Title: List view
Author: annezazu
Published: July 8, 2021
Last modified: October 23, 2024

---

# List view

## In this article

 * [How to use List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-use-list-view)
    - [How to find List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-find-list-view)
    - [How to open and close List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-open-and-close-list-view)
    - [How to select blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-select-blocks)
    - [How to select multiple blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-select-multiple-blocks)
    - [How to drag and drop blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-drag-and-drop-blocks)
    - [How to make changes to individual blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-make-changes-to-individual-blocks)
    - [How to collapse sections](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-collapse-sections)
    - [How to help distinguish between blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-help-distinguish-between-blocks)
    - [Locked Blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#locked-blocks)
 * [Template Parts & Synced Patterns](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#demonstration-of-list-view)
 * [Outline Section](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#demonstration-of-list-view-2)
 * [Demonstration of List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#demonstration-of-list-view-3)
 * [Resources](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#resources)

[ Back to top](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

List View is a new tool to help you navigate between layers of content and nested
blocks. It’s currently visible in the Top Toolbar and will remain open as you navigate
through your content. This makes it easy to move between the exact pieces of content
you want to alter, whether that’s an individual Paragraph block at the very end 
of a post or a Columns block that contains a beautiful selection of products to 
choose from. Think of it as the ultimate tool to navigate block complexity, select
exactly what you need, and easily view all of the blocks that make up your content
at once.

## 󠀁[How to use List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-use-list-view)󠁿

### 󠀁[How to find List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-find-list-view)󠁿

You can find List View in the top toolbar of the editor:

![The list view button on the editor](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/06/Screen-Shot-on-2023-06-14-at-105448.png)

### 󠀁[How to open and close List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-open-and-close-list-view)󠁿

To open list view, select the Document Overview icon as shown above. This will cause
the view to open and stay open until you close it once more. You can close List 
View by either selecting the “x” or by selecting the Document Overview icon once
more.

![Screencast displaying how to open and close the list view](https://wordpress.org/
documentation/files/2023/03/list-view-open-close.gif)

Since WordPress 6.4 version, list view will show image previews for [Image](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/image-block/)
and [Gallery](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/gallery-block/) blocks.

![List view displaying image previews for Image and Gallery blocks.](https://wordpress.
org/documentation/files/2024/01/list-view-media-preview-575x1024.png)

List view displaying image previews for Image and Gallery blocks.

### 󠀁[How to select blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-select-blocks)󠁿

List View allows you to both see all of your content at once and select any block
you’d like. To select a block and bring it into focus, click on the name of the 
block in List View. This will select that layer of content for you to then customize
to your liking.

### 󠀁[How to select multiple blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-select-multiple-blocks)󠁿

You can select multiple blocks at one in the List View by holding down the “shift”
key and clicking on them.

![Screencast of the list view displaying how to select multiple blocks.](https://
wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/03/list-view-select-multiple-blocks.gif)

### 󠀁[How to drag and drop blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-drag-and-drop-blocks)󠁿

After opening List View, select the block or section of blocks you want to drag 
and drop. After selecting, you can then drag and drop the content wherever you’d
like within the List View sidebar. You are not able to drag and drop within the 
Editor itself.

![Selecting multiple blocks on the list view](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2023/03/list-view-move-blocks.gif)

### 󠀁[How to make changes to individual blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-make-changes-to-individual-blocks)󠁿

Each block within List View has a three dot menu that you can click on to take further
action on the block itself. You can also select a block and delete it with ease 
using your keyboard controls.

![Opening the menu list for any block on the list view](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2024/04/image.png)

### 󠀁[How to collapse sections](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-collapse-sections)󠁿

Next to each section of blocks, you’ll see an arrow icon that you can click to collapse
or expand sections of blocks. This is helpful if you’re trying to navigate between
complex content in order to more readily focus on different sections.

![The arrow icon next to each block to collapse or expand block](https://wordpress.
org/documentation/files/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-12-21-at-3.45.27-PM.png)

### 󠀁[How to help distinguish between blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#how-to-help-distinguish-between-blocks)󠁿

If a block has an ID/anchor set, it’s displayed in List View so it’s easier to distinguish
between other blocks and reference as you want. Here’s an example with a `IDname`
anchor:

![The ID or anchor set for a block on the list view](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2023/03/list-view-block-id-html-anchor-1024x804.png)

### 󠀁[Locked Blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#locked-blocks)󠁿

If a block has been [locked](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/more-options/#lock),
a small icon will show next to its name in the list view.

![Screenshot of the list view with a locked quote block.](https://wordpress.org/
documentation/files/2023/03/list-view-locked-block-1024x846.png)

## 󠀁[Template Parts & Synced Patterns](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#demonstration-of-list-view)󠁿

[Template parts](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/template-part-block/)
and [synced patterns](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/reusable-blocks/)
are highlighted in purple to distinguish them from regular blocks. This highlight/
outline is visible in the editor area and in the list view itself.

![Screenshot of the list view with template parts and reusable blocks being highlighted
in purple.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/03/list-view-template-
parts-reusable-blocks-1024x787.png)

## 󠀁[Outline Section](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#demonstration-of-list-view-2)󠁿

There is an alternative next to the List View called “Outline”. The outline displays
the follow post information:

 * Number of characters.
 * Number of words.
 * Time to read.
 * Heading structure.

![The outline tab on the list view](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/
03/list-view-outline-1024x886.png)

## 󠀁[Demonstration of List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#demonstration-of-list-view-3)󠁿

## 󠀁[Resources](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/?output_format=md#resources)󠁿

 * [Improve your workflow with List View](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2021/06/09/core-editor-improvement-improve-your-workflow-with-list-view/)

**Changelog:**

 * 2024-04-16
    - Updated a screenshot and alt texts
 * 2024-01-25
    - Add media previews to list view for gallery and image blocks
 * 2023-08-08
    - WordPress 6.3 renamed Reusable Block to Patterns
 * 2021-07-09 Created
 * 2023-06-14 Updated to reflect how the “info” section is now inside the list view.
 * 2023-07-17
    - WordPress 6.3 renamed Reusable Block to (Synced) Patterns

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First published

July 8, 2021

Last updated

October 23, 2024