---
title: "How to Use Pattern in the Expand Block?"
url: https://nexterwp.com/docs/use-reusable-block-in-expand-block/
date: 2023-07-15
modified: 2026-09-15
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "A block of content you use on twenty pages should be edited once, not twenty times. The Pattern source puts a saved pattern inside the Expand block, so the same..."
image: https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/use-reusable-block-in-expand-block-1024x519.jpg
word_count: 454
---

# How to Use Pattern in the Expand Block?

## Key Takeaways

- Nexter Blocks Pro incluye el bloque Expand, y se activa en Nexter > Blocks dentro del panel de WordPress.
- Pattern source inserta un patrón guardado dentro del bloque Expand, así el mismo contenido plegable aparece en cualquier lugar y se actualiza en todas sus instancias cuando se edita el patrón.
- AJAX debe permanecer desactivado porque, con él activado, el bloque se abre vacío y no se hace ninguna solicitud; Backend Visibility está desactivado por defecto y solo sirve para previsualizar el patrón en el editor.

A block of content you use on twenty pages should be edited once, not twenty times.

The Pattern source puts a saved pattern inside the Expand block, so the same collapsible section can appear anywhere and stay in step.

*For every Expand setting in one place, see the [Expand block guide](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-expand-in-wordpress/).*

[LIVE BLOCK LINK](https://nexterwp.com/nexter-blocks/blocks/wordpress-unfold-read-more-button/)

## Before You Start

- **Edition:** **Pro** — the Expand block is part of Nexter Blocks Pro.- **Block to enable:** Expand, switched on under **Nexter > Blocks** in your WordPress dashboard.- **A saved pattern** holding the content you want to collapse.

## Steps

- Add the **Expand** block to your page and click **Design from Scratch**.

- Type a **Title** if you want one above the box.

- Set **Content Source** to **Pattern**.

![The Content Source setting](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/expand-source.webp)

- Choose your saved pattern from the **Pattern** dropdown.

![Content Source set to Pattern, with the pattern chooser](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/expand-pattern.webp)

- Leave the AJAX option switched off.

- In **Extra Options**, set **Max Height** — how tall the box is before anyone clicks. Make it shorter than your content.

![The Max Height setting](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/expand-maxheight.webp)

- Set the **Text** for the open and closed labels.

![The expand and collapse label fields](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/expand-labels.webp)

- Publish and click the toggle.

> ***Max Height has to be smaller than your content.** If the content already fits, there is nothing to collapse and the toggle does nothing useful — measured with a short paragraph in a 100 pixel box, where expanding actually made the box smaller.*

## How It Behaves

- **The pattern really renders inside.** Measured: the box opened from 100 to 165 pixels and the pattern's own links were present in the page.- Editing the pattern updates every place it is used, including inside this block.- **Backend Visibility** previews the pattern in the editor. It is off by default because it makes editing heavier; switch it on to check, then off again.- Everything else — labels, height, fade, direction — works exactly as with the other sources.

## Limitations

- **Pro only.**- **The AJAX option is broken.** With it on, the box opens completely empty and no request is ever made — measured on the front end. Leave it off.- A pattern built for full width may not sit well in a narrow collapsed box. Check it at the width it will actually appear.- Editing the pattern changes it everywhere, which is the point but also the risk.- Hidden content is still in the page's HTML. This is a presentation choice, not a way to keep anything private or to make the page lighter.

## Troubleshooting

### The box opens but is empty

The AJAX option is on. Turn it off — with it on the content is never loaded at all.

### Nothing appears in the editor

That is **Backend Visibility**, which is off by default. Switch it on to preview.

### The button does nothing

The pattern is shorter than **Max Height**. Lower the Max Height.

## Related Docs

- [Expand block: all settings](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-expand-in-wordpress/)- [Read more toggle for text](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-read-more-toggle-button-to-text-in-wordpress/)- [Load more button for blocks](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-load-more-button-in-wordpress/)