Are WordPress Shortcodes Still Relevant?
Why Shortcodes Haven't Gone Away
Shortcodes were WordPress's original mechanism for embedding dynamic functionality inside otherwise static content, and a huge amount of existing plugin code (and content already published across the web) depends on them continuing to work exactly as before. The block editor didn't replace this mechanism; it added a new authoring paradigm on top, while keeping full backward compatibility for shortcode-based functionality via a dedicated block.
When You'd Still Use a Shortcode Directly
- Many plugins still expose their functionality primarily via shortcode, especially older or simpler plugins that haven't built a dedicated block version of their features.
- Custom shortcodes remain a valid, simple way to add reusable dynamic content to a site, particularly for something used across many pages that doesn't need the fuller block-editing experience.
- A block-based equivalent is generally preferable for new development going forward, since it offers a better editing experience, but this doesn't make existing shortcode functionality obsolete or something urgent to migrate away from.
Working With Both
- Use the Shortcode block to embed any existing shortcode-based functionality cleanly within block editor content.
- For new custom functionality, consider whether a dedicated block would offer a better editing experience, without feeling obligated to abandon shortcodes entirely.
- Don't assume a plugin using shortcodes is outdated — this remains a perfectly valid, actively used pattern.
Need custom shortcode or block functionality built? See WordPress bug fix.