How to Make Block Themes Better with Theme JSON
For years, WordPress theme development meant juggling configuration across multiple files. Settings lived in functions.php, styles were hardcoded in CSS, and editor support required complex PHP hooks. Theme.json changed everything by bringing these scattered pieces into one structured file. Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress developer transitioning from classic themes or a newcomer exploring modern WordPress development, understanding theme.json is essential for building performant, maintainable, and user-friendly themes in 2025. 💡 Quick Takeaway: Theme.json consolidates theme configuration into a single JSON file, enabling visual customization through the Site Editor while improving performance and maintainability. It’s the foundation of modern WordPress block theme development. What is theme.json in WordPress? Theme.json is WordPress’s answer to scattered theme configuration – a single JSON file that centralizes all theme settings, design tokens, and editor features. Instead of hunting through functions.php, style.css, and various PHP hooks, developers now have one declarative source of truth. Introduced in WordPress 5.8 and continuously enhanced through subsequent … Learn More