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Block Types

Blocks are the building units of Lithium. Every piece of content is a block, and each block has a type that determines how it behaves and renders.

Text block (paragraph)

The default block type for plain content. Just start typing to create one.

How to create:

  • Type /text or /p
  • Convert from another block type using the block menu

Text blocks support inline formatting:

  • Bold: Select text and press Cmd+B (or type **bold** with markdown style, *bold* with Slack-style)
  • Italic: Select text and press Cmd+I (or type *italic* with markdown style, _italic_ with Slack-style)
  • Strikethrough: Type ~strikethrough~
  • Page links: Type [[page name]] to link to another page
  • Tags: Type #tag to add a tag

Text blocks can be nested under other blocks to create hierarchies and outlines.

Todo block

A checkbox task item with optional priority and due date.

How to create:

  • Type [] at the start of a line
  • Type /todo or /task
  • Press Cmd+Enter on any block to cycle between paragraph → todo (unchecked) → todo (checked) → paragraph

Features:

  • Click the checkbox to mark complete/incomplete
  • Set priority: /p1 (high), /p2 (medium), /p3 (low), or /p0 (none)
  • Set due date: /due or use the block menu
  • Nest todos under other todos to create subtasks
  • Completed todos can automatically move to the end of their parent (configurable in settings)
  • Parents can auto-complete when all children are done (configurable in settings)

Priority colors:

  • High (P1): Red
  • Medium (P2): Yellow
  • Low (P3): Blue
  • None: No color indicator

Heading block

Section headings to organize your content.

How to create:

  • Type # at the start of a line
  • Type /heading or /h1
  • Convert from another block type using the block menu

Headings are visually larger and bolder than text blocks. Use them to break up content into sections. They can have child blocks nested underneath.

Secret block

Stores sensitive information (passwords, API keys, private notes) with visual obscuring.

How to create:

  • Type /secret, /password, /pass, or /s
  • Use the block menu to convert from another block type

How they display:

When you’re not actively editing a secret block, the content is masked with bullet points. The number of bullets matches the length of your text, so a 12-character password shows 12 bullets (minimum 8).

To see the actual content, hover over the block and click the eye icon. Click again to hide it.

Features:

  • Content is hidden by default (shown as dots/bullets)
  • Click the eye icon to reveal content temporarily
  • Click the copy icon to copy to clipboard without revealing on screen
  • Click on the masked text to edit - when editing, it appears as normal text so you can see what you’re typing
  • When you click outside the block, it masks again

Security note:

All blocks in Lithium are encrypted end-to-end - secret blocks use the same encryption as everything else. The secret block type adds a visual privacy layer so sensitive text isn’t readable when someone looks at your screen.

If you need to share a device or screen, lock the app (Cmd+L) to clear encryption keys from memory.

Page block

A page block represents a standalone page (document/note). Every page has exactly one page block at its root.

How to create:

  • Pages are automatically created when you click “New Page” in the Browse view
  • The first block is always a page block

Features:

  • The page block’s content becomes the page title
  • Can be a daily page (linked to a specific date)
  • Some pages are built-in (inbox, voice notes)
  • Can be starred for quick access
  • Support different view modes: outline, note, todolist

Page blocks cannot be nested inside other blocks.

Voice block

Records and stores voice notes with optional transcription.

How to create:

  • Voice blocks are created automatically when recording in the voice notes feature
  • Currently created through the voice notes interface, not via slash commands

Features:

  • Stores audio recordings with playback controls
  • Optional transcription (when transcription is enabled)
  • Audio files are encrypted before upload like all other content

Audio block

Attaches audio files to your notes.

How to create:

  • Audio blocks are created when uploading audio files
  • Use /upload or /file to open the file picker and select an audio file

Features:

  • Supports various audio formats (MP3, WAV, WebM, etc.)
  • Shows playback controls
  • Displays audio duration
  • Audio files are encrypted before upload

Attachments

While not a block type itself, any block can have attachments (images or files).

How to attach files:

  • Type /upload, /image, /img, or /file
  • Use the block menu and select “Upload”
  • Drag and drop files onto a block

Features:

  • Images show thumbnails
  • Multiple attachments per block
  • All files are encrypted before upload
  • Original filename and dimensions are preserved for images