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# Real-time editing & presence

Multiple editors can work in the same room at the same time. Changes sync live — no "check the latest version" emails — and Katalyz prevents two people from editing the **same block** simultaneously to keep things conflict-free.

## Real-time editing

When you open a room (you're in edit mode by default):
- **Your changes save automatically** — no "Save" button
- **Other editors see your changes live** as you make them
- **Per-block locking** — only one editor at a time on a given block (more on this below)

## Per-block presence — avatar + "editing" label

Katalyz doesn't show a global "who's here" list in the header. Instead, presence is **shown right at the block being edited**:

- When someone starts editing a block (a widget, a section title, an action, etc.), their **avatar** appears just above that block, with an **"editing"** label next to it.
- While that person is editing, **the block is locked for everyone else** — other editors can still read it but can't make changes until the editor moves away.
- Once they leave the block, it unlocks and any other editor can take over.

This makes "who's doing what" obvious at a glance and removes the risk of two people overwriting each other on the same widget.

## How sync works

Under the hood, Katalyz uses WebSocket-based real-time sync. This requires:
- **A stable internet connection**
- **Not blocking** WebSocket traffic (uncommon, but some corporate networks do)

If your connection drops, changes you've already saved are not lost — but you won't be able to edit a locked block remotely until your session reconnects.

## What if someone is "editing" but actually walked away?

Locks are released automatically after a short period of inactivity, and when the user closes the tab or session. So a forgotten "editing" status won't keep a block locked forever.

## Etiquette

- The lock removes mechanical conflicts, but it's still considerate to **work in different sections** when collaborating live.
- For overlap-prone work (e.g. rewriting a paragraph together), coordinate via comments or a quick chat — the lock keeps the data safe but doesn't replace alignment.

## Performance

Real-time sync is optimized for typical room sizes. Very large rooms (100+ widgets, many concurrent editors) may feel slower — break them into multiple rooms if you hit this.

## Related articles
- [Comments, mentions & threads](https://katalyz.crisp.help/en/article/comments-mentions-threads-1431iys/)