Welcome to Obsidian
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files. This comprehensive guide will help you master Obsidian and build your perfect note-taking system.
What makes Obsidian special?
- Local files: Your notes are stored as plain text files on your computer
- Linked thinking: Connect ideas with bidirectional links
- Graph view: Visualize your knowledge network
- Extensible: Hundreds of community plugins available
- Customizable: Themes and CSS snippets for personalization
Installation
Getting started with Obsidian is straightforward. Follow these steps to install and set up your first vault.
Download Obsidian
Visit the official website
Go to obsidian.md and click the download button for your operating system.
Install the application
Run the installer and follow the setup wizard. Obsidian is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Create your first vault
Launch Obsidian and create a new vault or open an existing folder containing Markdown files.
First Steps
Now that you have Obsidian installed, let's explore the basics of creating and organizing your notes.
Creating your first note
There are several ways to create a new note in Obsidian:
Basic Markdown syntax
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
**Bold text**
*Italic text*
==Highlighted text==
- Bullet point
- Another point
- Nested point
1. Numbered list
2. Second item
[[Link to another note]]
[External link](https://example.com)
> This is a blockquote
```
Code block
```Interface Overview
Understanding Obsidian's interface will help you navigate and use the application more effectively.
Main areas
Left Sidebar
File explorer, search, starred notes, and other navigation tools.
Editor Pane
Where you write and edit your notes. Supports multiple tabs and split views.
Right Sidebar
Backlinks, outline, tags, and other contextual information.
Status Bar
Word count, sync status, and quick access to settings.
Creating Notes
Learn the different ways to create and structure your notes effectively in Obsidian.
Note creation methods
Obsidian offers multiple ways to create notes, each suited for different workflows:
Quick Note Creation
Use Ctrl/Cmd + N to instantly create a new note and start writing.
Link-based Creation
Type [[Note Name]] to create a link. Click it to create the note.
Template-based
Use templates to create notes with predefined structure and content.
Linking Notes
The power of Obsidian lies in connecting your thoughts through links. Master the art of linking to build your knowledge graph.
Types of links
Internal Links
[[Note Name]]
Links to other notes in your vault
External Links
[Link Text](https://example.com)
Links to websites and external resources
Block Links
[[Note Name#^block-id]]
Links to specific blocks within notes
Graph View
Visualize your knowledge network and discover connections between your notes with Obsidian's powerful graph view.
Plugins
Extend Obsidian's functionality with community plugins and core plugins.
Essential plugins
Templater
Advanced template system with dynamic content generation.
Calendar
Visual calendar interface for daily notes and planning.
Dataview
Query and display your notes like a database.
Kanban
Create kanban boards for project management.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Master these essential keyboard shortcuts to work more efficiently in Obsidian.