# How to use the editor (/editor/tutorial)

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Related: [Git essentials for the editor](/editor/git-essentials.md), [Create and edit pages](/editor/pages.md), [Organize navigation](/editor/navigation.md), [Live preview](/editor/live-preview.md), [Branching and publishing](/editor/branching-and-publishing.md), [Comment on pages in the editor](/editor/comments.md)

This tutorial walks you through a complete content update using the editor. You'll create a branch, make a change, share a preview for review, and publish your changes.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a branch">
    A branch is a temporary copy of your content. It's where you make your changes without affecting your live site. You can merge a branch into your live site or safely discard it if you choose not to make the changes.

    Working on a branch keeps your edits separate from your live site until you're ready to share the content with your users.

    1. In the editor toolbar, click the branch name (usually `main`).
       <Frame>
         <img src="/_assets/17722a391e0089ff57e2ea13efa88a05aa02737adf1007a65ef8a64e0c33bb26" alt="Branch name emphasized in the editor toolbar." className="block dark:hidden" />

         <img src="/_assets/800c6e370347f2aecbb64547fcf893bbc3af053e0d266073595c2e03f0035c8b" alt="Branch name emphasized in the editor toolbar." className="hidden dark:block" />
       </Frame>
    2. Click **Create new branch**.
    3. Enter a name that describes your change, like `update-quickstart`.
    4. Click **Create branch**.

    The editor switches to your new branch. Any changes you make are only on the branch. They only appear on your live site if you complete the publishing process.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your changes">
    Edit an existing page or create a new one.

    **To edit a page**: Click the page name in the navigation sidebar to open it. Type directly in the editor to add content. Press <kbd>/</kbd> to insert components, images, or other content.

    **To create a page**: Click the <Icon icon="<svg xmlns=&#x22;http://www.w3.org/2000/svg&#x22; viewBox=&#x22;0 0 24 24&#x22; fill=&#x22;none&#x22;><path d=&#x22;M12.001 5.00003V19.002&#x22; stroke=&#x22;currentColor&#x22; stroke-linecap=&#x22;round&#x22; stroke-linejoin=&#x22;round&#x22; stroke-width=&#x22;1.5&#x22;/><path d=&#x22;M19.002 12.002L4.99998 12.002&#x22; stroke=&#x22;currentColor&#x22; stroke-linecap=&#x22;round&#x22; stroke-linejoin=&#x22;round&#x22; stroke-width=&#x22;1.5&#x22;/></svg>" /> plus button next to the navigation group where you want to add the page, then click **Add a page** and enter a filename.

    <Frame>
      <img src="/_assets/f47ee86e58130d31ac32025b41844b41994767340a2a5945b1f4cf12093fba05" alt="The add page menu opened beside a group in the editor." className="block dark:hidden" />

      <img src="/_assets/59890ba1296fb5bf1d5e8ba00723aa0a411303d1f351ada93bbabf452e3dd6e1" alt="The add page menu opened beside a group in the editor." className="hidden dark:block" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish your branch">
    When you're ready for review, create a pull request from your branch. A pull request is a proposal to merge your changes into the branch that builds your live site. Your changes only go live after someone approves and merges the pull request.

    1. Click **Publish** in the toolbar to open the publish menu.
       <Frame>
         <img src="/_assets/6a93664d41b6b76b5f5edefe683e8b2ffe5f903e84ed58c3db3247e110a10d0d" alt="The publish menu opened in the editor toolbar." className="block dark:hidden" />

         <img src="/_assets/d720a56afe160ee5692808f1c977251fd276081380107b1042c12bf8bf716543" alt="The publish menu opened in the editor toolbar." className="hidden dark:block" />
       </Frame>
    2. Optionally, click any changed file in the list to view and compare your edits against the published version.
    3. Click **Create pull request**. Add a title and description, then click **Publish pull request**.

    <Note>
      You can also click **Save in branch** to commit your changes without opening a pull request yet. This is useful if you want to keep editing before requesting review.
    </Note>

    After you create the pull request, a preview deployment builds automatically. The publish menu shows the preview URL, a temporary link where your changes render exactly as they would on your live site. Share this URL with your reviewers.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get your pull request approved">
    Share the pull request with your team. Reviewers can open the pull request in GitHub or GitLab to leave comments, request changes, or approve it.

    If a reviewer requests changes, make the edits in the editor on the same branch. Your updates push to the existing pull request automatically. You don't need to create a new one.

    When all required reviewers have approved, the pull request is ready to merge.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Merge and publish">
    With the pull request approved, click **Publish** in the toolbar to reopen the publish menu. The menu now shows the pull request status and an option to merge.

    Click **Merge and publish**. The editor merges the pull request and switches you back to your deployment branch. Mintlify builds and deploys your changes. Your live site updates in about 30 seconds to a few minutes.
  </Step>
</Steps>