Difference between Tags, Folders, and Links in Obsidian
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📁 Folders
Definition:
Folders are physical structures in the file system. They group notes into visible directories and act as editorial containers.
Examples:
MentisCraft/Models
MentisCraft/Epistemological Notes
MentisCraft/Projects 2025
Typical uses:
- Separate by content type (concepts, projects, analyses)
- Create editorial hierarchies (e.g., Published, Drafts, Review)
- Organize chronologically or by author
Limitations:
- No explicit semantics
- Do not create relationships between notes
- Not visible in the knowledge graph
🏷️ Tags
Definition:
Tags are keywords preceded by # inside the note. They serve as thematic labels grouping notes by topic.
Example:
#governance #ai #digitalidentity #mentiscraft
Typical uses:
- Group notes by transversal themes
- Create quick filters in search
- Identify emerging or recurring topics
Limitations:
- Do not indicate relationships between notes
- Lack direction or context
- May be ambiguous without standardization
🔗 Links
Definition:
Links connect one note to another using the
Display text syntax. They are relational elements that build the semantic network within Obsidian.
Example:
See also: Knowledge Curator and Director Ethics Epistemology
Typical uses:
- Create explicit conceptual connections
- Build mental and epistemological maps
- Enable contextual navigation between ideas
- Feed visualizations in the knowledge graph
Advantages:
- Semantic and relational
- Support traceability and iterative refinement
- Fundamental to modular structures
Final Comparison
| Element | Main Function | Semantic | Navigation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folders | Physical organization | ❌ | Hierarchical | MentisCraft/Models |
| Tags | Thematic grouping | Partial | By filter | #epistemology |
| Links | Conceptual connection | ✅ | Contextual | Metaepistemology AI Thinking Thought |
AI Director's Recommendations
“Use folders for editorial structure, tags to track emerging themes, and links to build living knowledge. In MentisCraft, links are the backbone of the semantic network — they are what transform notes into interconnected cells.”
Essence
- Folders organize physically but lack semantic connection
- Tags group by theme but don’t create explicit relationships
- Links build meaning networks and support contextual navigation
Links
- Director of AI and Digital Identity – source of this explanation
- MentisCraft – Design, Analysis, and Modular Structure – editorial and semantic structure
- MentisCell - Knowledge Curator – traceability and conceptual organization
- MentisCell - Metaepistemology AI Thinking Thought – philosophical implications of networked structure
- Model Interpretability in AI – explainability and traceability
- MentisCell - Data Culture Organizational Change – organizational impact and structuring practice
Tags
#mentiscraft #obsidian #folders #tags #links #structure #modularity #epistemology #mentiscell
Contributors
Created with support from Microsoft Copilot on 2025-07-18.
With structural, conceptual, and editorial contributions by Jorge Godoy.