What is OneNote?

Do you know what is OneNote? It is a Microsoft Office app that is similar to the Evernote or Dropbox Paper. This app helps to take notes, store information, etc. Besides, you can make notebooks for different topics where each one has plenty of sections and pages. In addition, it is possible to take notes, store links, type or write with a stylus, add images and drawings, etc.

What is OneNote used for? This app is specially designed to take notes. Besides, its main purposes are research and information storage. Like Dropbox Paper, you can store texts & pictures using the app in free-form documents. Hence, you should know that it is possible to keep this private or share it with others. It is a part of Microsoft Office, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

What is OneNote notebook?

It is a program to take notes and gather information. This app can collect notes, drawings, screen clippings, and audio commentaries. Besides, you can share notes with another person using OneNote over the Internet. This stand-alone app is free on Windows 10, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. Remember that Microsoft can offer its web-based version as a part of OneDrive and Office for the web.

How OneNote organizes your material?

The app uses a notebook's metaphor full of books, sections, and pages. Its copy might contain many notebooks where every notebook is based on a different topic.

Suppose you have a notebook for work or personal information. Again, let's assume that you can generate various notebooks for each major project.

Users can make sections to organize their notes within the notebook. Suppose you work in sales. Hence, you can make another section for every customer. At last, you will have many pages within any section. Thus, it becomes simple to monitor information over long periods.

What you can do in OneNote:

What is OneNote and why should I use it? Let's know what is possible to do.

• As soon as you set up a notebook and make a section, you will see a blank page appearing. After that, it is possible to begin typing like other word processors. 
• The app can provide tools similar to Word in the ribbon atop the display. For example, it offers font selection, text style, bullets and numbering, highlighting, etc. 
• In addition, users can make tables to organize notes. They can insert different pictures, audio, and videos. 
• It enables you to make links or paste URLs from web browsers. 
• Do you use the app on a tablet or a PC with a stylus? Then, it is possible to draw, sketch, and write notes.

Features:

What is OneNote used for and what are its features? These are the essential features of the app.

1. Organize Data in Notebook:

Regarding the best features of the app, this one is discussed the most. With the help of the feature, you can gather data in the form of a Notebook. Remember that every notebook contains one or more sections. Besides, every section has individual pages or subpages. You can gather information such as text, images, audio, and video in Notebook.

2. Web Clipper:

Using this feature, you can extract information from a web page to the app. In addition, the feature allows you to access different clipped web pages on tablets, PCs, or mobiles.

3. Templates:

It is a pre-designed layout of the app. Remember that OneNote 2016 has a few default templates like decorative page backgrounds, uniform appearance, or a consistent layout.

4. Text Search:

The app allows you to search for specific text. In this case, you should hit the Ctrl+E key. It helps you to enable the search panel. In addition, you can write what you wish to find.

5. Recording:

This one is one of the vital features of the app. It allows you to record audio or video. You only need to tap on Insert and Record Audio or video. In addition, you can record any interview. If you want to take on any vital notes yourself, you can do so.

6. Protect Sections with Password:

The app can offer password security for every section in every notebook. If you are willing to protect your section password, you need to tap on the section. Thereafter, you need to choose Password-Protect in this section.

7. Tags: 

This feature lets you organize content. Besides, you can remember tasks easily. It enables you to find content, but it depends on the tags attached to it.

8. Translate Notes:

It lets you translate the notes from one language to another that you can understand.

9. Ink to Text:

The feature helps you to convert handwritten notes into typed text. Besides, you can write formal documents, resumes, and reports.

10. Ink to Math:

It can convert the equation to formatted equations.

Alternatives of OneNote:

Evernote:

It is a perfect alternative that you can use for both free and paid versions. This alternative enables you to sync recorded notes, written notes, etc., and save them in a convenient location. Evernote supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Browser, and Unix.

Laverna:

This one is a protective editor to store the notes. Besides, it can offer end-to-end encryption. Remember that a password secures everything. It allows you to integrate the notes with dropbox or RemoteStorage.

Bear:

This one is a flexible writing app. You should know that it is suitable for Apple devices. Its tagging system lets you organize notes with the help of a series of tags. The Bear app acts as a folder. It indicates that you can place the notes inside multiple folders.

Zoho Notebook:

It is an app used to take on notes. This app allows you to make notebooks like text, pictures, and voice notes. Its main benefit is having a web-clipping tool for grabbing articles.

The Bottom Line:

What is OneNote? This app is a versatile tool you can share with others or use privately. Besides, it allows you to share with yourself on various devices. Whether you want to store your notebooks in the cloud on OneDrive, open the app on any device attached to the Microsoft Office account. If you use a phone, tablet, PC, or laptop, you will be in sync with all notes across devices.

With the help of the Share button, it is possible to share whole notebooks with others in the ribbon. However, you can share the entire notebook, not a section or a page. Replay is one of the features which enables you to make a page of notes. Then, you should play this back as an animation. You can use the tool to deliver a presentation or in the classroom.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Q. Should you use OneNote?

Whether you have a meeting where you need to take notes, ensure that you are opt for using the app. Besides, the app enables you to record many things. For example, adding text, doodles, images, and videos to the page is possible.

• Q. What is OneNote used for?

It is a digital notebook that can save and sync your notes while working. You only need to write information in the notebook or insert it from other apps & web pages. You may draw a few ideas or take handwritten notes. Ensure that you should use tags and highlighting features for the simple follow-up.

• Q. Is OneNote completely free?

It is free to download. However, it is possible to unlock premium features with a Microsoft Office 2019 or Microsoft 365 subscription. For example, users can unlock stickers and advanced sharing options. Hence, you should know that the Microsoft 365 account begins at $6.99 per month.