---
title: "Block elements"
description: "How blockquotes, code blocks, horizontal rules, hard breaks, and page breaks are handled across the DOCX conversion pipeline."
canonical_url: "https://tiptap.dev/docs/conversion/content-types/structures-and-media/block-elements"
---

# Block elements

How blockquotes, code blocks, horizontal rules, hard breaks, and page breaks are handled across the DOCX conversion pipeline.

Block elements define the structural layout of a document: quoted passages, preformatted code, visual dividers, and line breaks. All are included in StarterKit. Support varies across the pipeline.

## What you need

- **Extensions:** `StarterKit` (includes `Blockquote`, `CodeBlock`, `HorizontalRule`, and `HardBreak`)
- **Configuration:** None required. Page breaks require a separate extension and are covered on their [own page](https://tiptap.dev/docs/conversion/content-types/page-layout/page-breaks.md).
- **Integration paths:** Import and export work identically via both the [editor extension](https://tiptap.dev/docs/conversion/import/docx/editor-extension.md) and [REST API](https://tiptap.dev/docs/conversion/import/docx/rest-api.md).

## Support overview

|                 | Import                                                                                         | Editor                 | Export                  |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------- |
| Blockquote      | Supported                                                                                      | Supported (StarterKit) | Supported               |
| Code block      | Not supported                                                                                  | Supported (StarterKit) | Not supported (dropped) |
| Horizontal rule | Supported                                                                                      | Supported (StarterKit) | Supported               |
| Hard break      | Supported                                                                                      | Supported (StarterKit) | Supported               |
| Page break      | See [Page breaks](https://tiptap.dev/docs/conversion/content-types/page-layout/page-breaks.md) |                        |                         |

## Blockquote

In Word, blockquotes are paragraphs with a "Quote" style (matched case-insensitively).

The import produces a `blockquote` node wrapping one or more `paragraph` children. Inline formatting inside the quote is preserved.

The export writes paragraphs with the "Quote" style back to DOCX. Blockquotes round-trip correctly.

**Extension:** [`Blockquote`](https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/nodes/blockquote.md) (StarterKit) | **Shortcut:** Cmd+Shift+B

## Code block

The DOCX import does not map any Word style to `codeBlock` nodes. Code blocks are available in the editor via StarterKit but have no import or export support in the conversion pipeline.

> **Code blocks have no DOCX conversion support:**
>
> Code blocks are neither imported from nor exported to DOCX. On export, `codeBlock` nodes are not converted. If your workflow requires round-tripping code blocks, register custom node handlers on both the import and export extensions.

**Extension:** [`CodeBlock`](https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/nodes/code-block.md) (StarterKit) | **Shortcut:** Cmd+Alt+C

## Horizontal rule

Horizontal rules in Word are typically VML shapes (`v:rect` with `o:hr` attributes, `v:line` elements). The import detects these and creates `horizontalRule` nodes.

The export produces valid Word horizontal rules using VML shapes. Horizontal rules round-trip correctly.

**Extension:** [`HorizontalRule`](https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/nodes/horizontal-rule.md) (StarterKit) | **Input rules:** `---`, `___`, `***`

## Hard break

A hard break (Shift+Enter) creates a new line within the same paragraph. In Word this is a `<w:br/>` element. Hard breaks round-trip correctly.

**Extension:** [`HardBreak`](https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/nodes/hard-break.md) (StarterKit) | **Shortcut:** Shift+Enter

## Page break

Page breaks have been moved to the [Page breaks](https://tiptap.dev/docs/conversion/content-types/page-layout/page-breaks.md) page under Page layout.

## Export

| Element         | DOCX output                                                                                    |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Blockquote      | Paragraphs with "Quote" style                                                                  |
| Code block      | Not exported                                                                                   |
| Horizontal rule | VML horizontal rule shape                                                                      |
| Hard break      | `<w:br/>` within a text run                                                                    |
| Page break      | See [Page breaks](https://tiptap.dev/docs/conversion/content-types/page-layout/page-breaks.md) |