Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is one of the most powerful tools for WordPress developers, enabling them to create custom field groups and enhance the functionality of WordPress themes. Among its various add-ons, ACF Flexible Content stands out as a game-changer for building dynamic and modular content structures. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to master ACF Flexible Content, from setup to best practices.
What is ACF Flexible Content?
ACF Flexible Content is a highly customizable field type that allows developers to create modular content layouts. It works like a page builder but gives developers full control over the structure and styling of the content without relying on bloated third-party plugins.
With Flexible Content, you can:
- Define reusable content blocks
- Provide custom layout options for editors
- Maintain full control over front-end display
- Ensure scalability and reusability
Setting Up ACF Flexible Content
1. Install & Activate ACF Pro
ACF Flexible Content is a Pro feature, so you’ll need ACF Pro installed. If you haven’t done so:
- Download and install ACF Pro from Advanced Custom Fields
- Activate the plugin from the WordPress admin panel
2. Create a New Field Group
Navigate to Custom Fields > Add New and create a new field group for Flexible Content.
3. Add a Flexible Content Field
- Click Add Field and choose Flexible Content as the field type.
- Name it something meaningful, like
page_layouts
. - Start adding Layouts, which represent the different content blocks you want.
4. Define Layouts & Subfields
Each layout should represent a content block, such as:
- Hero Section (Image, Title, Button)
- Feature Grid (Icons, Titles, Descriptions)
- Testimonial Section (Quote, Author, Image)
For each layout:
- Click Add Layout and name it accordingly.
- Add subfields inside each layout, like Text, Image, or Repeater fields.
5. Assign the Field Group
Under Location Rules, assign the field group to a post type (e.g., Pages, Posts, Custom Post Types).
Displaying ACF Flexible Content in Your Theme
To render ACF Flexible Content fields on the front end, use WordPress template files.
Example Code for page.php
or single.php
:
<?php if( have_rows('page_layouts') ): ?>
<?php while( have_rows('page_layouts') ): the_row(); ?>
<?php if( get_row_layout() == 'hero_section' ): ?>
<section class="hero">
<h1><?php the_sub_field('title'); ?></h1>
<img src="<?php the_sub_field('image'); ?>" alt="Hero Image">
<a href="<?php the_sub_field('button_link'); ?>"><?php the_sub_field('button_text'); ?></a>
</section>
<?php elseif( get_row_layout() == 'feature_grid' ): ?>
<section class="features">
<h2><?php the_sub_field('title'); ?></h2>
<p><?php the_sub_field('description'); ?></p>
</section>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php endwhile; ?>
<?php endif; ?>
This approach ensures that each layout type has its custom structure while keeping the theme modular and efficient.
Best Practices for Using ACF Flexible Content
1. Plan Your Layouts Strategically
Define clear content blocks based on the website’s needs, ensuring they can be reused across multiple pages.
2. Use Separate Template Parts
Instead of adding all layout logic in page.php
, use get_template_part()
for better code organization.
<?php get_template_part('partials/hero'); ?>
3. Optimize Performance
- Limit the number of flexible fields per page to avoid slow rendering.
- Use lazy loading for images.
- Implement caching where necessary.
4. Keep Editors in Mind
Provide clear labels and instructions to help content editors use Flexible Content effectively.
5. Use CSS & JavaScript Wisely
Each layout may require different styling and scripts. Enqueue only necessary styles and scripts per layout to avoid unnecessary load time.
Advanced Techniques
1. Using ACF Flexible Content with Gutenberg
Want to integrate ACF layouts inside Gutenberg blocks? You can use ACF Blocks to achieve this, allowing a seamless blend of ACF layouts and the native block editor.
2. Extending with AJAX
Load Flexible Content layouts dynamically via AJAX to enhance user experience and reduce initial page load time.
3. Customizing with Filters & Hooks
Use ACF filters like acf/load_field
to dynamically populate layout options based on post type, user role, or other conditions.