Add new section on lifecycle of the block.

docs/getting-started/fundamentals/README.md

@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ This section provides an introduction to the most relevant concepts in block dev
 1. **[Markup representation of a block](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/getting-started/fundamentals/markup-representation-block):** How blocks are represented in the database, theme templates, and patterns.
 1. **[Static or Dynamic rendering of a block](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/getting-started/fundamentals/static-dynamic-rendering):** How blocks generate their front-end output either dynamically or statically.
 1. **[JavaScript in the Block Editor](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/getting-started/fundamentals/javascript-in-the-block-editor):** How to work with modern JavaScript when developing for the Block Editor.
+1. **[Lifecycle of a block](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/getting-started/fundamentals/lifecycle-of-block):** Understanding the different phases a block goes through and its various format transformations during its lifecycle.

docs/getting-started/fundamentals/lifecycle-of-block.md

@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+# Lifecycle of a block
+
+A WordPress block goes through several distinct phases during its lifecycle, from registration to rendering. Understanding these phases is crucial for block development.
+
+## Overview of block lifecycle phases
+
+1. Registration phase
+2. Edit phase (Block Editor)
+3. Save phase
+4. Serialization phase
+5. Rendering phase
+
+### 1. Registration phase
+
+When WordPress loads, blocks go through a registration process:
+
+```js
+// Client-side registration
+registerBlockType('namespace/block-name', {
+    // Block configuration
+});
+
+// Server-side registration
+register_block_type('namespace/block-name', array(
+    // Block configuration
+));
+```
+
+During registration:
+- Block metadata from `block.json` is loaded
+- Block assets are enqueued
+- Server-side and client-side handlers are registered
+- Block variations and styles are registered
+
+### 2. Edit phase
+
+The edit phase occurs within the Block Editor when users interact with the block:
+
+- Block is instantiated as a React component
+- Block attributes are initialized with default or saved values
+- Edit function renders the block's interface
+- Block controls and inspector panels become available
+- Changes are stored in the block's attributes
+
+*Example: Block edit lifecycle*
+```js
+edit: ({ attributes, setAttributes, isSelected }) => {
+    // Component mount
+    useEffect(() => {
+        // Initialize block
+    }, []);
+
+    // User interactions
+    const onChangeContent = (newContent) => {
+        setAttributes({ content: newContent });
+    };
+
+    // Render block interface
+    return (
+        <div>
+            {/* Block content and controls */}
+        </div>
+    );
+}
+```
+
+### 3. Save phase
+
+The save phase occurs when the post is saved:
+
+- Block's save function is called
+- Current attributes are used to generate block markup
+- For dynamic blocks (`save: null`), only the block comment is saved
+
+*Example: Block save function*
+```js
+save: ({ attributes }) => {
+    return (
+        <div>
+            {/* Static markup generated from attributes */}
+        </div>
+    );
+}
+```
+
+### 4. Serialization phase
+
+During serialization, blocks are converted to their HTML storage format:
+
+```html
+<!-- wp:namespace/block-name {"attribute":"value"} -->
+<div class="wp-block-namespace-block-name">
+    Block content
+</div>
+<!-- /wp:namespace/block-name -->
+```
+
+Key aspects of serialization:
+- Attributes are stored as JSON in the block comment
+- Block markup is validated against the save function output
+- Changes in markup structure require block deprecation handling
+
+### 5. Rendering phase
+
+The final phase where blocks are displayed on the frontend:
+
+For static blocks:
+- Saved markup is retrieved from the database
+- Markup is filtered through `render_block` filters
+- Final HTML is output to the page
+
+For dynamic blocks:
+- Block attributes are passed to the render callback
+- Server-side function generates fresh markup
+- Generated HTML is filtered and displayed
+
+*Example: Dynamic block render callback*
+```php
+function render_callback($attributes, $content) {
+    $wrapper_attributes = get_block_wrapper_attributes();
+
+    return sprintf(
+        '<div %1$s>%2$s</div>',
+        $wrapper_attributes,
+        esc_html($attributes['content'])
+    );
+}
+```
+
+## Block format transformations
+
+Throughout its lifecycle, a block exists in different formats:
+
+1. **JavaScript object format**
+   - Used during registration and in the editor
+   - Contains all block configuration and attributes
+
+2. **React component format**
+   - Active in the Block Editor
+   - Handles user interactions and UI rendering
+
+3. **HTML comment format**
+   - Storage format in the database
+   - Contains block name and attributes
+
+4. **HTML markup format**
+   - Final rendered output
+   - Either stored (static) or generated (dynamic)
+
+## Best practices
+
+1. **Validation**
+   - Always validate data during format transformations
+   - Handle deprecated block versions gracefully
+   - Implement proper error handling
+
+2. **Performance**
+   - Minimize unnecessary re-renders in the edit function
+   - Use memoization for expensive computations
+   - Implement proper cleanup in useEffect hooks
+
+3. **Compatibility**
+   - Test block migrations thoroughly
+   - Maintain backward compatibility
+   - Follow WordPress coding standards
+
+## Additional Resources
+
+- [Block API Reference](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/reference-guides/block-api/)
+- [Data Flow in the Block Editor](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/explanations/architecture/data-flow/)
+- [Block Deprecation](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/reference-guides/block-api/block-deprecation/)
+- [Block Validation](https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/reference-guides/block-api/block-edit-save/#validation)

docs/manifest.json

@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@
 		"markdown_source": "../docs/getting-started/fundamentals/javascript-in-the-block-editor.md",
 		"parent": "fundamentals"
 	},
+	{
+		"title": "Lifecycle of a block",
+		"slug": "lifecycle-of-block",
+		"markdown_source": "../docs/getting-started/fundamentals/lifecycle-of-block.md",
+		"parent": "fundamentals"
+	},
 	{
 		"title": "Glossary",
 		"slug": "glossary",

docs/toc.json

@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
 					},
 					{
 						"docs/getting-started/fundamentals/javascript-in-the-block-editor.md": []
+					},
+					{
+						"docs/getting-started/fundamentals/lifecycle-of-block.md": []
 					}
 				]
 			},