---
id: canvas
title: Canvas and Layout
---

**Canvas** is the main area in the app-builder where you build your application and design the user interface.

<img className="screenshot-full img-full" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/canvas.png" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

## Customizing Canvas

Through Global Settings, you can customize the following properties of the **Canvas**:

- **Max width of canvas**: Defines the maximum width of the canvas, which can be set in pixels or as a percentage of the screen size. The height of the canvas expands automatically as more components are added.
- **Canvas background**: Sets the background color of the canvas. This can also be controlled dynamically by clicking on **fx** and entering a logical expression.
- **App mode**: You can choose from three theme modes
    - **Auto**: Adapts to the browser's theme settings or allows users to switch between light and dark modes.
    - **Light**: Keeps the app in light mode, users cannot switch to dark mode.
    - **Dark**: Keeps the app in dark mode, users cannot switch to light mode.

<img className="screenshot-full img-s" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/global-settings.png" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

## Building the User Interface

To build the user interface, components can be dragged from the [Components Library](/docs/app-builder/building-ui/component-library) on the right. Use the Component Handle to reposition a component. A component can be resized from any of its edges or corners.

<img className="screenshot-full img-full" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/drag.gif" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

### Grid, Snapping and Markers

ToolJet's Canvas provides a grid background, smart snapping, and visual markers to support precise alignment and positioning of components. Components automatically snap to grid lines and nearby elements, reducing the need for manual adjustments. Each cell on the canvas grid has a fixed height of 10 pixels. The width of each cell adjusts based on the screen size.

<img className="screenshot-full img-m" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/snap.png" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

## Creating Layout

In ToolJet, components can be grouped using a Layout component such as a **[Container](/docs/widgets/container)** or a **[Form](/docs/widgets/form)**. You can drag and drop the relevant components into the layout components on the canvas to create a section.

<img className="screenshot-full img-m" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/form.png" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

## Managing Components on Canvas

#### Select and Move Multiple Components

You can select multiple components by clicking and dragging over them, or by clicking individually while holding the Shift key. Once selected, all components can be moved together as a group.

#### Copy Components

Components on the canvas can be copied using **Cmd/Ctrl + C**.

<img className="screenshot-full img-m" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/copy.png" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

#### Paste Components

Copied components can be pasted onto the canvas using **Cmd/Ctrl + V**.

<img className="screenshot-full img-m" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/paste.png" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

#### Clone Components

Components on the canvas can be cloned using **Cmd/Ctrl + D**. Unlike copy and paste, cloning creates a duplicate of the selected component instantly.

<img className="screenshot-full img-m" src="/img/app-builder/canvas/clone.png" alt="App Builder: Canvas"/>

<br/><br/>

:::note
For additional shortcuts, refer to the [Keyboard Shortcuts Guide](/docs/tutorial/keyboard-shortcuts).
:::