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Notion Rich Text Reference

This document provides comprehensive documentation for rich text objects in the Notion API.

Rich Text Array Structure

Rich text in Notion is represented as an array of rich text objects. Each block or property that supports formatted text uses this structure:

{
  "rich_text": [
    {
      "type": "text",
      "text": {"content": "Hello "},
      "annotations": {"bold": false, "italic": false, "strikethrough": false, "underline": false, "code": false, "color": "default"},
      "plain_text": "Hello ",
      "href": null
    },
    {
      "type": "text",
      "text": {"content": "world", "link": {"url": "https://example.com"}},
      "annotations": {"bold": true, "italic": false, "strikethrough": false, "underline": false, "code": false, "color": "default"},
      "plain_text": "world",
      "href": "https://example.com"
    }
  ]
}

Common Fields

All rich text objects contain:

Rich Text Types

Text

Basic text content with optional link:

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": {
    "content": "Link text",
    "link": {"url": "https://example.com"}
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "Link text",
  "href": "https://example.com"
}

Without link:

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": {
    "content": "Plain text"
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "Plain text",
  "href": null
}

Equation

Inline mathematical expressions using LaTeX/KaTeX:

{
  "type": "equation",
  "equation": {
    "expression": "E = mc^2"
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "E = mc^2",
  "href": null
}

Mention

References to other Notion objects or users.

User Mention

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "user",
    "user": {
      "object": "user",
      "id": "user-uuid",
      "name": "John Doe",
      "avatar_url": "https://...",
      "type": "person",
      "person": {"email": "john@example.com"}
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "@John Doe",
  "href": "https://www.notion.so/user-uuid"
}

Page Mention

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "page",
    "page": {
      "id": "page-uuid"
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "Page Title",
  "href": "https://www.notion.so/page-uuid"
}

Note: If the integration doesn't have access to the mentioned page, only the ID is returned.

Database Mention

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "database",
    "database": {
      "id": "database-uuid"
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "Database Title",
  "href": "https://www.notion.so/database-uuid"
}

Date Mention

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "date",
    "date": {
      "start": "2024-01-15",
      "end": null,
      "time_zone": null
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "January 15, 2024",
  "href": null
}

With date range:

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "date",
    "date": {
      "start": "2024-01-15",
      "end": "2024-01-20",
      "time_zone": null
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "January 15, 2024 → January 20, 2024",
  "href": null
}

Link Preview Mention

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "link_preview",
    "link_preview": {
      "url": "https://github.com/..."
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "https://github.com/...",
  "href": "https://github.com/..."
}

Template Mention (Date)

Used in template blocks for dynamic dates:

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "template_mention",
    "template_mention": {
      "type": "template_mention_date",
      "template_mention_date": "today"
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "@today",
  "href": null
}

Template date options: today, now

Template Mention (User)

Used in template blocks for dynamic user references:

{
  "type": "mention",
  "mention": {
    "type": "template_mention",
    "template_mention": {
      "type": "template_mention_user",
      "template_mention_user": "me"
    }
  },
  "annotations": { /* ... */ },
  "plain_text": "@me",
  "href": null
}

Annotations

Annotations control text styling:

{
  "annotations": {
    "bold": false,
    "italic": false,
    "strikethrough": false,
    "underline": false,
    "code": false,
    "color": "default"
  }
}

Color Options

Text colors:

• default
• gray
• brown
• orange
• yellow
• green
• blue
• purple
• pink
• red

Background colors:

• gray_background
• brown_background
• orange_background
• yellow_background
• green_background
• blue_background
• purple_background
• pink_background
• red_background

Creating Rich Text

Simple Text

[
  {
    "type": "text",
    "text": {"content": "Simple text"}
  }
]

Formatted Text

[
  {
    "type": "text",
    "text": {"content": "Bold and italic"},
    "annotations": {"bold": true, "italic": true}
  }
]

Mixed Formatting

[
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "Normal "}},
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "bold"}, "annotations": {"bold": true}},
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": " and "}},
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "italic"}, "annotations": {"italic": true}},
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": " text."}}
]

Text with Link

[
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "Check out "}},
  {
    "type": "text",
    "text": {"content": "this link", "link": {"url": "https://example.com"}}
  },
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": " for more info."}}
]

Code Styling

[
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "Use the "}},
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "console.log()"}, "annotations": {"code": true}},
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": " function."}}
]

Colored Text

[
  {
    "type": "text",
    "text": {"content": "Important!"},
    "annotations": {"color": "red", "bold": true}
  }
]

With Background Color

[
  {
    "type": "text",
    "text": {"content": "Highlighted text"},
    "annotations": {"color": "yellow_background"}
  }
]

User Mention

[
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "Assigned to "}},
  {
    "type": "mention",
    "mention": {
      "type": "user",
      "user": {"id": "user-uuid"}
    }
  }
]

Page Mention

[
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "See also: "}},
  {
    "type": "mention",
    "mention": {
      "type": "page",
      "page": {"id": "page-uuid"}
    }
  }
]

Date Mention

[
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "Due: "}},
  {
    "type": "mention",
    "mention": {
      "type": "date",
      "date": {"start": "2024-12-31"}
    }
  }
]

Inline Equation

[
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "The formula is "}},
  {"type": "equation", "equation": {"expression": "x = \\frac{-b \\pm \\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}"}},
  {"type": "text", "text": {"content": "."}}
]

Limits

Reading Rich Text

When processing rich text from API responses, you can:

1. Get plain text: Concatenate all plain_text values
2. Preserve formatting: Process each object and apply annotations
3. Extract links: Check href field or text.link.url

Example (JavaScript):

function getPlainText(richTextArray) {
  return richTextArray.map(rt => rt.plain_text).join('');
}

function getLinks(richTextArray) {
  return richTextArray
    .filter(rt => rt.href)
    .map(rt => ({text: rt.plain_text, url: rt.href}));
}

Example (bash with jq):

# Get plain text
echo "$rich_text_json" | jq -r '[.[].plain_text] | join("")'

# Get all links
echo "$rich_text_json" | jq '[.[] | select(.href != null) | {text: .plain_text, url: .href}]'