"
}
]
}
}
}- Step 4: Replace the hex codes (like #007bff) with your desired colors. You can add as many colors as you need.
- Step 5: Save the changes to your theme.json file.
3. Overriding Font Sizes
You can use theme.json to override the default font sizes for different blocks like the Paragraph block.
This lets you create a more consistent and visually appealing typography system.
- Step 1: Open your theme.json file.
- Step 2: Find the
settingssection and inside that create atypographysection. - Step 3: Create a
fontSizesarray which will contain your custom font sizes.
{
"settings": {
"typography": {
"fontSizes": [
{
"size": "12px"
"slug": "extra-small"
"name": "Extra Small"
}
{
"size": "14px"
"slug": "small"
"name": "Small"
}
{
"size": "16px"
"slug": "medium"
"name": "Medium"
}
{
"size": "18px"
"slug": "large"
"name": "Large"
}
{
"size": "20px"
"slug": "extra-large"
"name": "Extra Large"
}
{
"size": "24px"
"slug": "huge"
"name": "Huge"
}
]
}
}
}- Step 4: You can customize the
sizevalues to your liking. - Step 5: The
slugis the name used in the CSS. You can use any descriptive name you like. - Step 6: The
nameis for your own reference so you can easily understand which font size is which. - Step 7: Save the changes to your theme.json file.
4. Defining Custom Templates and Template Parts
You can also use theme.json to create custom templates and template parts which are like pre-made layouts that you can reuse throughout your site.
- Step 1: Open your theme.json file.
- Step 2: Create a
templatessection which will contain your custom template definitions.
{
"templates": [
{
"name": "landing-page"
"title": "Landing Page"
"postTypes":
"template": "templates/landing-page.php"
}
]
}- Step 3: Replace
landing-pagewith the name of your template. - Step 4: Change the
titleto the name you want to display in the editor. - Step 5: Set the
postTypesarray to indicate which types of posts can use this template. - Step 6: The
templateshould be the path to the actual template file.
5. Creating Template Parts
Template parts are like reusable components of your templates like headers footers or sidebars.
Here’s how to define them in theme.json:
{
"templateParts": [
{
"name": "header"
"title": "Header"
"area": "header"
}
{
"name": "footer"
"title": "Footer"
"area": "footer"
}
]
}- Step 1: Open your theme.json file.
- Step 2: Create a
templatePartssection. - Step 3: Add your template parts using the
nametitleandareaproperties.
6. Making Sure Your Changes Take Effect
Once you’ve made changes to your theme.json file save the file and refresh your browser to see the changes.
You might need to clear your browser cache to ensure the new styles are applied.
Common Theme.json Questions
- When was theme.json introduced? Theme.json was introduced with the release of WordPress 5.8 which ushered in the era of Full Site Editing.
- What are the benefits of theme.json? It provides a streamlined way to manage your site’s styles and it’s much more efficient than editing multiple files manually. It helps ensure consistency across your site and it makes it easier to manage your site’s design.
- Who can use theme.json? Anyone using the Block Editor and a block-based theme can take advantage of theme.json. If you’re using page builders you won’t be able to use it.
- Is it hard to learn? It’s not as intimidating as it might seem. If you have some basic understanding of CSS and are comfortable editing code you can learn to work with theme.json.
Final Thoughts: Mastering the Art of Theme.json
Learning to use theme.json is like learning a new skill.
It takes time and practice.
It might seem daunting at first but as you work with it you’ll discover how incredibly powerful it can be.
It’s a great way to customize your site ensure consistency and make your life as a WordPress website owner a whole lot easier.
Want to level up your WordPress game and finally tame that theme.json file? 🤯 Let’s unlock the power of theme.json together!