A grid shows wherever its shortcode is: in a page or a post, in a widget area, in a theme template. Essential Grid also has its own block and an element for the common page builders, so you can choose the grid from a list instead of pasting code.
Embed: the shortcode, the block, PHP
In the grid editor, click Embed in the top bar. Embed this grid shows three ways to place the grid; the shortcode and the PHP line each have a copy button:
| Way | What you copy | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Shortcode | [ess_grid alias="blog-masonry"][/ess_grid] | A page, a post, a Shortcode block, a widget, any builder’s text or shortcode element |
| Block editor | Nothing to copy: it names the block, Essential Grid Quick Builder | Add this block in the block editor and choose the grid in it with Select Grid |
| PHP | <?php echo do_shortcode('[ess_grid alias="blog-masonry"][/ess_grid]'); ?> | A theme template file |
The alias in the shortcode is the grid’s shortcode name. A grid that has none yet says No shortcode name yet: open Grid details (the pen beside the grid’s name), give it one and save the grid.
Embed is also in the menu of a grid’s card on the grids overview: Embed Grid shows the shortcode with Copy, so you can copy it without opening the editor.
The block and the page builders
| Where | Element |
|---|---|
| Block editor (Gutenberg) | the Essential Grid Quick Builder block |
| Elementor | the Essential Grid widget |
| Divi 4 and Divi 5 | the Essential Grid module |
| WPBakery | the Essential Grid element |
| Any other builder | its shortcode or text element, with the shortcode |
In the block, the Elementor widget and the Divi modules, Select Grid lists your grids to choose one; editing the WPBakery element opens Essential Grid’s own grid picker.
Widgets and theme templates
- Widget areas: the Essential Grid widget shows a grid. The widgets Essential Grid Filter, Essential Grid Sorting, Essential Grid Pagination and its left and right arrows place a grid’s controls in another area of the page; see Filters, sorting and search.
- Theme templates: use the PHP line from Embed.
Good to know
- One page can show several grids. Each grid keeps its own filters, pages and lightbox.
- A grid that does not show on the page: Troubleshooting lists what to check.