Documents and bindings
======================

Overview
--------

A document is a Slang source open in the Workbench workspace. **Open**,
**focused**, and **bound** are different states.

Mental model
------------

::

   Workspace
   +-- A.slang
   +-- B.slang
   `-- C.slang

   Focused: C.slang

   Render Toy  Scene -> A.slang
               Post  -> B.slang
   ShaderToy   Shader -> C.slang

.. image:: ../images/documents_and_bindings.png
   :alt: Workbench region showing document context and tool bindings
   :align: center

Why it exists
-------------

Focus answers “what am I editing and inspecting?” A binding answers “what does this
runtime consumer execute?” Keeping them separate prevents tab navigation from
silently changing a render. One document can be consumed by multiple sessions without
being copied.

How Workbench uses it
---------------------

Opening retains source and view state. Focusing updates the editor and Inspector.
Binding stores a document reference and selected entry points in a tool session.

See also
--------

:doc:`tool_sessions`, :doc:`entry_points`, and :doc:`../architecture/workspace`.