Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) for WordPress Plugin Directory
By Weston Ruter
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) is the #206 ranked block-enabled app on WordPress, with a 5.0 average rating from 26 reviews, as of Aug 31, 2026.
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) is a WordPress Plugin Directory app by Weston Ruter. With a rating of 5.0★ from 26 reviews, it currently ranks #206 in the Block-enabled category.
AppRanks data: Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) ranks #206 in Block-enabled on WordPress Plugin Directory, placing it in the top 49% of that category.
AppRanks verdict
Generated from live marketplace data — refreshed daily
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) is a category-leading WordPress app with a limited review volume. It is listed in the Block-enabled category on WordPress Plugin Directory, which AppRanks treats as the canonical taxonomy node for ranking and competitor comparison. 26 reviews put it in the early-traction tier — useful for early-stage stores willing to be on the leading edge. Early-traction review counts are sensitive to single launch periods or feature events, so a 30-day re-check before bigger commitments often resolves whether the trend is sustained. Paid-only pricing means evaluating fit on the marketplace listing or via the developer's documentation before installing. AppRanks tracks rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position daily — the figures on this page reflect the most recent scrape from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing.
Pros
- +High average rating (5.0★) signals consistent merchant satisfaction
- +Published by Weston Ruter — established developer track record
Cons
- −Limited review base (26) — ratings can shift significantly with new feedback
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How Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) works
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This plugin extends the Code block in WordPress core to add syntax highlighting which is rendered on the server. Pre-existing Code blocks on a site are automatically extended to include syntax highlighting. Doing server-side syntax highlighting eliminates the need to enqueue any JavaScript on the frontend (e.g. Highlight.js or Prism.js) and this ensures there is no flash of unhighlighted code (FOUC?). Reducing script on the frontend improves frontend performance, and it also allows for the syntax highlighted code to appear properly in AMP pages as rendered by the official AMP plugin (see also ampproject/amp-wp#972) or when JavaScript is turned off in the browser.
This extended Code block uses language auto-detection to add syntax highlighting, but you can override the language in the block’s settings sidebar. (There is currently no syntax highlighting of the Code block in the editor, but see #8.) The plugin supports all programming languages that highlight.php supports (being a port of highlight.js). The Code block also is extended to support specifying lines to highlight which get marked up with mark elements (including in RSS feeds). There is also a checkbox for whether to show line numbers on the frontend (with the numbers being non-selectable). Lastly, given inconsistencies across themes regarding whether lines in a Code block should be wrapped, this plugin adds styling to force them to no-wrap by default, with a checkbox to opt in to wrapping when desired.
For advanced usage, please see the plugin wiki.
This plugin is developed on GitHub. See list of current issues with the plugin. Please feel free to file any additional issues or requests that you may come across. Pull requests are welcome. See contributing information.
Credits This is a fork of Code Syntax Block by Marcus Kazmierczak (mkaz), which is also available on WordPress.org. Copyright (c) 2018 Marcus Kazmierczak. Licensed under GPL 2.0 or later.
highlight.php is released under the BSD 3-Clause License. Copyright © 2006-2013, Ivan Sagalaev ([email protected]), highlight.js (original author). Copyright © 2013, Geert Bergman ([email protected]), highlight.php
Category rankings
As of Sep 4, 2026- Block-enabled#206of 427Top 49%
See 90-day rank history for each category
Track daily rank changes, category shifts, and position volatility.
Competitors & alternatives
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) doesn't have curated competitor matchups yet. Other tracked block-enabled apps on WordPress:
Frequently asked questions
What is Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering)?
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) is an app for WordPress. It currently holds a 5.0-star rating from 26 merchant reviews, and AppRanks has been tracking its public marketplace data on the refresh cadence published in our methodology. It is listed under the Block-enabled category on AppRanks, where you can see its current category position, review-velocity trend, and how it compares against the top alternatives in the same space. Developed by Weston Ruter.
Who uses Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering)?
Currently around 1,000 active stores have installed Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering). Its review base is still building, which usually maps to early-stage merchants and stores piloting a new workflow. It is part of the Block-enabled category on WordPress.
Where does Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) rank on WordPress?
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) currently sits at position #206 in the Block-enabled category on WordPress. That places it in the top 48% of 427 apps tracked in the same category. Category positions are read from the live marketplace ranking and refresh on each scrape, so the number you see here reflects the most recent crawl rather than a long-running average.