---
sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/servicenow-platform

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities

ft:clusterId :

    - platcap

bundleId :

    - platcap

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Knowledge blocks in Knowledge Center

# Knowledge blocks in Knowledge Center {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read

Knowledge blocks are reusable pieces of content secured by customizable user criteria that you can add to knowledge articles in a knowledge base. The user criteria determine which user roles can or can't read the block content
in an article, enabling only relevant content to be visible to that user.

## How to use knowledge blocks {#kc-knowledge-blocks__id_t1s_zpb_l3c}

To use knowledge blocks, a knowledge administrator or manager must enable the knowledge blocks feature for each knowledge base.

[Enable knowledge blocks in the Knowledge Center](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dghiGGs5kEFRPbZlXV7mLQ "Enable the knowledge blocks feature for each knowledge base where you plan to use the blocks. Once enabled, you can create knowledge blocks to add to knowledge articles within a knowledge base.")

Knowledge contributors can create knowledge blocks and insert them into articles in a knowledge base. Knowledge blocks aren't supported for wiki formats. By default, the knowledge block doesn't show files attached to it. However, you
can see that images and text are visible on knowledge bases created from block files.

* [Create a knowledge block in the Knowledge Center](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/rVIrrzTiMNCV5YpYj13xHQ "Create a knowledge block to define a reusable piece of content that can be inserted into knowledge articles in a knowledge base. The knowledge block is secured by user criteria, which controls what users, groups, and roles, can read the content in an article, allowing display of content that is relevant only to them.")
* [Add a knowledge block to a knowledge article](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ZSMoYcpW4cFFSa0Dy1PBlA "Insert one or more knowledge blocks into a knowledge article within a knowledge base. Each knowledge block is secured by user criteria, which controls who can read or not read the content in an article.")
* [Edit a knowledge block in a knowledge article](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5fyflEGKNS2DGTx9bU7xqA "Edit knowledge blocks within a knowledge article to update the reused content across articles within the knowledge base.")

{#kc-knowledge-blocks__ul_xsr_2mk_m3c}

Knowledge block content visibility in an article is controlled by criteria set at both the knowledge base and knowledge block levels. See [Select user criteria for a knowledge block](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/qfjJ~nuhAyfBYtUf7wDI7Q "Control which users can read or not read knowledge block content within an article in a knowledge base by setting user criteria at the knowledge base and knowledge block level. As a knowledge contributor, you can apply user criteria at the knowledge block level.") for more information.

Knowledge blocks don't show up in a search until they're published. Unpublished ones are hidden until they're ready.  

## Holiday calendar with location-specific knowledge block content {#kc-knowledge-blocks__knowledge-blocks-example}

Your company has offices in different locations, and each location has different holidays. There are a few ways that you can set up a holiday calendar in your knowledge base so employees can easily find the holidays
that apply to them.{#kc-knowledge-blocks__p_qg2_nfg_h1c}

One way is that you could create a knowledge article for each location, with an article for Location A, Location B, and so on.{#kc-knowledge-blocks__p_rg2_nfg_h1c}

* Pros: simplified consumption. Employees have a single article to search for and read.
* Cons: more work for HR. HR has multiple articles to manage and update for each location where the company has employees.

{#kc-knowledge-blocks__ul_nck_b41_2db}

Another way is that you could create a single knowledge article that includes sections for each location.{#kc-knowledge-blocks__p_sg2_nfg_h1c}

* Pros: simplified authoring. HR has a single article to manage and update.
* Cons: more work for employees. Employee must scroll through and disregard extraneous content to find the section in the article that pertains to them.

{#kc-knowledge-blocks__ul_t1v_b41_2db}

With knowledge blocks, you can create a single knowledge article with location-specific block content secured by user criteria. This approach helps to reduce the workload for both HR and employees. As an HR agent, you
have a single article to manage and update. Employees have a single article to search for and read, with the user criteria confirming that they only view content that is relevant to them.{#kc-knowledge-blocks__p_tg2_nfg_h1c}

## Activation information {#kc-knowledge-blocks__section_uvh_rq5_l3c}

To use knowledge blocks in your application, you must [activate knowledge blocks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/0n8EwrU72nubrezXsKC2aw "You can activate knowledge blocks [com.snc.knowledge_blocks] if you have the admin role. This plugin includes demo data and activates related plugins if they are not already active."). For information on what components are installed with the feature, see [Components installed with knowledge blocks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4InSFhV0jxXKwbNIgqFYTA "Several types of components are installed with activation of the knowledge blocks plugin, including tables.").{#kc-knowledge-blocks__p_wg2_nfg_h1c}  
Note:  
Activating knowledge blocks automatically activates Knowledge Management Advanced, which enables advanced features such as article versioning. Knowledge blocks can be used with or without the article versioning feature. To disable the feature, see [Disable the article versioning feature](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/U4APia4COPlQjYRStgHIjw "Users with the system administrator role can disable the article versioning feature by setting a property.").