> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Canvas

> Canvas is a core plugin for visual note-taking. It gives you infinite space to lay out notes, connect them with arrows, and group related ideas.

Canvas is a core plugin for visual note-taking. It gives you infinite space to lay out notes and connect them to other notes, attachments, and web pages.

Visual note-taking helps you make sense of your notes by organizing them in 2D space. Connect notes with lines and group related notes together to better understand the relationships between them.

Canvas data is saved as `.canvas` files using the open [JSON Canvas](https://jsoncanvas.org/) format.

## Create a canvas

You can create a new canvas in several ways:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Command palette">
    1. Open the Command palette (`Ctrl+P` / `Cmd+P`).
    2. Select **Canvas: Create new canvas**.

    This creates a canvas in the same folder as the active file.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="File explorer">
    1. Right-click the folder where you want the canvas.
    2. Select **New canvas**.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Ribbon">
    In the left ribbon, select **Create new canvas** to create a canvas in the same folder as the active file.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Note>
  Obsidian stores canvas data in `.canvas` files using the open JSON Canvas format.
</Note>

## Add cards

Cards are the building blocks of a canvas. You can add text, notes from your vault, media files, web pages, and entire folders.

### Add a text card

Text cards don't reference a file — they exist only on the canvas. You can use Markdown, links, and code blocks just like in a note.

* Select or drag the blank file icon at the bottom of the canvas.
* Or, double-click anywhere on the canvas.

To convert a text card to a permanent note file:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Right-click the card">
    Right-click the text card and select **Convert to file...**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name and save">
    Enter a note name and select **Save**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Text-only cards don't appear in Backlinks. Convert them to files to make them linkable.
</Note>

### Add a note card

To add a note from your vault:

* Select or drag the document icon at the bottom of the canvas, then choose a note.
* Or, right-click the canvas, select **Add note from vault**, and choose a note.
* Or, drag a file directly from the File explorer.

### Add a media card

To add an image, audio file, PDF, or other media:

* Select or drag the image file icon at the bottom of the canvas, then choose a file.
* Or, right-click the canvas, select **Add media from vault**, and choose a file.
* Or, drag a file directly from the File explorer.

You can also drag files into the canvas from outside Obsidian.

### Add a web page card

To embed a web page:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the context menu">
    Right-click the canvas and select **Add web page**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the URL">
    Type the URL and select **Save**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

You can also drag a URL from your browser directly onto the canvas.

To open the embedded page in your browser, press `Ctrl` (`Cmd` on macOS) and click the card label, or right-click the card and select **Open in browser**.

### Add cards from a folder

Drag a folder from the File explorer onto the canvas to add all files in that folder at once.

## Edit and manage cards

* **Edit**: Double-click a text or note card to edit it. Click outside or press `Escape` to stop editing.
* **Delete**: Select a card and press `Backspace` (`Delete` on macOS), or right-click and select **Delete**.
* **Move**: Drag a selected card to reposition it. Hold `Shift` while dragging to constrain movement to one axis.
* **Duplicate**: Hold `Alt` (`Option` on macOS) and drag to duplicate the selection.
* **Resize**: Drag any edge of a card. Hold `Shift` to maintain aspect ratio.
* **Swap**: Right-click a note or media card and select **Swap file** to replace it with a different file of the same type.

Press `Ctrl+A` (`Cmd+A`) to select all cards. Hold `Shift` and click to add or remove cards from a selection.

## Connect cards

Draw lines between cards to show relationships. You can color and label connections.

### Draw a connection

<Steps>
  <Step title="Hover over a card edge">
    Move your cursor to the edge of a card until a filled circle appears.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drag to another card">
    Drag the circle to the edge of the card you want to connect.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  If you drag a line without connecting it to a card, you can choose which card to add at the end of the line.
</Tip>

### Disconnect cards

* Hover over a connection line until two small circles appear, then drag one circle away without connecting it.
* Or, right-click the line and select **Remove**.
* Or, select the line and press `Backspace` (`Delete` on macOS).

### Label a connection

<Steps>
  <Step title="Double-click the line">
    Double-click the connection line to open the label editor.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the label">
    Type your label, then press `Escape` or click elsewhere on the canvas.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Change colors

1. Select the cards or connections you want to color.
2. In the selection controls, select **Set color**.
3. Choose a color.

## Group cards

Groups visually organize related cards on the canvas.

* To create an empty group: right-click the canvas and select **Create group**.
* To group selected cards: select the cards, right-click any of them, and select **Create group**.
* To rename a group: double-click the group name, edit it, then press `Enter`.

## Navigate the canvas

### Pan

* Hold `Space` and drag the canvas.
* Drag with the middle mouse button.
* Scroll to pan vertically; hold `Shift` while scrolling to pan horizontally.

### Zoom

* Hold `Space` or `Ctrl` (`Cmd`) and scroll with the mouse wheel.
* Use the **+** and **−** zoom controls in the upper-right corner.
* Press `Shift+1` to zoom so every item is visible (zoom to fit).
* Press `Shift+2` to zoom to your current selection.
* Select **Reset zoom** in the upper-right corner to return to the default zoom level.