If you’ve ever felt lost in the sea of blocks when editing a WordPress post or page, you’re not alone. WordPress’s block editor is powerful—but navigating a long page can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to stay organized and optimize for SEO.
That’s where the Document Outline feature comes in. It’s a simple but powerful tool that helps you structure your content clearly, check heading hierarchy, and move around blocks with ease.
Here’s how it works and why it’s worth using.
Quickly Spot SEO and Readability Issues with the Outline View
The Outline tab gives you an instant overview of your post structure. It shows:
- Your heading hierarchy (H2, H3, etc.) and alerts you if the order is off.
- Character and word counts — helpful for staying within target ranges.
- Estimated read time — great for writing scannable, user-friendly content.
Why it matters: Search engines and readers both rely on well-structured content. Using this view helps ensure your headings are clear and properly nested, which improves SEO and user experience.
Easily Navigate and Rearrange Content Using List View
The List View is like a map of every block on your page. It shows:
- A clickable list of all content blocks (text, images, buttons, etc.).
- Drag-and-drop functionality to rearrange sections fast.
- Visual cues for nested elements like columns and groups.
Why it matters: No more endless scrolling. You can jump to any section instantly or reorganize your content with just a few clicks.
How to Open the Document Outline in WordPress
To use this feature:
- In the WordPress editor, click the Document Overview icon (three stacked lines with dots).
- Or press Shift + Alt + O on your keyboard.
- Switch between Outline and List View at the top of the panel.
Why Smart Local Business Owners Use This Feature
Using the Document Overview helps you structure content clearly and consistently and spot missed or misused headings. It can also save time when editing long or complex posts, while improving SEO and user experience through better flow.
