***

title: Add input blocks to your notebook
updated: 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
slug: docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-input-blocks
max-toc-depth: 2
----------------

You can add variables and reference them elsewhere in your notebook to create an interactive experience. For example, you can add an input block for your API consumer's email address and [use a request block](/docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-request-blocks/) to send them a welcome message.

## Add an input block

To add an input block, do the following:

1. Open your notebook or [create a new one](https://www.postman.com/notebook/new).

2. Place your cursor where you want to add the input block. Then, type a forward slash ("/"). Postman displays a block menu.

3. Choose an input block type:

   * <img alt="String icon" src="https://assets.postman.com/postman-docs/aether-icons/descriptive-string-stroke.svg#icon" width="16px" /> **Text** - Choose for strings, such as names or email addresses.
   * <img alt="Number icon" src="https://assets.postman.com/postman-docs/aether-icons/descriptive-number-stroke.svg#icon" width="16px" /> **Number** - Choose for numbers, such as integers or floats.
   * <img alt="Lock icon" src="https://assets.postman.com/postman-docs/aether-icons/action-lock-stroke.svg#icon" width="16px" /> **Secret** - Choose for sensitive data, such as API keys or tokens.

   <Warning title="Important" class="important-callout">
     Protect your sensitive data. If Postman detects any API keys, tokens, or similar, it replaces them with placeholders. To learn more, see [Postman Secret Scanner](/docs/administration/managing-your-team/secret-scanner/overview/).
   </Warning>

4. Name your input block.

5. (Optional) Define a default value.

## Reference your input block

You can reference your input block by name. For example, if you name your input block "email", you can reference it in text, another input block, or a [request block](/docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-request-blocks/) with the syntax `{{email}}`. Or you can reference it in a [script runner block](/docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-code-runner-blocks/) with the syntax `$email`.

To reference your input block, do the following:

1. Open your notebook or [create a new one](https://www.postman.com/notebook/new).
2. Get your input block's name.
3. Reference your input block:

   * To reference your input block in text, another input block, or a request block, use the syntax `{{inputBlockName}}`.
   * To reference your input block in a script runner block, use the syntax `$inputBlockName`.