Each unit of content on a notebook page exists within a note container. Similar to a text box in Microsoft Office Word or Microsoft Office PowerPoint, a note container consists of a frame that has a move handle and a sizing handle. Each object (such as a text block, image, or URL) within the note container has an object selector.

Unlike a text box in other programs, you don't have to insert a note container on the page before entering content into it—simply click anywhere on the page and type or paste content, or insert it from another source, to create the container. A note container may contain any sort of content, such as text, images, handwritten notes, screen clippings, or Web notes.

You can manipulate a note container on the page in the same way that you would manipulate a text box or other type of content frame in a word-processing or graphics program. You can change its size, relocate it on the page, and cut, copy, or delete it. You can merge the contents of multiple note containers, which is simpler than cutting content from one and pasting it into another.

The contents of an entire page may occupy one note container or many. While you work in OneNote, the frame of the active note container is visible, but the frames of the other note containers are not. Pointing to the content displays the note container's frame, and pointing to an object within the active container displays the object selector. You can manipulate individual objects within the container by dragging, clicking, or right-clicking the associated object selector.