🧱 Why Block Markup Doesn’t Work Inside WP_Query — And What To Do Instead - Woracious

Published: April 2025

If you’ve ever tried to embed raw block markup like  directly inside a WP_Query loop and scratched your head wondering why it only renders the same title repeatedly—or throws validation errors—you’re not alone.

Let’s clear up the confusion, understand why this happens, and look at how to do it the right way using modern WordPress tools.

🧩 The Problem: Mixing Block Markup With Server-Side PHP

❌ What doesn’t work:

<!-- wp:post-title /-->

…inside a loop like this:

while ( $query->have_posts() ) {
    $query->the_post();
    echo '<!-- wp:post-title /-->';
}

At first glance, this feels intuitive: WordPress supports block markup, and  is a valid block, right?

But here’s the catch: This block syntax is for the Block Editor (Gutenberg), not for PHP-rendered frontend templates.

When you echo block markup like this from PHP, it’s not parsed as a real block. It’s just plain HTML from PHP’s point of view. The editor might recognize it as a block comment, but the frontend won’t treat it as a live, dynamic block unless you specifically render it as a block.

✅ The 2025 Solution: Use `render_block()` or Stick to Classic PHP Functions

If you want to dynamically render block content inside PHP, you need to convert the block into rendered HTML. That’s where render_block() or do_blocks() come in.

But for most devs building themes or custom blocks, the simpler, safer approach is to just use classic template functions like the_title() and the_permalink()—especially when you’re in a WP_Query.

🛠️ Modern Example: Rendering a Portfolio Grid (2025 Style)

Let’s say we’re building a custom “Most Viewed Projects” section. Instead of misusing block markup, we’ll go full PHP with clean HTML and modern practices:

<?php
$args = array(
    'post_type'      => 'project',
    'posts_per_page' => 6,
    'meta_key'       => 'project_views',
    'orderby'        => 'meta_value_num',
    'order'          => 'DESC'
);

$popular_projects = new WP_Query( $args );

if ( $popular_projects->have_posts() ) : ?>
    <section class="popular-projects">
        <h2>🔥 Trending Projects</h2>
        <div class="project-grid">
            <?php while ( $popular_projects->have_posts() ) : $popular_projects->the_post(); ?>
                <article class="project-card">
                    <h3><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h3>
                    <div class="project-excerpt"><?php the_excerpt(); ?></div>
                </article>
            <?php endwhile; ?>
        </div>
    </section>
    <?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
<?php endif; ?>

🧠 Why This Works (And Matters)

✅ Uses WordPress core functions like the_title() and the_excerpt() — built to be context-aware.
✅ Avoids block markup confusion, which only works when rendered by the block editor or explicitly parsed via block-rendering functions.
✅ Faster and more reliable on the frontend without triggering block validation errors or caching issues.

📋 Quick Checklist: Rendering Content in Custom Loops

✅ Do	❌ Don’t
Use `the_title()`, `the_excerpt()` in loops	Echo raw `<!-- wp:post-title /-->`
Use `render_block()` if you must output blocks in PHP	Assume blocks will parse magically from PHP
Leverage block patterns in the editor for layout	Overcomplicate frontend with raw block markup
Stick to static block markup in template files	Try dynamic loops inside static block patterns

💡 Bonus Tips

If you want to lock down a layout using the block editor, use Block Patterns and pre-built Query Loops — don’t try to generate them with raw PHP.
Tracking views via post_meta is discouraged in high-traffic sites. Consider offloading to an analytics service or caching system for scalability.

📚 Learn More

Final Thought

WordPress in 2025 gives you incredible flexibility — but it’s important to understand the separation between editor-side blocks and PHP-rendered templates. Stick to each system’s strengths, and you’ll build more reliable, scalable experiences for both editors and end users.

Happy coding! ✨

🧱 Why Block Markup Doesn’t Work Inside WP_Query — And What To Do Instead