> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.quilter.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.quilter.ai/design-parameters/pre-placed-components.md).
# Pre-placed components
Explanation of Quilter’s handling of pre-placed components, including reasons for pre-placement, supported scenarios, and instructions for locking positions.
### Overview
Quilter treats all components within the board boundary at upload as "pre-placed."
**As a core principle, Quilter doesn't change the position or orientation of pre-placed components.**
When compiling, Quilter will place and route components that were left outside the board outline.
{% hint style="success" %}
**Overhanging Components**\
Quilter can handle pre-placed components with overhanging design elements or component outlines, such as an ESP32 module with a PCB trace antenna positioned off the edge of the circuit board.
{% endhint %}
Learn more in the Placement Guide:
{% content-ref url="/pages/Y8GGLZBmEKqzIBx5VifQ" %}
[Placement Guide](/guides/placement-guide.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
### Why should I pre-place components?
There are a few reasons to pre-place components:
1. **Location-sensitive components**\
One main reason to pre-place a component is to make sure that location-sensitive parts, such as mechanical pieces and connectors, end up in the right spot.
2. **Unsupported physics constraints**\
If Quilter doesn't currently support a physics constraint that demands precise or highly organized placement of components, you can manually position individual components or groups to ensure they're placed correctly.
3. **"Saving your progress"**\
When working with Quilter, you might find that you like certain elements of a layout candidate, but not the overall design. Once you've downloaded a candidate, you can choose to keep the routing and placements you like, remove the rest, and resubmit to Quilter to save your progress towards a fabrication-ready design.
### How to specify
#### As a preference
Components inside the board outline are locked and can't be moved or rotated by Quilter during compilation. We won't change pre-placed components, even if they stop Quilter from finishing a layout job successfully.
If you wish to constrain component placement to pre-specified sides or areas within your board outline, see [Placement regions](/design-parameters/placement-regions.md).
#### As a requirement
Locking the position and rotation of a component is easy: just pre-place it within the board outline and upload your input file to Quilter.
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