---
tags:
  - wordpress
  - fse
  - patterns
  - cpt
  - php
title: Registering Patterns Specific to Custom Post Types
---

# Registering Patterns Specific to Custom Post Types

When building a Custom Post Type (CPT) like "Portfolio," you often need specific layouts that don't make sense for standard blog posts. For example, a "Project Technical Specs" table or a "Before/After" image comparison.

Instead of cluttering the global pattern inserter, you can register Block Patterns that **only** appear when editing a specific post type.

## 1. The Magic Header: `Post Types`

In WordPress 6.1+, the Block Pattern API added a simple header to the PHP file registration method that handles this logic for you.

You don't need complex PHP filters anymore. You just need to add `Post Types: portfolio` to the file header.

## 2. Step-by-Step Example

Let's create a "Project Summary" pattern that is only available for the `portfolio` CPT.

### Step A: Create the File

Create a new PHP file in your theme's `patterns/` directory.
**File:** `patterns/project-summary.php`

### Step B: Add the Code

```php
<?php
/**
 * Title: Project Summary Table
 * Slug: my-theme/project-summary
 * Categories: portfolio
 * Post Types: portfolio
 * Description: A summary table for project details (Client, Year, Role).
 */
?>
<!-- wp:group {"style":{"spacing":{"padding":{"top":"var:preset|spacing|40","bottom":"var:preset|spacing|40"},"blockGap":"var:preset|spacing|20"}},"backgroundColor":"light-gray","layout":{"type":"constrained"}} -->
<div class="wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)">
    
    <!-- wp:heading -->
    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Project Details</h2>
    <!-- /wp:heading -->

    <!-- wp:table -->
    <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody>
        <tr><td><strong>Client</strong></td><td>ACME Corp</td></tr>
        <tr><td><strong>Year</strong></td><td>2024</td></tr>
        <tr><td><strong>Services</strong></td><td>Web Design, FSE Development</td></tr>
    </tbody></table></figure>
    <!-- /wp:table -->

</div>
<!-- /wp:group -->
```

### Breakdown of Headers
*   **`Post Types: portfolio`**: This is the key. This pattern will **only** appear in the inserter when the user is editing a post of type `portfolio`. It will be hidden for Posts and Pages.
*   **`Categories: portfolio`**: It helps to group your CPT patterns into a specific category in the inserter. (See below on how to register this category).

## 3. Registering a Custom Pattern Category

If you used `Categories: portfolio` above, you need to ensure that category exists. Add this to `functions.php`:

```php
function my_register_pattern_categories() {
    register_block_pattern_category(
        'portfolio',
        array( 'label' => __( 'Portfolio', 'my-textdomain' ) )
    );
}
add_action( 'init', 'my_register_pattern_categories' );
```

## 4. Why Use This vs. Templates?

*   **Templates** (e.g., `single-portfolio.html`) define the *structure* of the page (Header, Title location, Footer).
*   **Patterns** are for the *content* inside the editor.

Use this method when you want to give the editor a "Starter Layout" for the content area, or specific components they can drop in multiple times (like a "Testimonial" block specific to Case Studies).