Modern pattern registration simply requires PHP files in the /patterns directory with file headers containing title, slug, and categories. No function calls or complex registration code needed.
The file header uses the same comment format as plugin headers, making the system familiar to WordPress developers. Categories support comma separation for multiple assignments.
WordPress automatically processes these files and registers patterns based on the header information. The system supports PHP within pattern files for dynamic content or translations.
This approach dramatically simplifies pattern development while enabling more sophisticated pattern features through standard WordPress development practices.