> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://craft-support.mintlify.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Surround Selection

> Quickly wrap selected text with parentheses, brackets, or braces.

Surround Selection makes it easy to wrap existing text with parentheses, brackets, or braces – especially helpful on mobile devices where manual text manipulation can be tedious.

## How It Works

When you have text selected, simply type an opening character and Craft automatically adds both the opening and closing characters around your selection.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/craft-support/L5zMoIm2o8A5WVUD/images/write-and-edit/formatting/surround-selection/en/content/surround-selection.gif?s=8a1fbfc2e8823529d6fcf2fd611a763e" alt="Typing an opening parenthesis wraps selected text with both opening and closing parentheses" width="480" height="1040" data-path="images/write-and-edit/formatting/surround-selection/en/content/surround-selection.gif" />

## Supported Characters

Surround Selection works with three types of brackets:

* **Parentheses** – Type `(` to wrap with `( )`
* **Square brackets** – Type `[` to wrap with `[ ]`
* **Curly braces** – Type `{` to wrap with `{ }`

<Info title="Cross-Platform Feature">
  Surround Selection works on **Mac, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, and Web** – making text editing consistent across all platforms.
</Info>

## Use Cases

This feature is particularly useful for:

* **Code snippets** – Wrap variables or parameters with brackets
* **Citations** – Add parentheses around reference numbers
* **Lists** – Create sub-items with square brackets
* **Formulas** – Group mathematical expressions with parentheses
* **Notes** – Add side notes or clarifications in parentheses

## Quick Example

Instead of:

1. Positioning cursor before text
2. Typing opening character
3. Moving to end of text
4. Typing closing character

Simply:

1. Select the text
2. Type the opening character

Craft handles the rest, saving you time and reducing friction in your writing flow.

<Info title="Mobile Efficiency">
  On iOS and iPadOS, Surround Selection is especially valuable since cursor positioning and text manipulation with touch can be slower than on desktop.
</Info>