anytype-docs-creation-blocks.md
For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. This page is also available as Markdown.
Anytype is a block-based editor and all Pages are built with blocks, which makes your content flexible and easy to use. The editor is the primary way for you to build documents on Anytype.
Blocks are the building pieces of every Object, think of them as lego bricks for every document. When you open an Object and start editing, you're adding and arranging Blocks — paragraphs, headings, images, lists, embeds, and so on. Each Block is independent and can be moved, restyled, or replaced without affecting the others.
If you've used Notion, this concept will be familiar. If you've used Microsoft Word or Google Docs, the difference is that Blocks are discrete units — you can drag them, nest them, turn one type into another, or build columns by placing them side by side.
You can access the different kinds of blocks via the Block Menu using the plus button or slash command.
Hover over the left side of any block. A plus icon appears — click it to insert a new block above. The same menu as the slash command opens.
Type / anywhere in the editor. A menu appears with every available block type, organized by category. Type a few characters of the block name to filter — /h2 for Heading 2, /code for code block, /image for an image.
This is the fastest way once you know what you want.
For text-style blocks, you can use Markdown-style keyboard shortcuts at the start of a line. Press space after the shortcut and the block transforms.
Type this
To create
#
Heading 1
##
Heading 2
###
Heading 3
>
Toggle
* or -
Bullet point
1.
Numbered list
[]
Checkbox / to-do
Code block
`---`
Divider
`#>`
Toggled Heading 1
`##>`
Toggled Heading 2
`###>`
Toggled Heading 3
## Styling Blocks
#### Single block
Click anywhere in a block to focus it. The block's options appear:
-
**Block handle** (three dots on the left) — for moving, deleting, or transforming
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**Plus button** (+ button on the left) — for inserting a new block
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**Inline toolbar** (in some blocks) — for inline style formatting
#### Multiple blocks
Click on a block, hold Shift, and click on another to select all blocks between. Alternatively you can click and drag with your mouse to highlight as many blocks as you'd like to select. You can then:
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**Drag** them as a group to a new location
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**Delete** them all at once
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**Apply formatting** (bold, italic, color) to all selected text
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**Convert** them all to a different block type (e.g., turn five paragraphs into bullet points)
#### Inline styling
Within any text block, you can format individual characters or words. Highlight the text and a floating toolbar appears with these options:
-
**Bold** — `Cmd/Ctrl + B` or ` **text** `
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**Italic** — `Cmd/Ctrl + I` or `*text*`
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**Strikethrough** — `Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + S` or ` ~~text~~ `
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**Inline code** — `Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + L` or backticks: ``code``
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**Underline** — `Cmd/Ctrl + U`
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**Link** — `Cmd/Ctrl + K`, then paste a URL or search for an Object
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**Highlight color** — select text, choose a color from the toolbar
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**Text color** — same as highlight, in the toolbar
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**Quote in discussion** — copies text into a [Discussions](/anytype-docs/collaborate/discussions) post.
#### Block handles
Every block has a handle on its left side that opens the Block Options Menu:
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**Turn into** — convert a block into another block type, such as a sentence → heading or a numbered list → bulleted list.
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**Color** — change the text color
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**Background** — change the background color
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**Move** — to relocate the block to another object
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**Copy / Cut / Paste / Delete / Duplicate**
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**Quote in discussion** — start a thread on this specific block
You can also right-click any block to access the same menu.
The block handle isn't just for menus — it's a drag handle to move blocks around. Click and hold, then drag the block:
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**Up or down** to a different position in the same Object
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**Left or right** of another block to create a column
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**Out of a nested list** to outdent it
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**Onto a sub-Object link** to add the block as content in that Object
#### Indenting and nesting
Most block types support nesting — paragraphs, images, list items, toggles, and headings can all have children.
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`Tab` to increase the indentation (indent)
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`Shift + Tab` to decrease the indentation (outdent)
#### Columns
Columns work with all block types. You can put text next to images, embeds next to lists, or any other combination. This is the closest equivalent to a desktop publishing layout — useful for project pages and dashboards. You can place blocks side by side to create columns:
1.
Click the block handle (six dots) on the left of a block.
2.
Drag the block to the right side of another block until you see a vertical drop indicator.
3.
Release. The two blocks now sit side by side.
Repeat to add more columns. To break a column back into a single column, drag a block back below or above its sibling.
## Tips
**Toggled Headings + Table of Contents = best long-page navigation.** With both turned on, you can collapse sections you're not editing and use the Table of Contents to jump between sections. See [Toggled Headings](https://github.com/anyproto/docs-new/blob/main/advanced/feature-list-by-platform/toggled-headings.md).
[PreviousFormats](/anytype-docs/creation/objects/formats)[NextBlock Types](/anytype-docs/creation/blocks/block-types)
Last updated 3 hours ago
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