Complete Guide To Anki Code: The Complete Guide
The complete guide to Anki code covers how to customize flashcards with templates and cloze deletions, plus using Flashrecall for stress-free studying.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Trying to figure out the complete guide to anki code? Let me break it down for you. Flashcards are like your secret weapon for learning faster and remembering stuff without the brain overload. Whether you're cramming for exams or just picking up a new hobby, they make things way less complicated. The key? It's about active recall, spaced repetition, and keeping it consistent. And lucky for us, Flashrecall’s here to save the day! It automatically creates flashcards from your study notes and reminds you when to review them, so you don't have to stress about the timing. If you're curious about spicing up your flashcards with anki code or want to know about this cool alternative most folks miss, check out our complete guide. Trust me, it’s worth a peek!
What People Really Mean By “Anki Code”
When people search for “Anki code,” they’re usually looking for one of these:
- Card template code (HTML/CSS) to customize how cards look
- Cloze deletion code (`{{c1::like this}}`)
- Add-on code (Python plugins to change how Anki behaves)
- Error fixes after messing with templates or add-ons
- Or honestly… a simpler way to get all the benefits of Anki without touching code
If that last one is you, skip the pain:
You can use Flashrecall, a modern flashcard app that gives you spaced repetition, active recall, reminders, and powerful card creation — without ever writing a line of code:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
I’ll still walk you through the Anki code basics, but I’ll also show you when it’s smarter to just switch to something like Flashrecall and stop fighting with templates.
1. Anki Card Template Code: The Basics
Anki cards are basically little web pages.
Each card has:
- Front template – what you see before answering
- Back template – what you see after revealing the answer
- Styling – CSS that controls fonts, colors, layout
Simple Anki Template Example
```html
{{Front}}
```
```html
{{FrontSide}}
{{Back}}
```
```css
.card {
font-family: arial;
font-size: 20px;
text-align: center;
color: black;
background-color: white;
}
```
That’s “Anki code” in its simplest form:
- `{{Front}}` and `{{Back}}` are fields
- `{{FrontSide}}` is a special tag that shows whatever was on the front
If this already looks annoying, that’s exactly why a lot of people move to more modern tools like Flashrecall, where you don’t have to touch HTML/CSS at all to make nice-looking cards.
2. Cloze Deletion Code In Anki
Cloze is Anki’s “fill in the blank” style.
Basic cloze syntax
```text
{{c1::The capital of France}} is Paris.
```
On the card, `The capital of France` is hidden and you have to recall it.
Multiple clozes on the same card:
```text
{{c1::The capital of France}} is {{c2::Paris}}.
```
- `c1`, `c2`, etc. are different cloze groups
- Anki auto-generates multiple cards from one note
Common problems
- Using `{{cloze::text}}` instead of `{{c1::text}}`
- Forgetting to set the note type to Cloze
- Editing the template and accidentally deleting `{{cloze:Text}}`
If you just want cloze-style questions without learning syntax, Flashrecall makes this way easier:
- You can highlight parts of text from PDFs, notes, or images and instantly turn them into cards
- Or paste text / upload a screenshot and let Flashrecall auto-generate cloze-style cards for you
- No `{{c1::}}` needed
Download it here if you want the no-code path:
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
3. Anki Styling Code (CSS) For Better-Looking Cards
If your Anki cards look like they’re from 2005, this is why: default CSS.
Here’s some simple CSS you can paste into the Styling section to make things cleaner:
```css
.card {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", sans-serif;
font-size: 20px;
text-align: left;
line-height: 1.5;
color: #222;
background-color: #f7f7f7;
padding: 20px;
}
.cloze {
font-weight: bold;
color: #007aff;
}
img {
max-width: 100%;
height: auto;
}
```
This will:
- Make text more readable
- Stop images from overflowing
- Color cloze deletions nicely
But again, this is still manual coding.
In Flashrecall, you don’t do any CSS:
- Cards look clean and modern by default
- The interface is built for iPhone and iPad, not retro desktop UI
- You focus on content, not debugging styles
4. Anki Add-On Code (Python) – Powerful, But Fragile
Anki’s add-ons are written in Python.
You normally install them via a code like: `1234567890` in the “Get Add-ons” menu.
Most people don’t write the code themselves — they just install what others made. But add-ons can:
- Break when Anki updates
- Conflict with each other
- Cause weird errors you then have to Google for an hour
If you’re not a programmer, this gets old fast.
With Flashrecall, you don’t need add-ons to get “power user” features:
- Spaced repetition is built-in with smart scheduling
- Active recall is built-in – cards are designed to force you to think, not just reread
- Study reminders are built-in – you don’t have to remember to review
- Offline support – study anywhere on iPhone or iPad
- Chat with your flashcards – if you don’t understand something, you can literally ask the app to explain it
So instead of hunting down the right add-on for every feature, you just… open the app.
5. Common Anki Code Errors (And How To Fix Them)
1. “Front template has a problem”
Usually means you deleted or broke something in the template.
Fix:
- Go to Cards… → Options → Restore to Default (for that note type)
- Or copy a working template from another profile/deck
2. Cloze cards show nothing
Check:
- Note type is Cloze
- Template includes something like:
```html
{{cloze:Text}}
```
- Your note actually contains `{{c1::something}}`
3. CSS not applying
- Make sure your selector is `.card { ... }` or `.cloze { ... }`, etc.
- Don’t forget semicolons in CSS; missing one can break the rest
If you find yourself constantly fixing templates instead of actually studying… that’s a sign.
With Flashrecall, there’s nothing to break:
- You can create cards from images, PDFs, YouTube links, text, audio, or manual entry
- The app auto-handles the layout and review logic
- You just tap and study
6. When Anki Code Is Worth It… And When It’s Not
When Anki code is worth learning
- You enjoy tinkering and customizing everything
- You’re building a huge, long-term deck (e.g. med school) and want total control
- You’re okay with occasional bugs and maintenance
In that case, learning:
- Basic HTML (``, ``, `
`)- Basic CSS (font-size, color, padding)
- Cloze syntax (`{{c1::text}}`)
…will give you a lot of power.
When it’s not worth it
- You just want to study faster, not become a template engineer
- You’re on iPhone/iPad and want something that feels modern
- You’re juggling school, work, or exams and don’t have time to debug
That’s where Flashrecall shines:
- Zero coding – everything works out of the box
- Instant flashcards from anything:
- Screenshot your textbook → Flashrecall turns it into cards
- Upload a PDF → pull key points into cards
- Paste a YouTube link → generate cards from the content
- Type or paste text → auto-generated Q&A cards
- Built-in spaced repetition + reminders – it pings you when it’s time to review
- Active recall first – cards are designed to make you think, not just read
- Works offline – train, plane, bad Wi‑Fi? Still good.
- Free to start – you can test it without committing
Try it here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
7. Flashrecall vs Anki (If You’re Here For “Anki Code,” Read This)
You were probably looking up Anki code because:
- You want nicer cards
- You want better control
- Or Anki feels clunky, but you like spaced repetition
Here’s the honest comparison:
Anki
- Extremely flexible
- Free and open-source
- Huge community, tons of shared decks
- UI feels dated, especially on mobile
- Customization = HTML/CSS/Python headaches
- Sync and add-ons can be fragile
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
Flashrecall
- Fast, modern, and easy to use
- No code, no templates, no add-ons
- Instant flashcards from images, text, PDFs, audio, and YouTube
- Chat with your flashcards to deepen understanding
- Spaced repetition + reminders built-in
- Works offline on iPhone and iPad
- Great for languages, exams, medicine, business, school, uni – literally anything
- Not open-source
- If you love tinkering with code, you might actually miss that
If your goal is learning, not coding, Flashrecall will probably get you to “I actually remember this” way faster.
8. How To Move From Anki To A Simpler Setup
If you’re currently all-in on Anki but tired of messing with code, you don’t have to delete everything tomorrow. You can:
1. Keep your big legacy decks in Anki
2. Use Flashrecall for:
- New classes
- New languages
- Quick decks from screenshots, PDFs, or lecture slides
3. Gradually shift more of your studying into the tool that feels smoother
You’ll notice you spend more time reviewing and less time fixing templates.
Final Thoughts
“Anki code” can absolutely make your decks more powerful… but it also eats time and energy that could go into actually learning.
If you love tweaking HTML/CSS and add-ons, go for it.
If you just want a fast, modern, no-code flashcard app with spaced repetition, active recall, reminders, offline mode, and smart card creation, try Flashrecall:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Let Anki be your playground if you enjoy coding.
Let Flashrecall be your study superpower when you just want to remember stuff and move on with your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anki good for studying?
Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.
What's the fastest way to create flashcards?
Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.
How can I study more effectively for this test?
Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.
Related Articles
- Anki Code: The Complete Guide To Customizing Your Flashcards (And A Simpler Alternative Most Students Don’t Know)
- Anki Flash Cards: The Powerful Alternative Most Students Ignore (And How To Learn Faster With Smarter Flashcards) – Discover why classic Anki decks aren’t your only option anymore and how a modern app can save you hours.
- Anki Flashcards: The Best Alternative Apps, Hidden Downsides, And A Faster Way To Learn With Your Phone – Most Students Don’t Know This Yet
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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