# Context

When blocks are used inside a loop (for example, a Query block), the block is executed once for each iteration of the loop. Blockstudio provides handy shortcuts for accessing the current loop and outer context.


#### PHP

```php title="index.php"
<div>
  <h1>
    This is the data of current
    element inside the loop:
    <?php echo $block['context']['postId'] ?>
    <?php echo $block['context']['postType'] ?>
  </h1>
  <h1>
    This is the data the current post:
    <?php echo $block['postId'] ?>
    <?php echo $block['postType'] ?>
  </h1>
</div>
```

#### Twig

```twig title="index.twig"
<div>
  <h1>
    This is the data of current
    element inside the loop:
    {{ block.context.postId }}
    {{ block.context.postType }}
  </h1>
  <h1>
    This is the data the current post:
    {{ block.postId }}
    {{ block.postType }}
  </h1>
</div>
```

## Available Variables

Inside your block templates, you have access to these variables:

| Variable | Shorthand | Description |
|----------|-----------|-------------|
| `$attributes` | `$a` | Block attributes |
| `$block` | `$b` | Block data (name, title, postId, postType, context, etc.) |
| `$context` | `$c` | Parent block context |
| `$innerBlocks` | - | InnerBlocks content |

## Block Data

The `$block` / `$b` variable contains:

| Property | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `name` | Block name (e.g., `my-theme/my-block`) |
| `title` | Block title |
| `dir` | Block directory path |
| `url` | Block directory URL |
| `postId` | Current post ID |
| `postType` | Current post type |
| `context` | Loop context (when inside a Query block) |

## Parent Context

When using `usesContext`, access parent block data via `$context`:

```php title="index.php"
<?php
$parent = $context['parent-block/name'];
echo $parent['someAttribute'];
?>
```

Blockstudio handles `providesContext` automatically. You only need to add `usesContext` to the child block. There is no need to manually declare `providesContext` in the parent block's block.json, as Blockstudio registers it for all attributes.

See [InnerBlocks Context](/docs/blocks/react-components/innerblocks#context) for more details.


> **[Block Context and Communication](/guides/block-context)**
>
> Practical patterns: card grids, pricing tables, and section wrappers where blocks need to share data.