The / menu and Markdown shortcuts

Type / to pick a block, or type Markdown-style patterns and the editor formats them on the spot.

Applies to Web · Mac · iPhone app · notes you can edit

There are two ways to add blocks without leaving the keyboard. Type / at the start of a line to get a list of blocks you can insert, or type Markdown-style patterns such as # or **bold** and the editor converts them in place. The result is the same as using the toolbar.

Use the / menu

  1. Type / at the start of a line or right after a space. It doesn’t open mid-word (as in and/or) or inside a code block.
  2. Keep typing to filter the list. Both the Korean names and English keywords match, e.g. /table, /callout, /mermaid, /math. Typing a space closes the menu.
  3. Use ↑ ↓ to choose and Enter to insert. Esc closes the menu. If nothing matches, you’ll see “No matching blocks”.
ItemWhat it inserts
Heading 1 · Heading 2 · Heading 3Large, medium and small headings
Bulleted list · Numbered list• list, 1. list
ChecklistTo-do items
Checkbox in listA checkbox on just this item, keeping its number or bullet
Mark doneMarks this line done (same as ⇧⌥⌘E)
TableA 3×3 table with a header row
Image tableTurns a table in an image into an editable table (see Attach images and files)
Callout (info) · Callout (warning) · Callout (tip)ℹ, ⚠ and ★ highlight boxes
QuoteA quote block
Code blockA code block with syntax highlighting
DiagramA Mermaid flowchart
DividerA horizontal rule
ToggleA section that folds and unfolds when you click the arrow beside its heading
Math blockA LaTeX math block. You’re asked for the formula first; the block is only inserted if you enter one
Your snippet namesSaved text, listed at the end (see snippets)

Patterns that convert as you type

Type one of these at the start of a line, then a space (or Enter), and the line changes.

TypeResult
# · ## · ### Heading 1 · 2 · 3
- · + · * Bulleted list
1. (or a bracket style such as 3) )Numbered list, starting from that number
[ ] · [x] Checklist item (open · done)
> Quote
---Divider
``` or ```python, then a space or EnterCode block, with that language
$$$E=mc^2$$$ (whole line)Math block

Inside a sentence, wrap text like this:

TypeResult
**bold**Bold
*italic* · _italic_Italic
~~struck~~Strikethrough
`code`Inline code
==highlight==Highlight
$$E=mc^2$$Inline math
;shortcut then a spaceExpands a snippet

Automatic symbols

--→—, ...→…, ->→→, <-→←, (c)→©, (r)→®, (tm)→™, +/-→±, !=→≠, <<→«, >>→», 2x3→2×3, ^2→², ^3→³, and straight quotes become curly quotes. Press ⌘Z right away to undo one. Fractions such as 1/2 are deliberately left alone so dilution ratios stay intact.

When you paste

  • Paste a bare URL on an empty line and it becomes a bookmark card with the page’s title, description and image.
  • Paste cells copied from Excel or another spreadsheet (tab-separated lines) into a paragraph and they become a table.
  • Checklists from UpNote, Apple Notes or Google Docs stay checklists. Lines starting with [x] come in as done.
  • When you paste a mix of text and images, the text is kept.