Obsidian: Local Knowledge Base and Thinking Guide
Obsidian stores notes as local markdown files and links them into a personal knowledge base. It's popular with power users who value ownership of data and backlinks. This guide covers what Obsidian offers.
Local-first and linked
Obsidian uses markdown files stored on your device (or in a sync folder). You link notes with [wiki links]] and see backlinks and a graph view. Plugins extend functionality (templates, calendar, etc.). Your data stays yours; there's no required cloud. Sync and publish are optional paid add-ons. Obsidian suits users who want a second-brain or PKM (personal knowledge management) setup and are comfortable with markdown. For our full note-taking rankings, see [Note-Taking Apps.