When to Use Block Content Type vs. Components

When designing your content model, you may wonder whether to use Block Content Type or Components. This article explains the key differences and provides guidance on when to use each.

Block Content Type

Block Content Type is useful when:

• The content can't exist independently of its parent component

• You want to avoid cluttering the structure panel

Example: In a form component, individual field options (like radio buttons or dropdown items) could be implemented as blocks.

Components

Components are preferable when:

• You need more flexibility in content reuse

• It is desired for the element to be visible in the structure panel

• Personalization at a granular level is required

• You're creating patterns that need to be editable on the composition page

Considerations

Personalization: Blocks within a component can't be individually personalized. You can show/hide the entire parent component, but not individual blocks.

Pattern Editing: When creating patterns, blocks can't be edited on the composition page, whereas components can.

Performance: Using components over blocks generally doesn't have a significant impact on application performance. Choose the approach that best suits your content structure and editing needs.

Conclusion

In most cases, using components provides more flexibility and is often the preferred approach. However, for tightly coupled, configuration-heavy content, blocks can be a good choice. Consider your specific use case, personalization needs, and editing workflow when making the decision.