Obsidian Links

Obsidian Wiki Links

Format, validate, and fix wiki links according to vault conventions.

When to Use This Skill

Activate when you need to:

• Create wiki links to other vault files
• Add section links to specific headers
• Format links in YAML frontmatter properties
• Verify links point to existing files/sections
• Find and fix broken links
• Validate link integrity in documents

Core Link Formatting Rules

1. Complete Filename Format

Always use full filename with date prefix:

✅ CORRECT: [[2025-10-31 Project Notes]]
❌ INCORRECT: [[Project Notes]] (missing date)
❌ INCORRECT: [[2025-10-31]] (missing title)

2. Folder Path Conventions

Include folder prefix for clarity:

✅ CORRECT: [[Journal/2025-10-31]]
✅ CORRECT: [[Articles/2025-10-31 Perennial Seller]]
✅ CORRECT: [[Roundup/2025-10-31]]

Rule: Use consistent folder prefixes for clarity and navigation.

3. Section Links

Use exact header text, character-for-character:

Source file header:
## PKM System Maintenance

✅ CORRECT:
[[Journal/2025-10-31#PKM System Maintenance]]

❌ INCORRECT:
[[Journal/2025-10-31#PKM System]] (truncated)
[[Journal/2025-10-31#pkm-system-maintenance]] (slug format)

Critical: Match characters, punctuation, spacing exactly as written.

4. Link to Sources, Not Indices

Always link to original content, not topic aggregations:

✅ CORRECT: [[Articles/2025-08-15 Skill Development]]
❌ INCORRECT: [[Topics/Career#Skill Development]]

Reason: Maintains source attribution and traceability

5. Properties Link Format

Wrap links in quotes when used in YAML lists:

sources:
  - "[[Journal/2025-10-31]]"
  - "[[Articles/2025-10-31 Title]]"

links:
  - "[[Roundup/2025-10-31]]"

attendees:
  - "[[People/John]]"

Link Validation Principles

1. Search Before Link

ALWAYS verify target exists before creating link:

Process:
1. Search for target file using Glob or Grep
2. Verify file exists
3. If section link, read file and verify header exists
4. Create link with exact filename and header text

❌ NEVER:
- Guess at filenames
- Assume files exist
- Fabricate section headers

2. Verify Section Headers

For section links, read source and match exactly:

Steps:
1. Read target file
2. Search for exact header text
3. Copy character-for-character (including special characters)
4. Create section link

If unsure about exact header:
✅ Link to file only: [[Journal/2025-10-31]]
❌ Don't guess: [[Journal/2025-10-31#Guessed Header]]

3. File Existence Checking

Use appropriate tools to verify files:

For specific file:
- Use Glob with full path pattern: "Journal/2025-10-31.md"
- Or Read the file directly

For finding files by keyword:
- Use Glob with pattern: "Articles/**/*keyword*.md"
- Check Topics directory before linking to topics

4. Fix Broken Links Immediately

When you find broken links, fix them:

Process:
1. Identify broken link
2. Search for correct target file
3. Update link with correct path/filename (use Edit tool)
4. Verify section header if applicable
5. Report fix to user

Complete Workflow

Creating New Links (Format + Validate)

Step 1: Determine Target
- Identify file to link to
- Note folder location
- Note complete filename

Step 2: Verify File Exists
- Use Glob: "**/{filename}.md"
- Or Read file directly
- If not found, search by keyword

Step 3: Verify Section (if needed)
- Read target file
- Search for exact header text
- Copy character-for-character
- If unsure, link to file only

Step 4: Format Link
- Use complete filename: [[YYYY-MM-DD Title]]
- Add folder prefix
- Add section if verified: [[File#Exact Header]]
- Wrap in quotes if in YAML property

Step 5: Create Link
- Link points to existing file
- Section header matches exactly (if used)
- Follows folder prefix conventions

Finding and Fixing Broken Links

Step 1: Detection
- Read document content
- Extract all wiki links
- For each link, verify file exists
- For section links, verify header exists

Step 2: Search for Correct Target
- Use context to determine intent
- Search vault with Glob/Grep
- Verify file exists

Step 3: Fix Link
- Use Edit tool to update broken link
- Replace with correct path/filename
- Verify section header if applicable

Step 4: Report
- Show old link (broken)
- Show new link (fixed)
- Explain reason for fix

Special Cases

Journal/Daily Files

Path: Journal/YYYY-MM-DD.md
Format: [[Journal/YYYY-MM-DD]]

Section links:
- Headers may vary by language
- ALWAYS verify exact text before linking
- If unsure, link to file only

Validation:
1. Check file: Journal/YYYY-MM-DD.md
2. Read file content
3. Search for exact header
4. Use exact match or file-only link

Topic Links

CRITICAL: Search Topics directory BEFORE linking

Validation:
1. Use Glob: "Topics/**/*{keyword}*.md"
2. Find matching topic page
3. Use complete category path

Examples:
- [[Topics/Technology/PKM]]
- [[Topics/Career/Skills]]

❌ NEVER link to non-existent topic pages

Person Names

Simple name: [[John]]
With context: [[People/John]] (if folder exists)

Validation: Verify person file exists before linking

Quality Checklist

Before completing link operations:

Formatting:

• All links use complete filenames
• Folder prefixes follow conventions
• Section headers match exactly (character-for-character)
• Links in YAML properties are wrapped in quotes
• All links point to sources, not topic indices

Validation:

• All target files verified to exist
• Section headers verified (not guessed)
• Topic links point to existing topic pages
• Broken links identified and fixed