diff --git a/lib/README.md b/lib/README.md
index 8239ae40fd8ef..0650d82bb36b6 100644
--- a/lib/README.md
+++ b/lib/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
# Gutenberg PHP
+This documentation is intended for developers who are contributing to the PHP code in the Gutenberg plugin, and pertains to files in the `lib` directory.
+
The Gutenberg plugin is continuously enhancing existing features and creating new ones. Some features, once considered stable and useful, are merged into Core (the WordPress source code) during a WordPress release. Others remain in the plugin forever or are eventually removed as the minimum supported WordPress version changes.
During a WordPress release, new features, bugfixes and other changes are "synced" between the Gutenberg plugin and WordPress Core. Consistent naming and directory structures make this process easier by preventing naming conflicts and compartmentalizing release-specific code.
@@ -100,6 +102,16 @@ Wrapping code in `class_exists()` and `function_exists()` is usually inappropria
When to use which prefix is a judgement call, but the general rule is that if you're unsure, use the `gutenberg` prefix because it will less likely give rise to naming conflicts.
+#### When not to use plugin-specific prefixes/suffixes
+
+The above recommendations in relation to plugin-specific prefixes/suffixes are relevant only to files in the `lib` directory and only in the Gutenberg plugin.
+
+`Gutenberg` prefixes/suffixes _should not_ be used in Core PHP code. When synching `/lib` files to Core, plugin-specific prefixes/suffixes are generally replaced with their `WP_` or `wp_` equivalents manually.
+
+Accordingly, unless required to run plugin-only code, you should avoid using plugin-specific prefixes/suffixes in any block PHP code. Core blocks in the plugin are [published as NPM packages](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/blob/trunk/docs/contributors/code/release.md#packages-releases-to-npm-and-wordpress-core-updates), which Core consumes as NPM dependencies.
+
+See [block naming conventions](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/tree/trunk/packages/block-library#naming-convention-for-php-functions) for more information on block naming conventions.
+
As always, get in touch with your fellow contributors if you're unsure.
### Documentation and annotations
diff --git a/packages/block-library/README.md b/packages/block-library/README.md
index 695e2c935ef60..25c5f9b52c71a 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/README.md
+++ b/packages/block-library/README.md
@@ -138,4 +138,16 @@ For the PHP functions declared in the `packages/block-library/src/my-block/index
- `render_block_core_my_block`
- `register_block_core_my_block`
+#### Using plugin-specific prefixes/suffixes
+
+Unlike in [PHP code in the /lib directory](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/blob/trunk/lib/README.md), you should generally avoid applying plugin-specific prefixes/suffixes such as `gutenberg_` to functions and other code in block PHP files.
+
+There are times, however, when blocks may need to use Gutenberg functions even when a Core-equivalent exists, for example, where a Gutenberg function relies on code that is only available in the plugin.
+
+In such cases, you can use the corresponding Core `wp_` function in the block PHP code, and add its name to [a list of prefixed functions in the Webpack configuration file](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/blob/trunk/tools/webpack/blocks.js#L30).
+
+At build time, Webpack will search for `wp_` functions in that list and replace them with their `gutenberg_` equivalents. This process ensures that the plugin calls the `gutenberg_` functions, but the block will still call the Core `wp_` function when updates are back ported.
+
+Webpack assumes that, prefixes aside, the functions' names are identical: `wp_get_something_useful()` will be replaced with `gutenberg_get_something_useful()`.
+
