Obsidian Bases Tutorial

#digitalgarden #tutorial
Jun 02, 2025 7:10 PM
Jun 12, 2025 6:36 PM

What Are Bases?

  1. a new file format that produces tables (with other types coming in the future)
    1. it's done entirely in YAML, which makes it compatible with markdown
  2. data "base"

How To Set Up Bases?

  1. Steps:
    1. turn on core plugin (catalyst)
    2. new base
    3. add filters
      1. properties are WAY more important
      2. establish core properties

Key Features of Bases

  1. filter by property
  2. change views with the same table, based on different filters
    1. export to csv - current view is exported
  3. modify properties FROM the table (huge feature)
    1. in the future, will be able to create notes from here too
  4. SPEED - bases are WAY faster than dataview or notion for large tables
  5. Embed bases in other notes so they can dynamically update as you go
  6. functions - making bases as powerful as dataview

Practical Examples of Bases

Books - [[Books Base.base]]

Quotes
1.
[[Creative Act Base.base]]

Maps of Content
Flow
[[Flow Topic.base]]

Digital Garden Update History Code Block
[[Digital Garden Update.base]]

Projects
[[YouTube Video list.base]]

Comparing Bases To Dataview & Notion

PRO of bases vs notion

  1. bases uses your entire vault and can pull in files from everywhere

Coming Soon

  1. Bases API for plugins to add more power through custom functions and new view types.
  2. More view types beyond tables, e.g. list, cards, etc.
  3. Grouping files and aggregation functions (e.g. sum, average, etc).
  4. Obsidian Publish support.