---
title: "Real-time collaboration"
description: "Real-time collaboration extensions let several people edit a document at the same time and show where the others are typing."
canonical_url: "https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/collaboration"
---

# Real-time collaboration

Real-time collaboration extensions let several people edit a document at the same time and show where the others are typing.

## When you use them

- **Editing together.** Collaboration syncs the editor with a Y.js document, so several people can edit it at the same time.
- **Seeing each other.** Collaboration caret shows the carets, selections, names, and colors of the other people while they type.

## How they work

- **They need a sync server.** Connect the editor to the [Document Server](https://tiptap.dev/docs/collaboration/getting-started/overview.md), in Tiptap Cloud or on-premises, or to the open source [Hocuspocus](https://tiptap.dev/docs/hocuspocus/getting-started/overview.md).
- **Collaboration caret needs Collaboration.** It takes the Y.js provider and the current user's name and color. It has no default styles, so you add CSS for the carets.
- **Collaboration has its own undo and redo.** Turn off [Undo and redo](https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/functionality/undo-redo.md), in the StarterKit with `undoRedo: false`.
- **You add them yourself.** Neither is part of the [StarterKit](https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/functionality/starterkit.md).

## Related

- [Install Collaboration](https://tiptap.dev/docs/collaboration/getting-started/install.md) with the Document Server.
- [Document helpers](https://tiptap.dev/docs/editor/extensions/document-helpers.md) include Unique ID, which you mount after the collaboration provider has synced.