Obsidian Tags vs Links: Which Should You Use?

“Tags and links are like peanut butter and jelly—each great on its own, but when combined, they create something even better.”

I remember when I first started using Obsidian, I thought tags and links were basically the same thing. Just different ways to connect notes, right? Well…not quite.

Understanding when to use tags versus links can make your note-taking system way smoother and more powerful.

Let’s dive into how these two features differ, when to choose each, and how you can make them work together in your vault.

What’s the Difference Between Tags and Links?TagsTags are keywords or labels you add anywhere in your note using a # symbol.They categorize notes by theme, status, or any attribute you want.Example: #idea, #project/obsidian-series, #urgentLinksLinks are direct connections between two notes created with double brackets [[Note Title]].They create a clickable relationship that lets you jump from one note to another instantly.Example: [[Project Launch]], [[Daily Notes/2025-05-20]]When to Use TagsUse tags when you want to:Add broad categories or themes that apply across many notes.Mark attributes or statuses, like #todo, #in-progress, #reference.Group notes that don’t have a hierarchical relationship but share a common trait.Quickly filter and search by category without creating new notes.Example:

You’re writing journal entries. You tag each with #journal and #mood/happy. Later, you can filter all “happy” mood entries without linking every single one.

When to Use LinksUse links when you want to:Create specific, explicit connections between notes.Reference related ideas, projects, or resources directly.Build a network or graph of ideas that you can navigate.Connect detailed research or project notes that depend on each other.Example:

You’re writing about a project and link to your meeting notes, task lists, and key concepts inside the project note. This helps you jump around quickly and keeps related info connected.

Why You Need Both for a Balanced System

Here’s the truth: tags and links aren’t rivals. They’re best friends.

Think of tags as broad buckets and links as roadways between notes.

Tags organize notes by category, so you know what type of note you’re looking at.Links build meaningful relationships, showing how ideas and notes relate specifically.

Using both lets you:

Quickly filter by tags, then explore deeply via links.Use tags for statuses (#todo, #done), and links for context and detail.Build a vault that’s both searchable and navigable.Common Mistakes to AvoidUsing tags like links — e.g., creating a tag for every note title. This leads to tag clutter.Over-linking — linking every word to another note just because you can. It makes navigation noisy.Ignoring one entirely — some users rely solely on folders or tags and miss the power of linked notes.Inconsistent tag naming — mix of #todo, #to-do, #task makes filtering painful.How I Use Tags and Links Together

Here’s my system:

I tag notes with broad categories: #journal, #project/obsidian-series, #idea, #taskInside notes, I link to related topics, meeting notes, or research: [[Meeting Notes]], [[Project Launch]]I use nested tags like #status/in-progress or #status/done for task managementI review backlinks weekly to discover related notes I might have missed

This combo keeps my vault flexible but connected.

Conclusion

So, tags or links? The answer is simple: use both. They serve different but complementary purposes.

Use tags for quick categorization, filtering, and broad organization.Use links to create specific, meaningful relationships between your notes.

Together, they unlock Obsidian’s full power, turning your vault into a dynamic, interconnected knowledge base.

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