When you upgrade to WordPress 5.0 or later, you will find that a new editor has been added to WordPress, containing a new interface and elements, offering many features. But sometimes this may be a new editor (Gutenberg plug-in editor). If you do not like this new editor, there is a way to return the traditional editor from WordPress, and in the following lines we will learn about it.
The difference between the traditional editor and the component editor
Yes, I know that you want to return the traditional editor to WordPress as quickly as possible, but let us slow down a little and learn the difference between it and the new component editor, as you may find features that you did not know about before. So you change your decision by returning to the traditional editor, and here are the differences:
What is the “Classic editor”?
From its name, it is the core editor for WordPress when it was first released, and it has been in use since before the plugin editor was released. It is entirely text-based, similar to word processing programs. It looks like this:
What is the Gutenberg component editor?
As I mentioned above, the component editor was launched by the WordPress team in the WordPress 5.0 update in 2018, that is, after the traditional editor. Which means it’s an update. It is called the component editor because it allows content to be added and edited by dragging and dropping. With over 40 different ingredients. Its interface looks like this:
It may be useful to you: Explanation of the Gutenburg component editor for adding posts and pages
The difference between the component editor and the traditional editor is in terms of ease of use
As for ease of use, the component editor gives you more flexibility in adding content and modifying blocks. It divides the article into small blocks that enable you to edit, move, or delete them within the page or article. With the ability to add many ingredients just with the click of a button.
The traditional editor does not have these features, and the blocks will be invisible without the ability to move them or modify them by dragging and dropping. In short, the component editor is easier than the traditional editor, especially for people who are looking for advanced features that enable them to add icons, separators, etc. But in the end, it’s a personal preference and you can determine what’s best for you by trying both editors.
Updates
This may be one of the weaknesses of the traditional editor. WordPress announced that support for updates will stop by December 31, 2021. On the other hand, the component editor gets updates continuously.
the performance
I personally had some issues with the performance of the component editor. Sometimes it was slow and caused me to lag when creating or editing content. So, I’ve been working on bringing back the traditional editor in WordPress; For me, it worked smoothly as if I was using Microsoft Word without those many annoying icons that appear from time to time.
Which is better: the traditional editor or the WordPress editor?
To answer this question, there is nothing more telling than experience. You should try both editors to find out which one is best for you, whether in terms of features, ease of use, or simplicity.
But you should keep in mind that the component editor is the default editor for WordPress now. If your goal is to create diverse, multimedia content, then the Gutenberg editor is the most suitable for you, but if your content is text-only, the traditional editor will be the perfect choice.
It is worth noting that we will learn how to restore the traditional editor in WordPress in the following lines.
How to restore the traditional editor in WordPress
If you are determined to bring back the Classic Editor, I would like to tell you that the topic is very easy, and does not require any complicated steps related to codes or programming, and we will use the Classic Editor add-on for the Classic Editor.
Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New . Then search for the add-on by entering its name “Classic Editor” in the top search field. Select it and click Install then Activate.
Immediately after activating the plugin, the traditional editor will be added to your WordPress site, and you will be able to use it to add and edit content.
Switch between the traditional editor and the component editor
There is also an option that allows you to switch between the traditional editor and the component editor; To take advantage of the features of both, and in order to be able to do that, you must go to the WordPress control panel and on the right menu click on Settings > then write . In the window that appears, scroll down until you reach the Allow users to switch between editors option and select “ Yes .”
Scroll down and click Save Changes.
After that, when you enter the articles or pages section, you will find two options, the first for the component editor and the second for the traditional editor.
Also, while writing or editing the article, you can switch between editors with ease, through the editor item that you find on the left menu.
Reclaiming the traditional writer’s editor
All the steps I mentioned above are intended for site owners or those who have “admin” membership, but if you are a writer and are granted author membership, in this case you will not be able to restore the traditional editor. Unless the site administrator allows the ability to switch between editors, therefore, your role is only to tell the site administrator to return the traditional editor to WordPress and then activate the switch between it and the component editor so that you have full authority to use the editor you prefer.
In the end, the component editor is a new update to the WordPress editor, as it contains new features that are not found in the traditional editor, allowing all components to be added to the site content with ease. On the other hand, the traditional editor is characterized by classicism, simplicity, and ease of use, so choose what is most appropriate for you.
