Zettelkasten
Atomic, densely-linked slip-box notes with unique IDs.
Overview
The Zettelkasten template implements Niklas Luhmann's slip-box method in Obsidian. You write atomic notes — one idea each — give them unique IDs, and link them together. Obsidian's core "Unique note creator" plugin generates the timestamps, and the graph view visualizes the web of ideas you build.
What is Zettelkasten?
A Zettelkasten (slip-box) template for atomic, densely-linked notes. Capture one idea per note with unique IDs and build knowledge through connections.
Key Features
- Atomic notes — one idea per note
- Timestamp IDs via the core Unique note creator plugin
- Dense linking between related notes
- Graph view to explore emergent structure
How to Install Zettelkasten
- 1Enable the core "Unique note creator" plugin in Settings.
- 2Set its location to a Zettelkasten/ folder and choose a timestamp ID format.
- 3Write one idea per note and link generously to related notes.
- 4Create Index notes as entry points into clusters of ideas.
Use cases
- Academic research and writing
- Developing original ideas over time
- Long-term knowledge building
Included folders
- Zettelkasten/
- Index/
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Zettelkasten different from a Second Brain?
A Zettelkasten is stricter: every note is atomic and heavily linked, optimized for generating new ideas. A Second Brain (PARA) is broader, optimized for organizing and retrieving reference material and projects.
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