If I search for gif in the block inserter, show me the image block

[osullivanchris]

I was testing the GIF functionality for the 19.5 release. When I went to add a gif to the editor I searched 'gif' and the result was empty. Maybe it should redirect to 'image' as a result. Then I know I should go through the image block to add a gif.

[hypest]

Makes sense to me.

Perhaps all it takes is to add the gif keyword to the list of keywords for the Image block. This feels like a Gutenberg-wide design matter so, wdyt @jasmussen ?

[jasmussen]

Nice one, thanks for the ping! Is there a neat new GIF functionality in the mobile version?

Gutenberg web of course supports animated GIFs like any other web-app, but there isn't any Giphy-like integration to search for and insert, even if there are plugins. GIF as a keyword to me kind of implies such functionality, so I'm not completely sure we should add that keyword Gutenberg-wide. I'm also not strongly against it, because as a rule of thumb, I'd definitely agree it'd be good to stay in sync as much as possible, and only diverge when we need to.

[hypest]

Ah, good points there Joen! And yeah, as a matter of fact the mobile app does have integration with a GIF service (Tenor), exposed via the media picker.

@osullivanchris , wdyt?

[osullivanchris]

Interesting 🤔

My assorted thoughts:

• I have to say I was doing a test scenario. So I'm not necessarily a representative user here!
• Two users could avail of a gif. 1 a user who wants to add a gif specifically. 2nd a person who wants to add 'something' and discovers we offer gifs.
• For person 1, my suggestion that searching 'gif' returns image is somewhat helpful. But they still need to tap on the image block and discover the gif option. Maybe even more helpful would be if there was a gif block, or even a giphy block.
• For person 2, they have this nice moment of discovery when they go to add an image and find out we offer something else. But again, its a little hidden, they have to choose image block to find it.
• So I think on mobile 'gif' returning 'image' could be a small win. But I'd also submit an idea that there could be a collection of media blocks to inspire me...if I can see giphy, upload a gif, image, image from photo library when I'm deciding what to add - rather than waiting til I've added the image block. It could be helpful. Or if the image block should be called 'image and other stuff'(but better name) that might give me a better clue that there's lots of existing media I can tap into without having to create my own.
• It feels like it wouldn't be great on web to search 'gif', get an image block, and then no real helpful way to find a gif. So might be a mobile only thing if we have different tools.

[jasmussen]

Good thoughts. Similar to how mobile extends the Image block to add GIF support, it seems like the GIF keyword would be most appropriate as an extension as well.

[hypest]

Good discussion, thank you all for your thoughts!

I understand how searching for gif in the Inserter is probably an indication that the user expects some non-trivial GIF support. The Tenor integration in the apps sounds like that non-trivial support since the user can search for a new GIF to add to their post and media library.

I think it does make sense to keep this enhancement ticket here in the gutenberg-mobile repo as a native mobile only enhancement 👍