Title: GT Table Block
Author: Birgit Pauli-Haack
Published: May 4, 2026
Last modified: May 6, 2026
---
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# GT Table Block
By [Birgit Pauli-Haack](https://profiles.wordpress.org/bph/)
[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/gt-table-block.zip)
[Live Preview](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gt-table-block/?preview=1)
* [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gt-table-block/#description)
* [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gt-table-block/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gt-table-block/#installation)
* [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gt-table-block/#developers)
[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gt-table-block/)
## Description
GT Table Block extends the built-in `core/table` block with optional features that
compose cleanly — each feature is an independent toggle, not a block style, so any
combination can be active on the same table.
**Available in this release:**
* **Sticky header row** — the `` row pins to the top of the viewport while
the table body scrolls. Includes a numeric offset control for sites with a fixed
admin bar or site header. Pure CSS at runtime (no frontend JavaScript). The sticky
background is an opaque CSS variable with full theme.json customization support(
see FAQ below).
* **Styled first column** — gives the first column the same visual weight as the
header row (bold, optional themeable background) and adds `scope="row"` to those
cells in the saved markup so screen readers announce them as row headers. Addresses
Gutenberg core issue #1470 (open since 2017). Pure CSS for the styling; the a11y
attribute is added at save time only, so the editor preview stays unchanged.
**Planned for future releases:**
* Sticky first column for wide tables with horizontal scroll — v0.3.0.
* Merge / unmerge cells via a block toolbar control — v0.4.0.
#### Why a variation, not a replacement block?
The plugin deliberately extends `core/table` rather than forking it, so existing
tables stay compatible with core as it evolves. Independent boolean attributes also
let any combination of features be active at once — which block styles (a mutually
exclusive radio group) cannot offer.
### Source code
Source code, build tools, issue tracker, and development log: https://github.com/
bph/gt-table-block
The plugin is built with `@wordpress/scripts` (see the repository’s README for build
instructions). Each tagged release on GitHub corresponds to the stable tag published
here.
## Installation
1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` or install via the Plugins screen.
2. Activate through the **Plugins** menu.
3. Insert the **Enhanced Table** variation from the block inserter, or convert an
existing Table block via the Block Settings panel.
## FAQ
### Does it replace the core Table block?
No. It registers a variation. Existing core Table blocks are unaffected until you
enable a feature toggle on them.
### Does it need frontend JavaScript?
No. Sticky header, header column styling, and sticky first column are pure CSS.
Only the editor ships JS.
### Does it work with block themes?
Yes. It targets `core/table` and uses the `wp-block-table` class chain for specificity
without `!important`.
### How do I change the sticky header background color?
The sticky header is painted with an opaque background so body rows don’t show through
it. It resolves in this order:
1. `--gt-sticky-header-bg` — a per-block or local override (wins over everything).
2. `--wp--custom--gt-sticky-header-bg` — a theme.json `settings.custom` value.
3. `Canvas` — the CSS system color (browser document background, adapts to light/dark
mode).
**Theme-wide via theme.json (literal color):**
```
{ "settings": { "custom": { "gtStickyHeaderBg": "#f5f5f5" } } }
```
**Theme-wide via theme.json (reference a theme preset):**
```
{ "settings": { "custom": { "gtStickyHeaderBg": "var(--wp--preset--color--base)" } } }
```
The value is emitted into the CSS variable as-is, so any WP-generated preset works—`--
wp--preset--color--accent`, `--wp--preset--color--contrast-2`, or any palette slug
your theme registers.
In both cases WordPress serializes `settings.custom.gtStickyHeaderBg` as the CSS
variable `--wp--custom--gt-sticky-header-bg`, which the plugin reads as a fallback.
**Theme-wide via raw CSS in theme.json:**
```
{ "styles": { "css": ".wp-block-table.has-sticky-header { --gt-sticky-header-bg: var(--wp--preset--color--base); } " } }
```
**Per-block override:** add an inline style or Additional CSS class that sets `--
gt-sticky-header-bg` on the ``.
## Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
## Contributors & Developers
“GT Table Block” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ Birgit Pauli-Haack ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/bph/)
[Translate “GT Table Block” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/gt-table-block)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/gt-table-block/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/gt-table-block/), or
subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/gt-table-block/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/gt-table-block/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 0.2.0
* New feature: **Styled first column**. Toggle in the Enhanced Table panel makes
the first body/foot cells bold and adds `scope="row"` to them in the saved HTML
for screen-reader semantics (Gutenberg #1470). Themeable background via the `--
gt-header-column-bg` CSS variable.
#### 0.1.1
* Documentation: shorter Short Description (Plugin Check 150-char limit), align
GitHub README with readme.txt scope. No code changes.
#### 0.1.0
* Initial release — sticky header row with optional offset control. Further features
ship in subsequent releases.
## Meta
* Version **0.1.1**
* Last updated **2 days ago**
* Active installations **Fewer than 10**
* WordPress version ** 6.6 or higher **
* Tested up to **6.9.4**
* PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
* Tags
* [block](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/block/)[block-editor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/block-editor/)
[gutenberg](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/gutenberg/)[table](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/table/)
* [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gt-table-block/advanced/)
## Ratings
No reviews have been submitted yet.
[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gt-table-block/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gt-table-block/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ Birgit Pauli-Haack ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/bph/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gt-table-block/)