Inline Code and Code Blocks in Confluence

If you write anything technical in Confluence, you need two things: a way to mark a command or file name as code in the middle of a sentence, and a proper block for anything longer than one line. Confluence Cloud has both, but the options for inline code and code blocks are spread over a toolbar menu, a few shortcuts and some Markdown that only works when you type it.

Short answer:

Inline code: type text between two backticks, like `npm install`, or select text and press Ctrl+Shift+M (Cmd+Shift+M on a Mac).
Code block: type three backticks (```) at the start of a line, or type /code and pick Code snippet.

The rest of this guide covers every way to add each one, the settings a Confluence code block has, what changed from the old Code Block macro, and how to fix the things that usually go wrong.

When to use inline code vs a code block

Use inline code in Confluence for short things that sit inside a sentence: a command, a function name, a file path, a config key, an error message. For example: "Set retryCount to 3 in config.yaml."

Use a code block for anything you'd copy and run, anything longer than a line, and anything where indentation matters. Code blocks keep whitespace, get syntax highlighting and have a copy button, so readers don't pick up stray characters from the page.

A simple rule we use: if someone will paste it into a terminal or editor, it goes in a block.

How to add inline code in Confluence

There are three ways to add Confluence inline code formatting. They all produce the same result, so pick whichever fits how you type.

Type backticks

Type a backtick, your text, and a closing backtick: `kubectl get pods`. Confluence converts it to inline code the moment you type the closing backtick. This is the fastest way if you already write Markdown elsewhere.

It only works when you type it. If you paste text that already contains backticks, they stay as plain characters. In that case use the shortcut below.

Use the keyboard shortcut

Select the text and press:

	Shortcut
Windows / Linux	Ctrl + Shift + M
Mac	Cmd + Shift + M

Press the same shortcut again to remove the formatting.

Use the toolbar

Select the text, open the Format text menu in the editor toolbar (the ... next to bold and italic) and choose Code.

To stop typing in code format, press the right arrow key at the end of the inline code, or toggle the shortcut off.

How to add a code block in Confluence

There are four ways to insert a code block. Atlassian's editor calls it a code snippet, so that's the name you'll see in menus.

Three backticks. On an empty line, type ``` and a code block appears. You can type the language right after the backticks, like ```python, before pressing Enter.
Slash command. Type /code and choose Code snippet from the list.
Insert menu. Click + in the toolbar and choose Code snippet.
Convert existing text. Paste your code, select it, and use one of the methods above. For multi-line code it's usually cleaner to insert the empty block first and paste into it, so the indentation stays intact.

Code blocks work in pages, live docs, templates and inside most other elements, including table cells and expand sections.

Confluence code block options

Click inside a code block and a small toolbar appears with its settings.

Language and syntax highlighting

New code blocks detect the language automatically for CSS, Go, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Python, Ruby, Rust, Shell, SQL and TypeScript. For anything else, or when detection guesses wrong, pick the language from the dropdown. Once you choose one manually, auto-detection is switched off for that block.

Setting the language explicitly is worth the extra second. It gives correct highlighting, and readers can see at a glance whether a snippet is Bash or PowerShell.

Line numbers

Line numbers are on by default. Select the block and choose Hide line numbers to turn them off, which is handy for one-line commands. Choose Show line numbers to bring them back.

Wrapping long lines

Long lines scroll sideways by default. Select Wrap code to wrap them instead, or Unwrap code to go back. The setting you choose while editing is saved with the page. When a reader toggles wrapping in view mode, it only changes their view.

Formatting code

For JavaScript and JSX, JSON and SQL, Confluence can tidy spacing and indentation for you. This is useful for minified JSON from an API response or a long one-line SQL query.

What changed from the old Code Block macro

If you've used Confluence Server, Data Center or the legacy Cloud editor, you'll remember the Code Block macro. It had a few settings the new code snippet doesn't:

Old Code Block macro	New code snippet	Workaround
Title shown in a header row	No title	Put a short heading or bold line above the block
Collapsible	Not collapsible	Wrap the block in an Expand element (`/expand`)
First line number setting	Always starts at 1	Add a note above the block, or use a comment for context
Themes (Midnight, Eclipse, RDark and others)	Follows the Confluence theme, including dark mode	Use an app if you need a custom look
Language picked by hand	Auto-detect plus manual picker	None needed

Collapsible code snippets are an open feature request with Atlassian (CONFCLOUD-71495), so the Expand element is the practical answer for now. Atlassian is also retiring the legacy editor, so old pages will move to the new code snippet over time.

Common problems and how to fix them

Problem	Why it happens	Fix
Backticks stay as text	The shortcut only converts text as you type it, not pasted text	Select the text and press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+M
Indentation is lost after pasting	Code was pasted into a normal paragraph first	Insert an empty code block, then paste into it
Wrong colours in the block	Auto-detect guessed the wrong language	Pick the language from the dropdown
Readers scroll sideways forever	Long lines with wrapping off	Turn on Wrap code, or break lines in the code itself
Can't type normal text after inline code	Cursor is still inside the code formatting	Press the right arrow key, or toggle the shortcut off
Page is a wall of code	Whole files pasted into one block	Split into short blocks with a sentence before each one

Writing code in Markdown inside Confluence

Some teams would rather write docs in Markdown and keep the same files in Git. Confluence's editor accepts Markdown shortcuts while you type, but it doesn't store or render a Markdown document as a whole. If you paste a README full of fenced code blocks, it won't come out as you expect. We cover the options in more detail in how to write Markdown in Confluence.

If that's your workflow, Markdown Renderer for Confluence renders GitHub-flavoured Markdown inside a macro, including fenced code blocks with syntax highlighting and inline code in single backticks:

## Install

Run `npm install` first, then start the server:

```bash
npm run dev -- --port 3000
```

The source stays as plain Markdown, so you can copy it between Confluence, GitHub and your editor without reformatting. For fully custom styling, such as a branded code block or a tabbed example, you can also build it yourself with HTML Macro+ for Confluence.

Tips for readable code in Confluence

Keep blocks short. One block per step reads better than one block for the whole procedure.
Explain before you show. Add a sentence above each block saying what it does and where to run it.
Always set the language when auto-detect isn't sure. It's the quickest readability win.
Use inline code for names, not emphasis. If it isn't something you'd type, it doesn't need code formatting.
Never paste secrets. API keys and passwords in code blocks end up in page history, exports and search.
Mark placeholders clearly, for example <your-api-key>, so nobody runs a command with a dummy value.

For bigger documentation projects, see our guides on documenting APIs in Confluence and using Confluence as a developer wiki.

Frequently asked questions

How do I format inline code in Confluence?

Type the text between backticks, like `this`, or select it and press Ctrl+Shift+M (Cmd+Shift+M on a Mac). You can also choose Code from the Format text menu in the toolbar.

What is the keyboard shortcut for inline code in Confluence?

Ctrl+Shift+M on Windows and Linux, Cmd+Shift+M on a Mac. Press it again to remove the formatting.

How do I insert a code block in Confluence?

Type three backticks on an empty line, or type /code and choose Code snippet. You can also click + in the toolbar and pick Code snippet.

Can I make a Confluence code block collapsible?

Not directly. The new code snippet has no collapse option. Put the code block inside an Expand element instead, so readers click to open it.

Can I hide line numbers in a Confluence code block?

Yes. Select the code block and choose Hide line numbers from its toolbar.

Do these shortcuts work in Jira?

Jira Cloud uses the same editor for descriptions and comments, so backticks, three backticks and /code work there too.

Wrapping up

For Confluence inline code, type backticks or press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+M. For a code block, type three backticks or /code, set the language, and decide on line numbers and wrapping. If your team lives in Markdown, render it with a Markdown macro instead of fighting the editor.

Have a Confluence formatting question we didn't cover? Ask us through our support portal.