Obsidian Front Matter: A Comprehensive Guide

Front matter is a powerful feature in Obsidian that often goes overlooked. While it may seem intimidating or technical at first, the utility it brings to your note-taking system is invaluable. This blog post aims to demystify what front matter is, why it’s beneficial, and how you can leverage it in your Obsidian notes.

What Is Front Matter?

Front matter is metadata or extra information that you can add at the top of a markdown file. It’s usually written between a pair of triple hyphens --- and helps in specifying properties like title, tags, or custom styles.

Why Use Front Matter in Obsidian?

There are several reasons why you might want to use front matter:

• To categorize notes: Assign tags or subjects easily.
• To set custom styles: Customize individual note appearances.
• To connect with plugins: Enhance functionality, such as integrating with a calendar or task manager.

How to Use Front Matter

Basic Usage

Open a Note

Open the note where you want to include front matter.

Add Triple Hyphens

Insert three hyphens --- at the very top of your note.

Input Metadata

Between another set of triple hyphens, input your metadata like this:

---
title: "My Amazing Note"
tags: ["tag1", "tag2"]
---

Advanced Usage: Custom Styling

Create a CSS Snippet

Create a CSS snippet in Obsidian’s settings under ‘Appearance’ > ‘CSS snippets.’

Define Custom Class

In the CSS snippet, define a custom class. For example:

.myCustomStyle {
  background-color: #F2F2F2;
}

Add Front Matter

In the note, use front matter to assign this custom class:

---
cssclass: myCustomStyle
---

Advanced Usage: Plugin Integration

Some Obsidian plugins read front matter to add extra features like task management or calendar integrations. For example:

---
due: 2023-09-10
---

This front matter could tell a task management plugin that a task is due on September 10, 2023.

Best Practices

• Keep your front matter consistent to make it easier to search and filter your notes.
• Avoid overcomplicating things. Use only the metadata that adds real value to your note-taking process.

Conclusion

Front matter in Obsidian is a multifaceted tool that can significantly optimize your note-taking and organizational practices. Whether you’re categorizing notes, applying custom styles, or integrating with plugins, front matter is something you should consider using to get the most out of Obsidian.