adds selection persistence on sidebar tab switch

packages/block-editor/src/store/actions.js

@@ -199,6 +199,17 @@ export function clearSelectedBlock() {
 	};
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns an action object used in restoring the previously cleared selected blocks.
+ *
+ * @return {Object} Action object.
+ */
+export function restoreSelectedBlock() {
+	return {
+		type: 'RESTORE_SELECTED_BLOCK',
+	};
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns an action object that enables or disables block selection.
  *

packages/block-editor/src/store/reducer.js

@@ -718,7 +718,20 @@ const BLOCK_SELECTION_INITIAL_STATE = {
 export function blockSelection( state = BLOCK_SELECTION_INITIAL_STATE, action ) {
 	switch ( action.type ) {
 		case 'CLEAR_SELECTED_BLOCK':
-			return BLOCK_SELECTION_INITIAL_STATE;
+			return {
+				...BLOCK_SELECTION_INITIAL_STATE,
+				previousSelection: {
+					start: state.start,
+					end: state.end,
+					isMultiSelecting: state.isMultiSelecting,
+					isEnabled: state.isEnabled,
+					initialPosition: state.initialPosition,
+				},
+			};
+		case 'RESTORE_SELECTED_BLOCK':
+			return {
+				...state.previousSelection,
+			};
 		case 'START_MULTI_SELECT':
 			if ( state.isMultiSelecting ) {
 				return state;

packages/e2e-tests/specs/a11y.test.js

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
 import {
+	clickBlockAppender,
 	createNewPost,
 	pressKeyWithModifier,
 } from '@wordpress/e2e-test-utils';
@@ -29,6 +30,36 @@ describe( 'a11y', () => {
 		expect( isFocusedToggle ).toBe( true );
 	} );
 
+	it( 'checks persistent selection', async () => {
+		await clickBlockAppender();
+		await page.keyboard.type( 'Testing editor selection persistence' );
+
+		await page.keyboard.down( 'Control' );
+		await page.keyboard.down( 'Shift' );
+		await page.keyboard.press( '`' );
+		await page.keyboard.press( '`' );
+		await page.keyboard.up( 'Control' );
+		await page.keyboard.up( 'Shift' );
+
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'Tab' );
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'Space' );
+
+		let isFocusedParagraphBlock = await page.$eval( ':focus', ( focusedElement ) => {
+			return focusedElement.classList.contains( 'block-editor-rich-text__editable' );
+		} );
+
+		expect( isFocusedParagraphBlock ).toBe( false );
+
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'Tab' );
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'Space' );
+
+		isFocusedParagraphBlock = await page.$eval( ':focus', ( focusedElement ) => {
+			return focusedElement.classList.contains( 'block-editor-rich-text__editable' );
+		} );
+
+		expect( isFocusedParagraphBlock ).toBe( true );
+	} );
+
 	it( 'constrains focus to a modal when tabbing', async () => {
 		// Open keyboard help modal.
 		await pressKeyWithModifier( 'access', 'h' );

packages/edit-post/src/components/sidebar/settings-header/index.js

@@ -57,14 +57,16 @@ const SettingsHeader = ( { openDocumentSettings, openBlockSettings, sidebarName
 
 export default withDispatch( ( dispatch ) => {
 	const { openGeneralSidebar } = dispatch( 'core/edit-post' );
-	const { clearSelectedBlock } = dispatch( 'core/block-editor' );
+	const { clearSelectedBlock, restoreSelectedBlock } = dispatch( 'core/block-editor' );
+
 	return {
 		openDocumentSettings() {
 			openGeneralSidebar( 'edit-post/document' );
 			clearSelectedBlock();
 		},
 		openBlockSettings() {
 			openGeneralSidebar( 'edit-post/block' );
+			restoreSelectedBlock();
 		},
 	};
 } )( SettingsHeader );