# Comments and text blocks

Add comments beside the diagram for drafts and reviews, and text blocks for captions.

## Which to use: a comment or a text block

Both are notes beside the diagram. A note can point to the node it explains, or stand on its own.

- A **comment** is a sticky note, for drafts and reviews. You can hide every comment at once.
- A **text block** is a card for a caption or an explanation. It always shows.

![An expense claim flowchart with a text block, Claims older than 90 days need Finance approval, beside the first step, and a yellow comment, Should we accept photos of receipts?, above the decision.](/images/docs/diagrams/notes.svg)

Line9 places notes beside the flow, so adding one doesn't rearrange the nodes.

## Add a comment or text block

In the text, write the note as a node with the shape `comment` or `text`:

```mermaid
draft["Should we accept photos of receipts?"]@{ shape: comment }
caption["Claims older than 90 days need Finance approval"]@{ shape: text }
```

To make a note point to a node, join them with an edge:

```mermaid
draft --> check
caption --> claim
```

With Line9 Pro, in the [Line9 editor](/docs/how-the-editor-works), put the cursor on a node and type `:shape comment` or `:shape text`. To make the note point to a node, press `>` and move to that node.

## Hide comments before you share

Click **Comments** in the style panel to hide every comment. Text blocks still show.

![The same flowchart with comments hidden: the text block still shows; the yellow comment does not.](/images/docs/diagrams/notes-comments-off.svg)

The **Comments** setting appears once the diagram has a comment. It is saved with the diagram, so a shared link or published diagram keeps it.

## Next

- [Colour-code with classes](/docs/classes): colour nodes by role.
- [Theme, orientation and spacing](/docs/theme-orientation-and-spacing): the other style settings.