> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/makenotion/notion-sdk-js/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Retrieve a Block

> Retrieve a single block object by its ID

Retrieves a Block object using the ID specified in the request path. Blocks are returned with their content and metadata.

## Method Signature

```typescript theme={null}
client.blocks.retrieve(args: GetBlockParameters): Promise<GetBlockResponse>
```

Source: [Client.ts:581-592](/home/daytona/workspace/source/src/Client.ts#L581-L592)

## Parameters

<ParamField path="block_id" type="string" required>
  The ID of the block to retrieve. Must be a valid Notion block ID.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="auth" type="string">
  Optional authentication token to override the client-level auth. Use this to make requests on behalf of specific integrations.
</ParamField>

## Response

Returns a `BlockObjectResponse` or `PartialBlockObjectResponse` representing the requested block.

<ResponseField name="object" type="string">
  Always `"block"`
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="id" type="string">
  The unique identifier of the block
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="type" type="string">
  The type of block (e.g., `"paragraph"`, `"heading_1"`, `"code"`, etc.)
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="created_time" type="string">
  ISO 8601 timestamp when the block was created
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="created_by" type="PartialUserObjectResponse">
  User who created the block
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="last_edited_time" type="string">
  ISO 8601 timestamp when the block was last edited
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="last_edited_by" type="PartialUserObjectResponse">
  User who last edited the block
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="has_children" type="boolean">
  Whether the block has child blocks
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="archived" type="boolean">
  Whether the block is archived
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="in_trash" type="boolean">
  Whether the block is in the trash
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="parent" type="ParentForBlockBasedObjectResponse">
  The parent of the block (page, block, or workspace)
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="[type]" type="object">
  Type-specific content. For example, a `paragraph` block has a `paragraph` property containing its `rich_text` content.
</ResponseField>

## Examples

### Retrieve a Paragraph Block

```typescript theme={null}
import { Client } from "@notionhq/client"

const notion = new Client({ auth: process.env.NOTION_TOKEN })

const block = await notion.blocks.retrieve({
  block_id: "your-block-id",
})

console.log(block.type) // "paragraph"
if (block.type === "paragraph") {
  console.log(block.paragraph.rich_text)
}
```

### Retrieve a Code Block

```typescript theme={null}
const codeBlock = await notion.blocks.retrieve({
  block_id: "code-block-id",
})

if (codeBlock.type === "code") {
  console.log("Language:", codeBlock.code.language)
  console.log("Code:", codeBlock.code.rich_text)
  console.log("Caption:", codeBlock.code.caption)
}
```

### Retrieve with Custom Auth

```typescript theme={null}
// Override the client's auth token for this request
const block = await notion.blocks.retrieve({
  block_id: "your-block-id",
  auth: "secret_custom_token",
})
```

### Check if Block Has Children

```typescript theme={null}
const block = await notion.blocks.retrieve({
  block_id: "your-block-id",
})

if (block.has_children) {
  console.log("This block has child blocks")
  // You can fetch children using blocks.children.list()
}
```

## Type Guards

Use the `isFullBlock()` helper to check if a block is fully populated:

```typescript theme={null}
import { isFullBlock } from "@notionhq/client"

const block = await notion.blocks.retrieve({
  block_id: "your-block-id",
})

if (isFullBlock(block)) {
  // TypeScript knows this is a full BlockObjectResponse
  console.log(block.created_time)
  console.log(block.last_edited_time)
}
```

## Error Handling

```typescript theme={null}
import { APIResponseError } from "@notionhq/client"

try {
  const block = await notion.blocks.retrieve({
    block_id: "your-block-id",
  })
  console.log(block)
} catch (error) {
  if (APIResponseError.isAPIResponseError(error)) {
    switch (error.code) {
      case "object_not_found":
        console.error("Block not found")
        break
      case "unauthorized":
        console.error("Not authorized to access this block")
        break
      default:
        console.error("API error:", error.message)
    }
  }
}
```

## Related

* [Update a Block](/api/blocks/update)
* [Delete a Block](/api/blocks/delete)
* [List Block Children](/api/blocks/children)
* [Type Guards Guide](/guides/type-guards)