***

title: Add input blocks to your notebook
updated: 2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
slug: docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-input-blocks
max-toc-depth: 2
----------------

Add variables to 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.

You can also reference an input block's value elsewhere in your notebook.

## 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, enter 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 Input** - 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 Input** - 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 Input** - 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

Reference your input block by name. For example, if you name your input block "email", you can reference its value with the syntax `{{email}}` in text, another input block, a [request block](/docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-request-blocks/), or an [AI request block](/docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-ai-request-blocks/).

Or you can reference it with the syntax `$email` in a [script runner block](/docs/postman-api-network/showcase/publish/notebooks/draft/add-script-runner-blocks/).

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