Blocks

Basics Blocks Content

Blocks are small, self-contained pieces of content such as text paragraphs, headings, galleries, slideshows, and more. You can also add dynamic content like Pagelists, Filelists, or custom snippets. The block editor offers an intuitive editing experience and lets users freely compose a page from multiple blocks.

Depending on the template, a page can provide one or several block editors for different sections. Block editors also support embedded content from services like YouTube or Vimeo simply by pasting a URL.

Adding Blocks

Start by clicking anywhere in the block editor to add your first block. Hit Enter ⏎ to add more blocks wherever you like. Then pick a block type by clicking the + icon or typing / — mix and match to build your page your way. You can also adjust block settings by clicking the small handle next to the + icon in the top-right corner of each block.

Moving Blocks Around

You can easily rearrange blocks by dragging the little handle in the top-right corner of a block — just move them wherever you like!

Block Types

Below is a list of all available blocks, along with an overview of the supported embed services. You can mix and match these blocks to create your content, and easily embed media from popular services where supported.

ParagraphThis is the default block and contains basic text.
HeadingHeadings levels 1-6.
Layout SectionLayout sections can be used to create  complex layouts. They can contain any other type of block, can be nested and styled. A section can also be used to create a typical card.
Collapsible SectionCollapsible sections can be used to create accordion elements, like typical FAQ sections. Like Layout Sections, they can contain one or more blocks of any type.
ComponentComponents are reusable groups of blocks. Edit them once in a central place and they’ll update everywhere on your site.
ListA list of items, either ordered or unordered. Lists can also be nested.
TableA table builder with flexible amounts of rows and columns.
Callout BoxA callout box is used to highlight and emphasize specific parts of your content.
BlockquoteA quote block including an author field.
DelimiterA horizontal line that can be used as a delimiter bewteen blocks.
ImageA single image with an optional caption. Images can also link to other pages.
VideoA single video with an optional caption.
Image GalleryA gallery for combining multiple images into flexible, responsive masonry, row, or grid layouts,  with a built-in lightbox.
Image SlideshowA slideshow that combines multiple images into a responsive carousel.
ButtonsA set of up to two customizable buttons to create call-to-action links.
Table of ContentsA simple, nested table of contents including headings of levels 2-4.
Source CodeA block to display source code snippets including syntax highlighting, language selection and optional line numbers.
Math / TeXThe Math block is based on KaTeX and can render mathematical formulas as well as other TeX-compatible content.
HTML / MarkdownA block for raw Markdown or HTML markup.
Mail FormA customizable email form that can be used on contact pages.
PagelistA block that uses templates to render a selection of pages, making it ideal for building navigations, portfolio pages, or blogs.
FilelistSimilar to a Pagelist, a Filelist is a block that renders a selection of files using templates.
SnippetA block the can be used to render snipptes of Automad's template language within the block editor.

Embedding Content

Automad supports content from the following platforms, which can be embedded as blocks by simply pasting a URL:

Global Defaults Images
User Guide
Automad lets you edit content in two ways — through the dashboard or directly on the page while browsing the site when signed in. To start a session, visit /dashboard on your new site and sign in with your credentials.
Publishing
In Automad, changes made to content fields — such as blocks or settings — are saved automatically. These changes are stored as drafts. Signed-in users can see and edit drafts at any time, while public visitors only see content that has been published. This makes it easy to work on content over a longer period without exposing unfinished pages to your visitors.
Global Defaults
One of Automad’s core ideas is the concept of global defaults. Many fields can be set either globally or individually for each page. When a page is displayed, Automad first checks the page itself for a value. If nothing is set there, it falls back to the global data.
Images
Automad provides image galleries and slideshows as blocks that can be added to any block editor field. These blocks make it easy to manage and display image collections in versatile ways, from structured galleries to responsive slideshows.
Layouts
Layouts in Automad are created using the Layout Section block. They can be added anywhere on a page and can contain other Layout Sections, allowing you to create complex, nested designs. Sections can also be set to stretch to the full width of the content area or page. Watch the short videos on this page to see these features in action.
Components
Components in Automad are reusable, static compilations of blocks that let you create consistent sections across your site without having to rebuild them each time. They are ideal for content such as call-to-action elements, card grids, address blocks, or any combination of snippets that should appear in multiple places.
Pagelists
A pagelist is essentially a curated selection of pages that are rendered using a shared template. Each page in the selection is iterated and displayed in a consistent way, which makes pagelists suitable for many common use cases. They can power a simple navigation, but they work just as well for more visual layouts, such as a portfolio grid or blog where each entry shows a preview, title, or other page-specific information.
Open Graph & Favicons
Automad takes care of most metadata and icon-related details automatically, so pages are ready for browsers, devices, and social platforms right from the start. Without any configuration, sensible defaults are generated for things like page titles, descriptions, icons, and social previews. At the same time, Automad keeps everything transparent and flexible, making it easy to customize or override individual parts whenever more control is needed.
Multilingual Sites
Page Versioning