# Obsidian MCP

> Guide for interacting with Obsidian vaults via MCP. Use when the user wants to read, write, search, manage tags, or organize notes within their Obsidian vault. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/obsidian-mcp` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/obsidian-mcp`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/obsidian-mcp/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/obsidian-mcp

---


# Obsidian MCP Skill

This skill guides you in using the Obsidian MCP server to manage a user's vault. The server protects the vault by enforcing safe paths and validating frontmatter.

## Core Principles

1.  **Atomic Updates**: Prefer `patch_note` for making small changes to large files to avoid rewriting the entire content.
2.  **Frontmatter First**: Use `update_frontmatter` or `manage_tags` when only metadata needs changing.
3.  **Batch Operations**: Use `read_multiple_notes` when analyzing multiple related files (up to 10) to save roundtrips.
4.  **Confirm Destructive Actions**: `delete_note` requires a `confirmPath` argument that matches the `path`.

## API Reference

For detailed JSON schemas, argument lists, and return types, see [references/api.md](references/api.md).

## Common Workflows

### 1. Efficient Editing (Making targeted changes)

Use `patch_note` to replace specific text strings without rewriting the file.

**Goal**: Add an equation to a specific section.
**Tool**: `patch_note`

```json
{
  "path": "Physics/Relativity.md",
  "oldString": "## Energy and Mass",
  "newString": "## Energy and Mass\n\nE = mc²",
  "prettyPrint": false
}
```

### 2. Creating Notes (New content)

Use `write_note` (mode: `overwrite`) to create new files. The server handles directory creation automatically.

**Goal**: Create a meeting note.
**Tool**: `write_note`

```json
{
  "path": "Meetings/Team Sync.md",
  "content": "# Team Sync\n\n- Discussed Q1 goals\n- Action items assigned",
  "frontmatter": {
      "tags": ["meeting", "sync"],
      "date": "2025-10-24"
  },
  "prettyPrint": false
}
```

### 3. Reading Multiple Notes (Research/Summary)

Use `read_multiple_notes` to gather context from several files at once.

**Goal**: Summarize a list of book notes.
**Tool**: `read_multiple_notes`

```json
{
  "paths": [
    "Reading/The Phoenix Project.md",
    "Reading/Atomic Habits.md",
    "Reading/Deep Work.md"
  ],
  "prettyPrint": false
}
```

### 4. Managing Metadata (Tags/Status)

Use `update_frontmatter` or `manage_tags` to modify YAML metadata without touching the body content.

**Goal**: Update status and add tags.
**Tool**: `update_frontmatter`

```json
{
  "path": "Projects/Website Redesign.md",
  "frontmatter": {
    "tags": ["project", "web-design", "priority-high"],
    "status": "in-progress"
  },
  "merge": true,
  "prettyPrint": false
}
```

### 5. Searching Content

Use `search_notes` to find relevant information.

**Goal**: Find notes about "React hooks".
**Tool**: `search_notes`

```json
{
  "query": "React hooks",
  "limit": 10,
  "searchContent": true,
  "prettyPrint": false
}
```

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-15 -->