How to Use the Templates and Symbols Element in Thrive Architect

In this article, you’ll learn how to use the Templates and Symbols element in Thrive Architect. This element lets you insert reusable content blocks into your pages—either as one-time templates or as globally linked symbols that update everywhere when edited in one place.

Templates and symbols are powerful tools for maintaining consistency across your site. A template is a saved content block that you insert as a one-time copy—changes to the inserted content do not affect the original. A symbol, on the other hand, is globally linked—editing it in one location automatically updates every instance across your entire site.

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Understanding Templates vs. Symbols

Before working with the element, it’s important to understand the key difference between templates and symbols:

• Templates — Saved content blocks that are inserted as independent copies. Once placed on a page, the content is no longer connected to the original template. You can edit the inserted copy freely without affecting the original or any other pages.
• Symbols — Globally linked content blocks. Every instance of a symbol is connected. When you edit a symbol, the changes propagate to every page where that symbol appears.

Key characteristics:

• Templates are ideal for starting points—pre-designed layouts you customize per page
• Symbols are ideal for repeated content that must stay identical everywhere, such as headers, footers, call-to-action sections, or legal disclaimers
• A symbol can be “unlinked” to convert it into regular editable content, breaking the global connection
• Both templates and symbols are managed from Thrive Dashboard › Global Elements

Tip: Use symbols for any content block that appears on multiple pages and needs to stay consistent. This saves significant time when you need to make site-wide updates.

Adding the Templates and Symbols Element to a Page

Follow these steps to insert a template or symbol onto your page:

1. Open your page or post in the Thrive Architect editor.
2. Click Add Element in the right sidebar to open the element panel.
3. Type Templates & Symbols in the search field at the top of the panel.
4. Alternatively, find the Templates & Symbols element in the Foundation section at the top of the element list.

   

5. Drag the element from the panel and drop it onto your page canvas.

A window opens with your saved templates and symbols. Browse the library, then click the item you want to insert.

Note: Once the content is inserted, the element has the standard Layout and Responsive settings in the left sidebar. If you inserted a symbol, the sidebar also shows a Main Options panel with the Edit as Symbol and Unlink buttons, described below.

Browsing and Selecting From the Library

When the window opens after you drop the element onto the canvas, you can:

• Switch between templates and symbols — Under Type on the left, click Templates or Symbols. Each shows how many items you have saved.
• Search — Use the Search field at the top left to find a template or symbol by name.
• Rename or delete — Click the three-dot icon next to an item’s name, then choose Rename or Delete.

Click any item to insert it onto your page at the position where you dropped the element.

Working With Symbols on the Canvas

When you select an inserted symbol, the Main Options panel in the left sidebar shows two buttons:

Edit as Symbol

Click the Edit as Symbol button to open the symbol in its global editing mode. In this mode:

• Any changes you make will apply to every instance of the symbol across your entire site
• The editor interface will indicate that you are editing a global symbol
• Save your changes when finished, and all pages using this symbol will update automatically

Important: Editing a symbol affects every page where it appears. Make sure your changes are intentional before saving, as there is no per-page override while the symbol remains linked.

Unlink

Click the Unlink button to convert the symbol into regular editable content. This action:

• Breaks the global link between this instance and the original symbol
• Converts the content into standard Thrive Architect elements that you can edit freely
• Does not affect other instances of the symbol on other pages—those remain globally linked

Warning: Unlinking a symbol is a one-way action. Once you unlink a symbol instance, you cannot re-link it back to the global symbol. You would need to delete the unlinked content and re-insert the symbol to restore the global connection.

Saving Content as a New Template or Symbol

You can save any content on your page as a new template or symbol for future reuse:

1. Select the element you want to save on the canvas.
2. Click the three-dot icon on the element’s toolbar, then click Save template.

   

3. In the Save Element for Later Use window, use the Save As switch to choose Template or Symbol.
4. Enter a name, and optionally pick a Category.
5. Click Save New Template (or Save New Symbol).

A template is now available in your library to insert as an independent copy. A symbol is globally linked, so future edits to it update every place it’s used.

Note: A template or symbol can’t contain another symbol. If the content you save includes a symbol, that symbol is unlinked automatically and saved as regular content.

Tip: Give your templates and symbols descriptive names (such as “Homepage CTA Banner” or “Footer Legal Links”) so they are easy to find in the library later.

Choosing Element Templates

In addition to full-page content templates and symbols, Thrive Architect also offers element templates—pre-designed layouts for individual elements. These are available for specific elements like buttons, headers, content boxes, and more.

When you add certain elements to the canvas, a template picker modal appears automatically, showing you pre-designed layout options for that element type. You can:

• Browse the available designs in the cloud template library
• Click a design to apply it to the element instantly
• Customize the design after insertion using the element’s sidebar controls

Element templates provide a quick starting point so you don’t have to design every element from scratch. They differ from the Templates and Symbols element in that they apply to a single element type rather than a reusable block of mixed content.

Managing Templates and Symbols in the Thrive Dashboard

To view, organize, edit, or delete your saved templates and symbols:

1. In your WordPress admin, go to Thrive Dashboard.
2. On the Global Elements card, click Manage Global Elements.

   

3. Use the tabs at the top to switch between Content Templates and Symbols & Blocks. The same screen also manages notification toasts, headers, and footers.

   

On the Content Templates tab, you can search your templates, create categories, preview a template, rename it, move it to another category, or delete it.

On the Symbols & Blocks tab, you can create a new symbol, search your symbols, and for each symbol use Edit Symbol, Change Name, Move to another Category, Make a Copy, or Delete Symbol.

Note: When you delete a symbol, it’s moved to the trash and stops showing on every page where it was inserted. Before deleting a symbol, make sure it isn’t still used on pages you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens if I Edit a Symbol on One Page?

If you click Edit as Symbol and make changes, those changes apply to every page where the symbol is used. The edit is global by design.

Can I Convert a Template Into a Symbol?

Not directly. Insert the template onto a page, select the inserted content, click Save template in the element’s toolbar menu, and switch Save As to Symbol.

How Do I Know if Content Is a Symbol or Regular Content?

Select it. When a symbol is selected, the left sidebar shows the Main Options panel with the Edit as Symbol and Unlink buttons. Regular content doesn’t have these controls.

Can I Nest Symbols Inside Other Symbols?

No. A symbol can’t contain another symbol. If you save content that includes a symbol, the inner symbol is unlinked automatically and saved as regular content.

Related Resources

• Content Box: How to Use the Content Box Element — Container element often saved as reusable templates
• Background Section: How to Use the Background Section Element — Full-width sections commonly saved as symbols
• Importing and Exporting: How to Import and Export Content — Moving templates and content between sites
• Getting Started: Getting Started with Thrive Architect — Overview of the editor and element panel

That’s it! You’ve successfully learned how to use the Templates and Symbols element in Thrive Architect. With templates for one-time content insertion, globally linked symbols for site-wide consistency, and element templates for quick pre-designed layouts, you can build and maintain your pages more efficiently than ever.