You use YAML frontmatter in Obsidian by putting a metadata block at the very top of a note, between two lines of three dashes, then reading or querying those keys inside Obsidian and plugins like Dataview.[^1_1][^1_2] ## Basic syntax and placement Frontmatter must start on line 1 of the file and be wrapped like this.[^1_2][^1_1] ```markdown --- key: value another_key: another value --- Your regular note text starts here. ``` - It must be exactly three hyphens `---` on a line by themselves above and below the block.[^1_2] - Everything between those lines is YAML and treated as metadata, not body text.[^1_1] As an example, a simple note with one tag in frontmatter: ```markdown --- tags: inbox --- This is my draft note. ``` This will behave as if the note has the tag `#inbox` applied.[^1_1] ## Built‑in keys Obsidian understands Obsidian has a few special keys that it handles natively.[^1_1] - `tags`: Apply tags to the note. ```markdown --- tags: [memoir, family, draft] --- ``` or ```markdown --- tags: memoir, family, draft --- ``` - `aliases`: Alternative titles you can use when linking to the note.[^1_3][^1_1] ```markdown --- aliases: - Mum - My mother --- ``` In the file `Mother.md`, the alias `Mum` lets you type `[[Mum]]` and get a link that resolves to `Mother` (Obsidian will save it as `[[Mother|Mum]]`).[^1_1] - `cssclass`: Apply a per‑note CSS class (for themes or special layouts).[^1_1] ```markdown --- cssclass: wide-page --- ``` - `publish`: Control whether the note appears in Obsidian Publish.[^1_1] ```markdown --- publish: false --- ``` Any other key names you invent are fine; Obsidian just treats them as generic metadata that plugins can use.[^1_3][^1_1] ## Using metadata with Dataview and inline fields Where frontmatter becomes powerful is when you combine it with Dataview (or Properties in newer Obsidian versions).[^1_4][^1_3][^1_1] Example frontmatter for a book or article note: ```markdown --- type: book title: The Art of Memoir author: Mary Karr year: 2015 tags: [memoir, craft] status: processed --- ``` Then a Dataview query collecting all processed memoir‑craft sources might look like: ```markdown ```dataview table author, year, status from "Reading notes" where type = "book" and contains(tags, "memoir") ``` ``` Dataview can also read inline fields written in the body using `key:: value`, which is handy when you don’t want everything in frontmatter.[^1_5][^1_2] ```markdown Session date:: 2026-06-04 Mood:: ambivalent ``` Those inline fields are not YAML; they are Dataview syntax, but they complement frontmatter nicely.[^1_2] You can reference frontmatter values inside a note with Dataview’s inline expression syntax, for instance: ```markdown Title: `= this.title` Year: `= this.year` ``` This will render the `title` and `year` from the note’s own frontmatter.[^1_4][^1_3] ## Properties vs YAML in newer Obsidian Recent Obsidian versions show frontmatter as “Properties” by default, and you can choose whether to see raw YAML or a GUI.[^1_6][^1_7] - Go to `Settings → Editor → Properties in document` and pick: - `Visible` to see the property cards, - `Hidden` to hide them, - `Source` to see and edit the raw YAML block.[^1_7] There is also a core plugin “Properties view” that lets you browse all properties or the properties of the current file in a side pane.[^1_7] ## Practical patterns for a writing workflow Given your use case (memoir, research‑ish habits), common frontmatter patterns might be: - For a scene or chapter note: ```markdown --- type: scene project: memoir-1 stage: draft-2 timeframe: 1992-1994 people: [Mum, Dad, Brother] tags: [memoir, childhood] --- ``` - For a research or craft note: ```markdown --- type: craft-note source: The Art of Memoir author: Mary Karr topic: [voice, structure] status: to-review --- ``` These keys then give you powerful queries like “all scenes with Mum in draft‑2” or “all craft notes on structure I haven’t reviewed.”[^1_3][^1_4] Would it help if I sketched a small YAML + Dataview setup tailored specifically to how you’re organizing your memoir project in Obsidian right now? <span style="display:none">[^1_8][^1_9]</span> <div align="center">⁂</div> [^1_1]: https://notes.nicolevanderhoeven.com/obsidian-playbook/Using+Obsidian/03+Linking+and+organizing/YAML+Frontmatter [^1_2]: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/yaml-frontmatter-formatting/43673 [^1_3]: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-do-you-put-yaml-to-use-in-your-system/18987 [^1_4]: https://obsidianttrpgtutorials.com/Obsidian+TTRPG+Tutorials/Tutorials/YouTube+Series/Front+Matter+(YAML)+and+Tags/Front+Matter+(YAML)+and+Tags [^1_5]: https://www.reddit.com/r/ObsidianMD/comments/znctl7/how_to_correctly_use_the_yaml_front_matter/ [^1_6]: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-do-i-edit-the-frontmatter-yaml-in-live-preview-mode/66454 [^1_7]: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/dont-see-show-frontmatter-item-in-options/79145 [^1_8]: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/yaml-frontmatter-objects/68285 [^1_9]: https://bbbburns.com/nested-yaml-frontmatter-for-obsidian-book-notes/