Editor overview

Use the editor to write and publish documentation in your browser. The editor uses a docs-as-code workflow with all your changes backed by Git. Your work saves as commits in your repository and the editor manages Git operations for you. The editor loads by default when you open your dashboard. Anyone in your organization can open it, but certain actions depend on your role. Admins and editors can edit and publish. Viewers can browse content and leave comments and suggestions.

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How the editor works

Changes save automatically, but saving is separate from publishing. As you type, the editor stores your work. Your changes persist across tabs, devices, and network interruptions. For any changes to reach your live site, you must publish them. Publishing writes to Git. When you publish, the editor commits your changes to your repository. If you publish to your deployment branch, this updates your live site immediately. On a feature branch, your edits commit to the branch automatically and open a pull request for review. Nothing on a feature branch reaches your live site until it merges into your deployment branch. Git stays in sync. When someone pushes to your repository, those changes appear automatically. You don’t need to pull or refresh. The editor merges non-conflicting changes and flags anything that needs your attention. Your team edits together. Multiple people can edit the same page at once, with live cursors showing who is working where. Comments and suggestions are visible to everyone.

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Editor layout

• Top bar: Open the agent with Ask agent. On the Site tab, the top bar also has the branch selector, Preview, and Publish. On the Workspace tab, it has Share. Click More options for page actions like Page settings, Comments, Version history, Duplicate, and Move to.
• Sidebar: Use the sidebar to select pages to edit, create new pages, and manage your site structure. Press Ctrl + \ (macOS and Windows) to hide or show it. Press Cmd + K (macOS) or Ctrl + K (Windows) to search your pages and dashboard.
  • Workspace: Pages that aren’t part of your Git repository or published site. Personal contains your private drafts, Teamspace contains pages shared with your whole organization, and Shared with me contains pages teammates shared with you directly.
  • Site: Your repository and published site. Navigation contains the pages in your site navigation. Files lists the files in your repository that aren’t in your navigation.

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Visual and source mode

Visual mode renders your page as you type. Press / to open the component menu and insert components. Source mode gives you direct access to the MDX, with line numbers. Use it for precise control over component properties and frontmatter. Type < to access components. Press Cmd + S (macOS) or Ctrl + S (Windows) to format the document. If a single change modifies more than 1,000 characters, the editor asks you to confirm it. Both modes edit the same file and support real-time collaboration. Switch between them with Cmd + Shift + S (macOS) or Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows), or with the Source mode switch in More options. The editor remembers your choice across pages. For the components you can insert, see Components. For MDX syntax, see Format text and Format code.

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Git concepts

Understanding some Git concepts helps you get the most from the editor. For definitions of commits, branches, pull requests, merges, conflicts, and diffs, see Git concepts for documentation.