Table of Contents Block in WordPress: 4 Great Ways

Adding a table of contents block to your WordPress blog posts enhances user experience and SEO. This is beneficial for longer articles, allowing readers to easily navigate to specific sections and improving search engine optimization. Many plugins and methods exist to achieve this; let's explore the best options.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Table of Contents Block:

• Header Customization: Can you remove or customize the default "Table of Contents" header? Flexibility in heading levels (h2, h3, etc.) ensures proper HTML semantics.
• Collapsible Feature: A collapsible TOC improves readability by allowing users to hide the contents when not needed. Ensure accessibility is maintained if using JavaScript.
• Heading Selection: Control which headings are included (e.g., only h2-h4) and whether sub-headings create nested lists. The ability to include elements beyond standard headings is also valuable.
• Link Editing: Modify links within the TOC (shorten, lengthen, or change text) for better readability or SEO.
• Additional Links: Include links to sections outside the main content (comments, etc.).
• Block Editor Compatibility: Focus on plugins with dedicated Gutenberg blocks for seamless integration.
• Styling Options: Control colors, fonts, and spacing directly within the block editor.
• Semantic Markup: Verify the generated HTML is semantically correct and well-structured for optimal SEO.
• Heading IDs: Ensure the plugin adds unique IDs to headings (only if missing) to avoid conflicts and broken links.

Option 1: Dedicated Table of Contents Plugins

Several plugins specialize solely in table of contents functionality. Popular choices include:

• Heroic Table of Contents: Offers powerful editing capabilities, allowing modification of the TOC even after generation. Includes collapsible functionality but adds scripts and styles.
• Easy Table of Contents: Not a block; inserts automatically based on post type or metabox settings. Lacks placement control.
• SimpleTOC: A minimalist option, generating clean semantic HTML lists without extra scripts or styles. A strong contender for its simplicity and efficiency.
• LuckyWP Table of Contents: Feature-rich but with a less intuitive interface and limited in-block preview.
• GutenTOC: A Gutenberg-focused plugin, but some settings might not be as practical.

Option 2: Awaiting Core WordPress Functionality

A native Table of Contents block is under development for core WordPress. This would be the ideal solution, but it's not currently available.

Option 3: Table of Contents as a Sub-Feature

Some larger plugins include a Table of Contents block as a secondary feature.

• Yoast SEO Premium: (Paid) Offers a basic, real-time updating TOC block. Consider this only if you already use Yoast SEO Premium.
• Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg: Provides a well-designed TOC block among many other features. Evaluate if the additional features are worthwhile.

Option 4: DIY Table of Contents Block

Creating a custom block offers complete control but requires JavaScript (or Advanced Custom Fields for a PHP-based approach). This is best for developers comfortable with block development.

Recommendation:

For most users, SimpleTOC offers the best balance of simplicity, efficiency, and clean code. If you're already a Yoast SEO Premium user, leveraging its built-in TOC is a convenient option. Consider the DIY approach only if you have the necessary development skills and require highly customized functionality. Once a native WordPress option becomes available, migrating to that would be recommended.

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