The Layout tab edits site-wide templates: header, footer, sidebars, body width, and branding. Collections and individual pages can inherit or override these templates.
What layout controls
Layout is everything around your page content:
Header — logo, nav, actions
Left / right sidebars — docs nav, table of contents, promos
Body — max width and spacing for main content
Footer — links, legal, secondary nav
Branding — logo placement and related chrome
MDX blocks in the page fill the body slot when enabled.
Layout templates
Your site maintains a registry of named layouts (starting with Default). Each template stores slot configuration:
Enabled / disabled per slot
Variant choices (header style, sidebar behavior)
Ads — master switch plus per-placement enablement and chrome overrides
Background and effects where supported
Create, duplicate, rename, or delete templates from the Layout tab (Default cannot be deleted).
Inheritance chain
Level
Layout source
Site default
Default template or site-wide assignment
Collection
Collection settings → Page layout
Page
Page settings → Layout template override
More specific levels win over general ones when overrides are set.
Layout tab sections
Typical workflow in the panel:
Pick a template to edit
Under Structure, configure each slot (header, sidebars, body, footer)
Under Engagement, tune Widgets and Ads when the template should serve them
Under Effects, adjust background and motion where supported
Save layout draft to the site settings
Preview updates in the iframe when layout changes.
Breakpoints
Some slot options vary by breakpoint (desktop vs mobile). Edit per breakpoint when the UI offers a device toggle — matches responsive behavior on the live site.