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Formatting and editing a Confluence page

After creating a page or a live doc, format it so your team can quickly read it, act on it, and trust that it’s current. This guide covers each part of the formatting and editing experience so you know what's available, where to find it, and when to use it.

What is formatting in Confluence?

Formatting in Confluence is how you control the structure and readability of a page or live doc. You use headings, text styles, lists, tables, macros, and media to make information easier to scan and act on.

Unlike a standard document editor, Confluence's formatting tools are built for teams. They support live embeds, @mentions, action items, and macros that connect your content to the rest of your work in Jira, Loom, and beyond.

  • Format pages and live docs with the toolbar: Edit text, add lists, action items, media, layouts, tabs, synced blocks, tables, links, and more.
  • Write faster with Rovo, Confluence's AI solution: Generate, improve, shorten, translate, or change the tone of content, and fix grammar.
  • Add structure with elements and macros: Use / commands for tables, status lozenges, dates, Jira work items, code, panels, and more.
  • Connect content with smart links and @mentions: Add inline, card, or embedded views of Atlassian and third-party content, and notify teammates.

Enter edit mode and use the formatting toolbar

In pages, click the pencil icon or press E to open the editor. In live docs, you’ll already be in a live-edit mode.

image of editor toolbar

The full formatting toolbar appears at the top of your page, and keyboard shortcuts save you valuable time when creating in Confluence.

The toolbar is organized into a few key areas:

  • AI and text: Use Edit with Rovo to draft or improve content, then apply heading styles and text formatting (bold, italic, and more) to shape your writing.
  • Lists, alignment, and color: Make your page easier to scan with lists, text alignment, color-coding, and indentation.
  • Action items ([ ]): Turn any line into a trackable to-do.
  • Media and mentions: Add images, videos, or files, tag teammates with @mentions, and insert emojis.
  • Structure and layout: Add section layouts, tabs, synced blocks, and tables to organize your content.
  • More elements (/): Insert a table of contents, panels, Jira work items, and more.
  • Links, undo, and view changes: Add links, undo/redo edits, and review your change history.
Pro Tip

Changed your mind? Click ... and select Revert to last published version. This undoes every edit since your last publish.

Using Rovo in Confluence

Rovo is Confluence's built-in AI solution. It can help you generate new content, come up with an outline, fine-tune existing content, and more.

Click the Rovo button in the formatting toolbar, type /Rovo, or highlight any existing context to ask Rovo to edit a specific section. You can write a custom prompt or choose from these pre-built actions:

  • Improve writing: sharpens structure, flow, and tone
  • Remix: create visual content inspired by your selection
  • Fix spelling and grammar: catches errors before you publish
  • Change tone: choose from casual, educational, empathic, neutral, or professional
  • Make shorter: condenses without losing the point
  • Make longer: elaborate on your point further
  • Translate: convert your content into other languages for global teams
  • Define: define a term using your team’s knowledge
Confluence ask Rovo

Add more structure with elements and macros

Elements and macros are Confluence's built-in content blocks for adding navigation, structure, and live data to any page. Type / anywhere in the editor to open the element browser.

Get started with some of Confluence’s most popular elements:

  • /table to add a table and the right layout to present data.
  • /status to add a STATUS lozenge and customize the text and color.
  • // to add dates, like Nov 11, 2024 .
  • /jira to embed, view, and edit Jira work items.
  • /code to add code snippets with automatic language detection.
  • /panel for options to add different kinds of panels, all customizable with different colors and emojis.
  • /tableofcontents for an auto-generated Table of Contents macro based on headings in your page (/h) for quick in-page jumping.
  • /synced block to reuse content anywhere in Confluence or Jira.
  • /expand to hide lengthy text blocks for a cleaner look.
  • /quote for a piece of text or citation that stands out with different formatting and font color.
  • /decision for decision boxes that make decisions easy to track.

Click View more to browse the full library by category.

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