# Obsidian Editing > Expert guidance on Obsidian markdown syntax, editing features, and formatting. Use when helping with Obsidian note-taking, formatting, or markdown syntax. - Skill: `majiayu000/obsidian-editing` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add majiayu000/obsidian-editing` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/majiayu000/obsidian-editing/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Docs & Writing - Author: majiayu000 (https://skillmd.com/u/majiayu000) - Updated: 2026-09-09 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/majiayu000/obsidian-editing --- # Obsidian Editing and Formatting Skill Comprehensive guide to Obsidian's editing and formatting capabilities, including markdown syntax, special formatting features, and best practices. ## When to Use This Skill This skill should be triggered when: - Writing or formatting content in Obsidian - Using Obsidian markdown syntax - Creating links, embeds, or references in Obsidian - Using callouts, tables, or other advanced formatting - Working with Obsidian-specific markdown extensions ## Basic Formatting Syntax ### Text Formatting ```markdown **Bold text** *Italic text* ***Bold and italic*** ~~Strikethrough~~ ==Highlight== `Inline code` ``` ### Headings ```markdown # Heading 1 ## Heading 2 ### Heading 3 #### Heading 4 ##### Heading 5 ###### Heading 6 ``` ### Lists **Unordered lists:** ```markdown - Item 1 - Item 2 - Nested item - Another nested item - Item 3 ``` **Ordered lists:** ```markdown 1. First item 2. Second item 1. Nested item 2. Another nested item 3. Third item ``` **Task lists:** ```markdown - [ ] Incomplete task - [x] Completed task - [-] Cancelled task - [>] Forwarded task - [<] Scheduled task ``` ## Links and References ### Internal Links ```markdown [[Note name]] # Link to a note [[Note name|Display text]] # Link with custom text [[Note name#Heading]] # Link to a heading [[Note name#^block-id]] # Link to a block ``` ### External Links ```markdown [Display text](https://example.com) ``` ### Embeds ```markdown ![[Note name]] # Embed entire note ![[Note name#Heading]] # Embed from heading ![[Image.png]] # Embed image ![[Document.pdf]] # Embed PDF ![[Audio.mp3]] # Embed audio ``` ## Callouts Obsidian supports various callout types for highlighting information: ```markdown > [!note] > This is a note callout > [!tip] > This is a tip callout > [!important] > This is an important callout > [!warning] > This is a warning callout > [!caution] > This is a caution callout > [!info] > This is an info callout > [!success] > This is a success callout > [!question] > This is a question callout > [!failure] > This is a failure callout > [!danger] > This is a danger callout > [!bug] > This is a bug callout > [!example] > This is an example callout > [!quote] > This is a quote callout ``` **Foldable callouts:** ```markdown > [!note]- Collapsed by default > Content here > [!note]+ Expanded by default > Content here ``` ## Tables ```markdown | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | -------- | -------- | -------- | | Row 1 | Data | Data | | Row 2 | Data | Data | # With alignment | Left | Center | Right | | :--- | :----: | ----: | | Text | Text | Text | ``` ## Code Blocks ````markdown ```python def hello_world(): print("Hello, World!") ``` ```javascript console.log("Hello, World!"); ``` ```` ## Block Quotes ```markdown > This is a block quote > It can span multiple lines > > And have multiple paragraphs ``` ## Horizontal Rules ```markdown --- *** ___ ``` ## Footnotes ```markdown Here's a sentence with a footnote.[^1] [^1]: This is the footnote content. ``` ## Comments ```markdown %% This is a comment and won't be rendered %% %% Multi-line comment %% ``` ## Mathematical Expressions **Inline math:** ```markdown $e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0$ ``` **Block math:** ```markdown $$ \int_{a}^{b} f(x) dx $$ ``` ## Diagrams (Mermaid) ````markdown ```mermaid graph TD A[Start] --> B[Process] B --> C[End] ``` ```` ## Tags ```markdown #tag #nested/tag #multi-word-tag ``` ## Block IDs ```markdown This is a paragraph with a block ID. ^block-id You can reference it with [[Note#^block-id]] ``` ## Wikilinks vs Markdown Links **Wikilinks (Obsidian-specific):** - `[[Note name]]` - Easier to type - Automatically creates links to non-existent notes **Markdown links (Standard):** - `[Display text](path/to/note.md)` - More portable across different systems - Requires exact path ## Advanced Formatting Tips ### Nested Formatting ```markdown **Bold text with *italic* inside** *Italic text with ==highlight== inside* ``` ### Escape Characters Use backslash to escape special characters: ```markdown \*Not italic\* \[\[Not a link\]\] \#Not a tag ``` ### Line Breaks - Use two spaces at the end of a line for a soft break - Use a blank line for a paragraph break ### Combining Features ```markdown # Heading with #tag - [ ] Task with [[internal link]] - [x] Task with **bold** and *italic* > [!tip] Callout with formatting > You can use **bold**, *italic*, and `code` inside callouts. > You can also include [[links]] and #tags. ``` ## Properties (Frontmatter) Add metadata to your notes: ```markdown --- title: My Note tags: [tag1, tag2] author: Your Name date: 2025-10-29 --- # Note content starts here ``` ## Canvas-Specific Features When using Canvas view: - Drag and drop notes onto canvas - Create cards with text - Draw connections between notes - Group items with colors ## Editing Keyboard Shortcuts Common shortcuts (Windows/Linux | Mac): - **Bold**: `Ctrl+B` | `Cmd+B` - **Italic**: `Ctrl+I` | `Cmd+I` - **Insert link**: `Ctrl+K` | `Cmd+K` - **Toggle checklist**: `Ctrl+L` | `Cmd+L` - **Search in note**: `Ctrl+F` | `Cmd+F` - **Open command palette**: `Ctrl+P` | `Cmd+P` - **Open quick switcher**: `Ctrl+O` | `Cmd+O` ## Best Practices 1. **Use descriptive note names** - Makes linking easier 2. **Leverage tags** - For quick filtering and organization 3. **Use callouts** - To highlight important information 4. **Create MOCs** - Maps of Content for organizing related notes 5. **Use block IDs** - For precise references to specific content 6. **Consistent naming** - Helps with autocomplete and searching 7. **Use frontmatter** - For metadata and dataview queries 8. **Link liberally** - Create connections between related ideas ## Resources - Official Obsidian Help: https://help.obsidian.md/ - Obsidian Forum: https://forum.obsidian.md/ - Obsidian Discord: https://discord.gg/obsidianmd ## Notes - Obsidian uses a variant of Markdown with extensions - Most standard Markdown syntax works in Obsidian - Some features (like callouts) are Obsidian-specific - Preview mode renders formatting, Edit mode shows raw markdown - Use Reading view for final formatted appearance