Ollie Theme Academy

Understanding Full Site Editing

How block themes and the site editor work – A

Ever wonder how block themes differ from traditional page builders like Elementor? This video explains the fundamental differences in approach.

Page builders like Elementor require both a plugin and a compatible theme (usually a blank slate like Hello Elementor). Designs are stored as “kits” in the database with proprietary export/import systems.

The key limitation? Page builders store everything in the database with limited portability. Their export functions are mainly for moving database content around, not creating truly distributable designs.

Block themes take a completely different approach, combining the flexibility of visual editing with the portability and standards of traditional WordPress theming.

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