How to Create Headers, Footers, and More in WordPress 2025: A Guide to Template Parts

Template parts are modular, reusable sections of a WordPress site’s layout, such as headers, footers, and sidebars. They are essential for building and managing navigation and other patterns that you can use across all the pages of your website, allowing you to edit these elements from one central place.

By default, WordPress provides template parts such as the header, footer, and sidebar. However, you’re not limited to these; you can create as many as you need, including multiple headers or footers for specific purposes. For instance, you can design one header for your main website and another for your blog. Similarly, you can create specialized footers tailored to different areas of your site.

Editing Your Header, Footer, and Navigation Menus

1 – Editing Existing Template Parts

Access the Site Editor
- Navigate to Appearance > Editor in your WordPress dashboard to open the Site Editor.

Open Patterns
- In the Site Editor, go to the Patterns section.

View Template Parts
- Select All Template Parts to display all the available parts of your site.

Filter by Header or Footer
- Under All Template Parts, choose Header or Footer to filter and display only the relevant template parts.

Inspect Template Layers
- After selecting a template part, click the Layers button in the top-left toolbar to view the structure of the template.

Edit Components
- Select any component within the template part.
- Use the three dots icon (on the right of the component) to adjust settings or delete the component if needed.

Add New Blocks
- You can add a block before or after any component:
  - Click Add Before or Add After.

Then, use the + button to insert a new block.

Save Changes
- Once you’ve made your adjustments, click Save to apply the changes to your site.

2 – Managing Navigation Menus in Header or Footer

Select a Template Part

In the Site Editor, go to Patterns > Header or Footer and choose the template part you want to edit.

Access the Navigation Block

In the sidebar under the Template Part tab, select Navigation to focus on the navigation block within your chosen template part.

Open Block Settings

Once the navigation block is selected, switch to the Block tab in the sidebar to access the block’s settings.

Customize the Menu

In the Menu section of the block tab, adjust the links as needed to fit your site’s navigation requirements.

Additional Menu Options

Select an Existing Menu: If you have a pre-existing menu, click the three dots in the top-right corner of the menu section to select it.

Create a New Menu: Alternatively, you can create a brand new menu by selecting the option to create a new one within the sidebar.

Save Changes

Once you’ve made your adjustments, click Save to apply the changes to your site.

Explore Advanced Navigation Customization

For more detailed instructions and tips, refer to Mastering Navigation in the 2025 WordPress Editor: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Creating a New Header Template Part

Open the Site Editor

In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Editor to access the Site Editor.

Go to Template Parts

Once in the Site Editor, click on Template Parts in the left-hand panel.

Create a New Header

Click the Add New Pattern button.

In the drop-down menu, select Add New Template Part

Name Your Header

Enter a descriptive name for your new header, such as Custom Header for Blog Pages, then select Header, and click Add

Design the Header

Use the block editor to build your header. You can add:
- Site Logo for branding
- Site Title for your website name
- Navigation Block to include menus.

Save Your Work

Once you’re satisfied with the design, click Save to store your new header template part.

Assigning a New Header to Specific Templates in the Site Editor

Follow these steps to assign your new header to specific templates in the Site Editor:

Open the Site Editor

Go to Appearance > Editor in your WordPress dashboard to launch the Site Editor.

Access Templates

In the Site Editor, click on Templates in the left-hand panel to view the list of available templates.

Select a Template

Choose the template you want to update, such as Single Post or Page, and click on it to edit.

Remove the Existing Header

Locate the existing header block in the template.
Right-click on the header block and select Delete to remove it.

Add a New Header

Click the + button in the top-left toolbar to open the block inserter.

Go to the Patterns tab and search for the Template Part block.

Add the Template Part block to your template.

Assign Your Header

In the Template Part block, click Choose and select your new header from the list of available options.

Adjust Placement

Open the Layers sidebar by clicking the Layer button in the toolbar.
Drag the header layer to the top of the template’s structure to ensure it’s in the correct position.

Save Your Changes

Once the new header is correctly positioned, click Save to apply the changes.

Conclusion

Template parts in WordPress Full Site Editing (FSE) provide a flexible, modular approach to managing your site’s layout. They allow you to design reusable sections such as headers, footers, and sidebars that can be applied across all pages, saving you time and effort in site management. The ability to create multiple template parts for different areas of your site, such as separate headers for your homepage and blog, ensures that you can cater to specific needs and enhance your site’s user experience. With this powerful feature, you can maintain a cohesive design while having the flexibility to customize every part of your site.