If you’re diving into WordPress block theme development, one crucial file you’ll come across is the theme.json. It plays a key role in configuring your theme’s settings and styles. But, as with most things in web development, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
What is the theme.json file in relation to WordPress block theme development?
At its core, the theme.json file defines the configuration for your theme. Think of it as the blueprint for how your theme’s settings and styles behave. It’s a centralised place where you can set things like typography, colours, layout settings, and even individual block configurations.
But here’s where it gets interesting—your theme.json file doesn’t stand alone. It actually works alongside the default configuration from WordPress itself. This is key to understanding how overrides work when building your theme.
Default Settings: What You Need to Know
When you develop a block theme, you’ll want to familiarise yourself with the default theme.json settings that WordPress provides. You can find these in the wp-includes folder, specifically in the core theme.json file. This is the master file that loads the base settings and styles that apply if you don’t define them in your own theme’s theme.json.
Here’s the important takeaway: Anything you define in your theme.json file will override the core defaults. So, having a good understanding of what’s in the core theme.json helps you know what can be tweaked and where to make your changes.
Overriding the Defaults: A Common Misconception
Now, let’s clear up a common misconception. Some developers assume that if they set up an empty theme.json file—meaning they don’t define any settings or styles—then the theme would be a blank slate. However, that’s not the case.
Even with an empty theme.json, the default settings from the core theme.json in wp-includes will still apply. In other words, you’re never truly starting from scratch unless you explicitly override those settings in your theme.json.
This may feel a bit restrictive, but it’s actually a logical approach. WordPress provides a consistent baseline that ensures all themes work right out of the box. To truly reset any default, you need to explicitly declare it in your theme.json.
Levelling Up: Best Practices for Customising theme.json
One of the best ways to avoid headaches while developing your theme is to start by referencing the core theme.json. Use it as a guide to see what’s already being set by default, and from there, determine what you want to customise.
By understanding how overrides work, you can confidently take control of your theme’s appearance and functionality, without falling into a rabbit hole of trial and error.
Looking Ahead: Site Editor and Block-Level Customisations
Once your theme is released into the wild, there are additional layers of priority settings to consider, such as the Global Styles in the Site Editor and more granular block-level settings. But that’s a topic for another post!
For now, this introduction should help you get started with your own WordPress block theme development and using the theme.json file effectively.
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