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Script tag

Add Docs Embed to any website with a simple script tag

The quickest way to add Docs Embed to your website or app is by adding it through a "standalone" script tag. Every docs site in GitBook includes a ready-to-use script for embedding your docs as a widget.

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Steps

1

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Get your embed script URL

Navigate to your docs site's Settings → AI & MCP tab and copy the script URL, or use the script at https://docs.company.com/~gitbook/embed/script.js (replace docs.company.com with your actual docs site URL).

2

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Add the script tag to your HTML

Place this code in your HTML <head> or before the closing </body> tag:

<script src="https://docs.company.com/~gitbook/embed/script.js"></script>
<script>
  // Initialize with Authenticated Access (optional)
  window.GitBook('init', 
    { siteURL: 'https://docs.company.com' },
    { visitor: { token: 'your-jwt-token' } }
  );
  window.GitBook('show');
</script>
3

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Replace the docs URL

Update docs.company.com with your actual docs site URL.

4

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Test the widget

Load your page. The embed widget should appear in the bottom-right corner.

5

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Optionally configure the embed

Add customization options before calling show():

<script src="https://docs.company.com/~gitbook/embed/script.js"></script>
<script>
  window.GitBook('init', { siteURL: 'https://docs.company.com' });
  
  window.GitBook('configure', {
    button: {
      label: 'Ask',
      icon: 'assistant' // 'assistant' | 'sparkle' | 'help' | 'book'
    },
    tabs: ['assistant', 'docs'],
    actions: [
      {
        icon: 'circle-question',
        label: 'Contact Support',
        onClick: () => window.open('https://support.example.com', '_blank')
      }
    ],
    greeting: { title: 'Welcome!', subtitle: 'How can I help?' },
    suggestions: ['What is GitBook?', 'How do I get started?']
  });
  
  window.GitBook('show');
</script>
6

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Control widget visibility

Use the API to show, hide, open, or close the embed:

<script>
  // Show the widget
  window.GitBook("show");

  // Hide the widget
  window.GitBook("hide");

  // Open the embed window
  window.GitBook("open");

  // Close the embed window
  window.GitBook("close");

  // Toggle the embed window
  window.GitBook("toggle");
</script>
7

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Navigate and interact programmatically

Use the API to navigate to pages, switch tabs, or post messages:

<script>
  // Navigate to a specific page in the docs tab
  window.GitBook('navigateToPage', '/getting-started');

  // Switch to the assistant tab
  window.GitBook('navigateToAssistant');

  // Post a message to the chat
  window.GitBook('postUserMessage', 'How do I get started?');

  // Clear chat history
  window.GitBook('clearChat');
</script>
8

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Load dynamically (optional)

For authenticated docs or conditional loading, inject the script at runtime:

<script>
  function loadGitBookEmbed() {
    var script = document.createElement("script");
    script.src = "https://docs.company.com/~gitbook/embed/script.js";
    script.async = true;
    script.onload = function () {
      window.GitBook('init', { siteURL: 'https://docs.company.com' });
      window.GitBook("show");
    };
    document.head.appendChild(script);
  }

  // Load when ready
  loadGitBookEmbed();
</script>
9

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Verify the setup

Open your browser console and type window.GitBook to confirm the API is available.

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API Reference

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Initialization

  • GitBook('init', options: { siteURL: string }, frameOptions?: { visitor?: {...} }) - Initialize widget with site URL and optional authenticated access

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Widget Control

  • GitBook('show') - Show widget button

  • GitBook('hide') - Hide widget button

  • GitBook('open') - Open widget window

  • GitBook('close') - Close widget window

  • GitBook('toggle') - Toggle widget window

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Navigation

  • GitBook('navigateToPage', path: string) - Navigate to a specific page in the docs tab

  • GitBook('navigateToAssistant') - Navigate to the assistant tab

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Chat

  • GitBook('postUserMessage', message: string) - Post a message to the chat

  • GitBook('clearChat') - Clear chat history

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Configuration

  • GitBook('configure', settings: {...}) - Configure widget settings (see Configuration section below)

  • GitBook('unload') - Completely remove the widget from the page

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Configuration Options

Configuration options are available via GitBook('configure', {...}):

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tabs

Override which tabs are displayed. Defaults to your site's configuration.

  • Type: ('assistant' | 'docs')[]

  • Options:

    • ['assistant', 'docs'] - Show both tabs

    • ['assistant'] - Show only the assistant tab

    • ['docs'] - Show only the docs tab

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actions

Custom action buttons rendered in the sidebar alongside tabs. Each action button triggers a callback when clicked.

Note: This was previously named buttons. Use actions instead.

  • Type: Array<{ icon: string, label: string, onClick: () => void }>

  • Properties:

    • icon: string - Icon name. Any FontAwesome iconarrow-up-right is supported

    • label: string - Button label text

    • onClick: () => void | Promise<void> - Callback function when clicked

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greeting

Welcome message displayed in the Assistant tab.

  • Type: { title: string, subtitle: string }

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suggestions

Suggested questions displayed in the Assistant welcome screen.

  • Type: string[]

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tools

Custom AI tools to extend the Assistant. See Creating custom tools for details.

  • Type: Array<{ name: string, description: string, inputSchema: object, execute: Function, confirmation?: {...} }>

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button

Configure the widget button that launches the embed (standalone script only). This allows you to customize the label and icon of the button that appears in the bottom-right corner of your page.

  • Type: { label: string, icon: 'assistant' | 'sparkle' | 'help' | 'book' }

  • Properties:

    • label: string - The text displayed on the button

    • icon: 'assistant' | 'sparkle' | 'help' | 'book' - The icon displayed on the button

      • assistant - gitbook-assistant Assistant icon

      • sparkle - sparkle Sparkle icon

      • help - circle-question Help/question icon

      • book - book-open Book icon

Example:

Note: This option is only available when using the standalone script tag implementation. For React or Node.js implementations, you'll need to create your own button to trigger the embed.

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visitor (Authenticated Access)

Pass when initializing with GitBook('init', options, frameOptions). Used for Adaptive Content and Authenticated Access.

  • Type: { token?: string, unsignedClaims?: Record<string, unknown> }

  • Properties:

    • token: string (optional) - Signed JWT token

    • unsignedClaims: Record<string, unknown> (optional) - Unsigned claims for dynamic expressions

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Common pitfalls

  • Script URL is incorrect – Ensure you're using your actual docs URL, not the example docs.company.com.

  • Calling GitBook before script loads – Wrap API calls in script.onload or place them after the script tag.

  • Authenticated docs not accessible – If your docs require sign-in, you must provide the visitor.token when initializing. See Using with authenticated docs.

  • CORS or CSP errors – Ensure your site's Content Security Policy allows loading scripts and iframes from your GitBook domain.

  • Widget not visible – Check z-index conflicts with other elements on your page. The widget uses a high z-index by default.

  • Forgetting to initialize – Make sure to call GitBook('init', { siteURL: '...' }) before using other methods.

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