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---
stage: Create
group: Source Code
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
description: "Use the Web Editor to create, upload, and edit text files directly in the GitLab UI."
---
# Web Editor
DETAILS:
**Tier:** Free, Premium, Ultimate
**Offering:** GitLab.com, Self-managed, GitLab Dedicated
You can use the Web Editor to make changes to a single file directly from the GitLab UI.
To make changes to multiple files, see [Web IDE](../web_ide/index.md).
Your [primary email address](../../profile/index.md#change-the-email-displayed-on-your-commits)
is used by default for any change you commit with the Web Editor.
## Create a file
To create a text file in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Go to the directory where you want to create the new file.
1. Next to the directory name, select the plus icon (**{plus}**) > **New file**.
1. Complete the fields.
To create a merge request with your changes, enter a branch name
that's not your repository's [default branch](branches/default.md).
1. Select **Commit changes**.
### From a template
To create a text file from a template in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Go to the directory where you want to create the new file.
1. Next to the directory name, select the plus icon (**{plus}**) > **New file**.
1. In **Filename**, enter a name that GitLab provides a template for:
- `.gitignore`
- `.gitlab-ci.yml`
- `LICENSE`
- `Dockerfile`
1. From the **Apply a template** dropdown list, select a template.
1. Complete the fields.
To create a merge request with your changes, enter a branch name
that's not your repository's [default branch](branches/default.md).
1. Select **Commit changes**.
## Edit a file
To edit a text file in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Go to the file you want to edit.
1. Select **Edit > Edit single file**.
1. Complete the fields.
To create a merge request with your changes, enter a branch name
that's not your repository's [default branch](branches/default.md).
1. Select **Commit changes**.
### Preview Markdown
> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/378966) in GitLab 15.6.
To preview a Markdown file in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Go to the file you want to preview.
1. Select **Edit > Edit single file**.
1. Select the **Preview** tab.
You can see a live Markdown preview alongside your content.
To close the preview panel, select the **Write** tab.
### Link to specific lines
To link to single or multiple lines in the Web Editor, add hash
information to the filename segment of the URL. For example:
- `MY_FILE.js#L3` highlights line 3 in `MY_FILE.js`.
- `MY_FILE.js#L3-10` highlights lines 3 to 10 in `MY_FILE.js`.
When you edit a file, you can also link to a single line by selecting a line number.
## Upload a file
To upload a file in the Web Editor:
<!-- This list is duplicated at doc/user/project/repository/index.md#add-a-file-from-the-ui -->
<!-- For why we duplicated the info, see https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/111072#note_1267429478 -->
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Go to the directory where you want to upload the file.
1. Next to the directory name, select the plus icon (**{plus}**) > **Upload file**.
1. Complete the fields.
To create a merge request with your changes, enter a branch name
that's not your repository's [default branch](branches/default.md).
1. Select **Upload file**.
## Delete a file
NOTE:
You cannot delete a file from a [protected branch](../protected_branches.md)
without the necessary [permissions](../../permissions.md).
To delete a file in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Go to the file you want to delete.
1. Select **Delete**.
1. In **Commit message**, enter a reason for the commit.
1. Choose between the following options:
- To delete a file from the prefilled target branch, select **Commit changes**.
- To delete a file from a new branch and commit changes:
1. Select **Commit to a new branch**.
1. Enter a branch name.
1. Ensure the **Create a merge request for this change** checkbox is cleared.
1. Select **Commit changes**.
- To delete a file from a new branch, commit changes, and create a merge request:
1. In **Target branch**, enter a branch name.
1. Select **Commit to a new branch**.
1. Enter a branch name.
1. Ensure the **Create a merge request for this change** checkbox is selected.
1. Select **Commit changes**.
## Create a directory
To create a directory in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Go to the directory where you want to create the new directory.
1. Next to the directory name, select the plus icon (**{plus}**) > **New directory**.
1. Complete the fields.
To create a merge request with your changes, enter a branch name
that's not your repository's [default branch](branches/default.md).
1. Select **Create directory**.
## Create a branch
To create a [branch](branches/index.md) in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Next to the repository name, select the plus icon (**{plus}**) > **New branch**.
1. Complete the fields.
1. Select **Create branch**.
## Create a tag
You can create [tags](tags/index.md) to mark milestones such as
production releases and release candidates. To create a tag in the Web Editor:
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to** and find your project.
1. Next to the repository name, select the plus icon (**{plus}**) > **New tag**.
1. Complete the fields.
1. Select **Create tag**.
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