Single Purpose Plugins Explained

A clean solution to a single problem

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Single purpose plugins are plugins that only fulfill exactly one task – but as perfectly as possible and without ballast. Our “SV Close Modal on Click Outside for Navigation Block” is just such a plugin.

Currently, the navigation block for the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) is not yet where many users would like it to be. The Gutenberg developers must always consider whether a user request should also be fulfilled by them. For example, for a customer project, we need the following function enhancement for the Navigation Block:

If the burger menu is open, it should also be closed again if you click outside the menu.

Not every project needs such a feature. The Gutenberg developers would therefore have to weigh up:

• Is this function absolutely expected by the user
• How does this feature affect other areas?
• If this function can be switched on or off
• If this function is enabled by default
• What would an ideal implementation look like?

The above function usually requires Javascript, which means that it has an impact on the performance and loading time of a website, no matter how minimal. And an additional decision or function in a Gutenberg block quickly leads to feature creep.

So if it is not a mandatory feature, the result of the decision by the Gutenberg developers could also be that a solution is Plugin Territory . Until this decision, let alone the release as part of a WordPress version, years can pass.

And this is where the Single Purpose Plugin approach comes into play:

• A much-needed feature for some is immediately available
• The solution can either be adapted by the Gutenberg developers or taken over directly
• Until then, the Single Purpose Plugin can be easily activated or deactivated