Requires: 6.6
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 7.4
License: GPL-2.0+
Plugin page: WebberZone Code Block Highlighting | WordPress.org listing
Add beautiful syntax highlighting to the Gutenberg Code block — powered by Prism.js with 21 themes and 40 languages, zero configuration required.
WebberZone Code Block Highlighting is the easiest way to add syntax highlighting to your WordPress site. It extends the native Gutenberg core/code block with Prism.js highlighting — no shortcodes, no block replacement, no risk of breaking existing posts.
Simply activate the plugin and your code blocks will instantly display beautiful, readable syntax highlighting on the frontend. Choose from 35+ programming languages and 21 colour themes, all controlled from the block editor's Inspector Controls sidebar.
- Safe by design — Works as a filter on top of
core/code. Existing posts are never invalidated. Deactivate the plugin and your blocks are still valid standard WordPress code blocks. - Zero configuration — Activate and start writing. No setup wizard, no shortcodes.
- Smart asset loading — Prism CSS and JS only load on pages that actually contain code blocks. Pages without code stay fast.
- Per-block controls — Set language, theme, line numbers, word wrap, title, highlighted lines, and max height individually for each block.
- Developer-friendly — Filters to add languages, override themes, and force asset loading.
40 languages out of the box: Apache Config, Bash, C, C++, C#, CSS, Dart, Docker, F#, Go, GraphQL, Groovy, Haskell, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, JSX, Kotlin, Lua, Markdown, Nginx, Objective-C, Perl, PHP, PowerShell, Python, R, Ruby, Rust, Sass, Scala, SQL, Swift, TOML, TSX, TypeScript, Vim, XML, and YAML. Use the wz_cbh_languages filter to add or remove entries from the language picker.
A11y Dark, Coldark Cold (Light), Coldark Dark, Dracula, Duotone Dark, Duotone Light, GitHub (Light), Gruvbox Dark, Gruvbox Light, Lucario, Material Dark, Material Light, Night Owl, Nord, One Dark, One Light, Shades of Purple, Solarized Dark, Synthwave '84, VS Code Dark+, Xonokai (Monokai).
- Language selector — Choose the programming language from the sidebar; applies the correct Prism grammar automatically.
- Line numbers — Toggle line numbers per block, with a configurable start line.
- File title / label — Add an optional filename or label displayed in the code block toolbar.
- Highlight lines — Specify lines or ranges (e.g.
1,3-5) to visually highlight using the Prism line-highlight plugin. - Max height with expand/collapse — Set a maximum height in pixels; an expand/collapse toolbar button appears automatically.
- Word wrap — Toggle soft word wrapping per block.
- Default colour scheme (theme)
- Default language
- Default line numbers toggle and start value
- Default word wrap
- Copy-to-clipboard button
- Show language label in toolbar
- Font size
wz_cbh_languages— Filter the language list array (slug => label)wz_cbh_color_scheme_css_url— Override the Prism theme CSS URLwz_cbh_force_load_assets— Force Prism assets to load on every page
WebberZone Code Block Highlighting does not collect personal data, set cookies, or communicate with any external services.
More screenshots are available on the WordPress plugin page.
- Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin.
- Search for WebberZone Code Block Highlighting.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
- Download the plugin zip file.
- Extract it to your
wp-content/plugins/directory. You should end up with awebberzone-code-block-highlighting/folder. - Go to Plugins in your WordPress admin and activate WebberZone Code Block Highlighting.
After activation, open any post or page in the block editor, add or select a Code block, and the Code Highlighting panel will appear in the Inspector Controls sidebar.
Full FAQ is available on the WordPress.org plugin page. For support, use the WordPress.org support forum.
Does this plugin replace the core Code block?
No. The plugin uses JavaScript and PHP filters to extend core/code. Deactivating it leaves behind valid, standard WordPress blocks.
Which languages are supported?
40 out of the box. Use the wz_cbh_languages filter to add or remove entries from the language picker — note the corresponding Prism.js grammar must also be available on the frontend.
Does Prism.js load on every page?
No. Assets are only enqueued on pages containing at least one code block. Use wz_cbh_force_load_assets to override.
How do I highlight specific lines?
Enter a comma-separated list of lines or ranges in the Highlight Lines field in the sidebar (e.g. 1,3-5,8).
# PHP
composer install
composer test
composer phpcs
composer phpstan
# JS
npm install
npm run build # Production build -> includes/blocks/build/
npm run build:prism # Copy Prism themes -> includes/assets/
npm run build:assets # Minify generated CSS/JS assets
npm run start # Watch mode for block/editor/frontend bundles
npm run zip # Plugin zipThe plugin is open source and available on GitHub. Pull requests for bug fixes and new features are welcome.
Bug reports are welcomed on GitHub Issues. Please note GitHub is not a support forum — issues that are not qualified as bugs will be closed.
Report security vulnerabilities through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program. The Patchstack team will validate, triage, and handle any reported vulnerabilities.
Help translate the plugin into your language on WordPress.org. See the Translator Handbook for guidance.
- Contextual Related Posts — Display fast, intelligent related posts to keep visitors on your site longer
- Top 10 — Track daily and total visits and display popular and trending posts
- WebberZone Snippetz — Manage custom HTML, CSS and JS snippets across your site
- Knowledge Base — Create a knowledge base or FAQ section on your WordPress site
- Better Search — Contextual search results sorted by relevance
- Auto-Close — Automatically close comments, pingbacks, trackbacks and manage revisions
- Popular Authors — Display popular authors in a WordPress widget
- Followed Posts — Show related posts based on what your visitors have already read