Editor: Extend `register_block_type` to accept the path file or folder with `block.json`

Rather than using two distinct methods to register block types in WordPress core, let's make `register_block_type` the canonical method to deal with all use cases. In practice, the patch proposed extends its usage to work as a proxy to `register_block_type_from_metadata`. It should remove some confusion that we observed and let us be more explicit what's the latest recommendation.

Props matveb, mcsf.
Fixes #53233.


Built from https://develop.svn.wordpress.org/trunk@50927


git-svn-id: http://core.svn.wordpress.org/trunk@50536 1a063a9b-81f0-0310-95a4-ce76da25c4cd

wp-includes/blocks.php

@@ -7,36 +7,6 @@
  * @since 5.0.0
  */
 
-/**
- * Registers a block type.
- *
- * @since 5.0.0
- *
- * @param string|WP_Block_Type $name Block type name including namespace, or alternatively
- *                                   a complete WP_Block_Type instance. In case a WP_Block_Type
- *                                   is provided, the $args parameter will be ignored.
- * @param array                $args Optional. Array of block type arguments. Accepts any public property
- *                                   of `WP_Block_Type`. See WP_Block_Type::__construct() for information
- *                                   on accepted arguments. Default empty array.
- * @return WP_Block_Type|false The registered block type on success, or false on failure.
- */
-function register_block_type( $name, $args = array() ) {
-	return WP_Block_Type_Registry::get_instance()->register( $name, $args );
-}
-
-/**
- * Unregisters a block type.
- *
- * @since 5.0.0
- *
- * @param string|WP_Block_Type $name Block type name including namespace, or alternatively
- *                                   a complete WP_Block_Type instance.
- * @return WP_Block_Type|false The unregistered block type on success, or false on failure.
- */
-function unregister_block_type( $name ) {
-	return WP_Block_Type_Registry::get_instance()->unregister( $name );
-}
-
 /**
  * Removes the block asset's path prefix if provided.
  *
@@ -204,7 +174,7 @@ function register_block_style_handle( $metadata, $field_name ) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Registers a block type from metadata stored in the `block.json` file.
+ * Registers a block type from the metadata stored in the `block.json` file.
  *
  * @since 5.5.0
  *
@@ -348,12 +318,50 @@ function register_block_type_from_metadata( $file_or_folder, $args = array() ) {
 		$metadata
 	);
 
-	return register_block_type(
+	return WP_Block_Type_Registry::get_instance()->register(
 		$metadata['name'],
 		$settings
 	);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Registers a block type. The recommended way is to register a block type using
+ * the metadata stored in the `block.json` file.
+ *
+ * @since 5.0.0
+ *
+ * @param string|WP_Block_Type $block_type Block type name including namespace, or alternatively
+ *                                         a path to the JSON file with metadata definition for the block,
+ *                                         or a path to the folder where the `block.json` file is located,
+ *                                         or a complete WP_Block_Type instance.
+ *                                         In case a WP_Block_Type is provided, the $args parameter will be ignored.
+ * @param array                $args       Optional. Array of block type arguments. Accepts any public property
+ *                                         of `WP_Block_Type`. See WP_Block_Type::__construct() for information
+ *                                         on accepted arguments. Default empty array.
+ *
+ * @return WP_Block_Type|false The registered block type on success, or false on failure.
+ */
+function register_block_type( $block_type, $args = array() ) {
+	if ( is_string( $block_type ) && file_exists( $block_type ) ) {
+		return register_block_type_from_metadata( $block_type, $args );
+	}
+
+	return WP_Block_Type_Registry::get_instance()->register( $block_type, $args );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Unregisters a block type.
+ *
+ * @since 5.0.0
+ *
+ * @param string|WP_Block_Type $name Block type name including namespace, or alternatively
+ *                                   a complete WP_Block_Type instance.
+ * @return WP_Block_Type|false The unregistered block type on success, or false on failure.
+ */
+function unregister_block_type( $name ) {
+	return WP_Block_Type_Registry::get_instance()->unregister( $name );
+}
+
 /**
  * Determine whether a post or content string has blocks.
  *

wp-includes/blocks/index.php

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function register_core_block_types_from_metadata() {
 	);
 
 	foreach ( $block_folders as $block_folder ) {
-		register_block_type_from_metadata(
+		register_block_type(
 			ABSPATH . WPINC . '/blocks/' . $block_folder
 		);
 	}

wp-includes/version.php

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.8-alpha-50926';
+$wp_version = '5.8-alpha-50927';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.