I stopped using Obsidian like a notes app, and started using it like a database
The author transitioned from using Obsidian as a traditional note-taking app to leveraging it as a dynamic database by utilizing the Dataview plugin. This shift allowed for automated, query-based organization of information, making it easier to manage freelance work and research. The system now actively surfaces relevant data without manual updates or complex folder structures.
- ▪The author initially used Obsidian as a passive repository for notes, which became unmanageable over time.
- ▪Dataview is a community plugin that transforms Markdown files into a searchable, queryable local database.
- ▪With Dataview, the author can generate real-time tables of tasks, filter by properties like status and client, and reduce manual organization.
- ▪The plugin enables relational data handling in Obsidian, similar to enterprise databases or tools like Notion.
- ▪This approach turns static notes into structured data entries with defined properties and dynamic relationships.
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{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": "1", "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.xda-developers.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position":"2", "name": "Productivity & Creativity Tools", "item": "https://www.xda-developers.com/productivity/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position":"3", "name": "I stopped using Obsidian like a notes app, and started using it like a database", "item": "https://www.xda-developers.com/use-obsidian-like-a-database-instead-of-notes-app/" } ] } I stopped using Obsidian like a notes app, and started using it like a database By Yash Patel Published May 16, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Beginning his professional journey in the tech industry in 2018, Yash spent over three years as a Software Engineer.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at XDA Developers.
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