Stencila supports two related document-composition features:

These features are useful when you want to compose larger documents from reusable parts or build parameterized document workflows.

Use ::: include to include content from another document:

Relative paths are resolved from the current document. Includes are useful when you want to reuse content without duplicating it across files.

Includes can also reference remote documents:

You can also add options, for example to control formatting or select a fragment:

In this example, format requests a specific source format, select targets a fragment within the source document, and always indicates that the include should always be resolved rather than left as a deferred reference.

Use ::: call to call another executable document:

Calls are most useful when the target document accepts parameters and computes outputs dynamically.

Calls can pass arguments directly:

Arguments can also be expressions:

And they can mix names and value types:

Arguments are matched to parameters by name. Values can be plain literals or executable expressions, depending on what the called document expects.

Use an include when you want to insert existing document content.

Use a call when you want to invoke another executable document, especially when that document accepts parameters or produces outputs dynamically.

For related authoring features, see:

For the formal Stencila Schema definitions behind these features, see: