Obsidian Getting Started Guide to Creating a Second Brain

Obsidian is a Markdown-based note app that connects scattered notes into your own knowledge network, a 'Second Brain'. It saves every note as a local file you own, links notes with [[two-way links]], and runs fast because there is no heavy cloud sync. We take in huge amounts of information every day, yet much of it is lost because notes can't be found when needed or the connections between them are never discovered — that is the problem Obsidian addresses.

Go to Obsidian’s official website

🧠 Why choose Obsidian over Notion or Evernote?

Obsidian stands out for three reasons: data ownership, two-way links, and speed.

1. Complete offline environment and data ownership

Obsidian is not cloud-based. All notes are saved as .md (Markdown) files in a local folder on your computer. Your notes stay available even if the Internet is cut off, and even if the service is terminated, your data will remain safely on your hard disk.

2. How do two-way links work?

Two-way links are the core of Obsidian: you link notes by writing [[note title]]. As links accumulate, the 'Graph View' shows how your knowledge is intertwined, like a space map. New ideas can emerge between notes that you thought were on completely different topics.

3. Light and fast

Because there is no heavy cloud synchronization process and only local text files are read, execution and search speeds are incredibly fast.

🛠️ How do you get started with Obsidian?

Create a vault, learn a little Markdown, and start writing and linking.

1. Create a Vault: When you install and run Obsidian, it will ask you to create a vault first. A vault is simply the 'top level folder' where your notes will be stored.
2. Learn Markdown: Obsidian uses Markdown syntax. It may seem complicated, but you can write a great document by just knowing # title, **bold**, and - list.
3. Write it down, link it: Don’t stress about getting the structure perfect from the start. Write down whatever comes to mind, and if a related word or existing note comes to mind, don't hesitate to add [[ ]] to create a link. As connections accumulate, Obsidian’s true value is revealed.

Is Obsidian hard to learn?

There is a small barrier to entry at first, but once you get used to the local-based speed and the charm of Markdown, it can be a hard tool to give up. Create your own knowledge universe with Obsidian! 🚀