Cards vs. Documents
You can use Cards to completely replace Documents in your workspace — or use them both simultaneously for different purposes. Let’s take a look at the key similarities and differences between Documents and Cards.
Similarities
- Content is created with the same text editor
- Activity section records change history and includes area for commenting
- Set roles, permissions and privacy at the space level
Differences
There are a few important differences between Cards and Documents, which are summarized in the table below:
| Feature | Documents | Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Attributes | Attributes are defined by the system (title, content, created by, etc.) and cannot be changed | In addition to the default attributes defined by the system, you can also define as many custom attributes as you want |
| Sorting and filtering | Cannot be sorted or filtered by attributes | Can be sorted and filtered by attributes |
| Attachments | No designated area for file attachments (you can only send attachments with a comment in the Activity section) | Designated area for attachments |
| Organizational structure | Nested, where documents can be nested within other documents | Organized by Type, where Cards of the same Type are grouped together |
| Relations | Can be linked together in a 1:1 relation through @ mentions and backlinks | Can be linked through parent-child relations, and using References and Relations defined on their Type |
Cards provide a flexible foundation for organizing knowledge with custom Types, Tags and Relations.
Okay, that was a lot of information … so which should I choose?
Let’s keep it simple!
Use Cards if:
- You need to add custom attributes to your docs, like “client”, “document type” or “status”
- You need to be able to sort and filter your content by attributes
- You need to define specific relations between types of entities; for example:
Contract ←→ Client - You plan to build processes and workflows around your Cards in the future
Use Documents if:
- Your docs organization is simple, where the nested document structure is sufficient
- You need to jot down some quick notes, without needing to store them in a structured format
Of course, the best way to find out which system is right for you is to try them both and see what works. Happy exploring! 🚀