You can use Obsidian Query Language (OQL) to search for information in your Obsidian notes. With its simple syntax of keywords and operators, finding specific notes and data has never been easier. In my experience, OQL is a truly powerful tool for anyone who wants to get the most out of their Obsidian notes.

Understanding the Basics of Obsidian Query Language

The basic syntax of OQL is as follows:

[keyword] [operator] [value]

The keyword is the word that you want to search for, the operator is the type of search you want to perform, and the value is the value that you want to search for.

For example, to find all notes that contain the keyword "apple", you would use the following OQL query:

apple

To find all notes that contain the keyword "apple" and were created in the last year, you would use the following OQL query:

apple created:>2022-01-01

Common Search Intents for Using Obsidian Query Language

There are a few common search intents that you can use with OQL. These include:

• Finding notes that contain a specific keyword
• Finding notes that contain a specific phrase
• Finding notes that were created or modified on a specific date
• Finding notes that were created or modified by a specific user
• Finding notes that contain a specific tag

Tips and Tricks for Mastering Obsidian Query Language

Here are a few tips and tricks for mastering Obsidian Query Language:

• Use wildcards

You can use wildcards to search for multiple keywords or phrases at once. For example, to find all notes that contain the keyword "apple" or the keyword "banana", you would use the following OQL query:

apple|banana

• Use regular expressions

You can also use regular expressions to search for specific patterns in your notes. For example, to find all notes that contain the keyword "apple" followed by the word "core", you would use the following OQL query:

apple.*core

• Use the Obsidian Query Language Reference

The Obsidian Query Language Reference is a great resource for learning more about OQL. It includes a list of all keywords and operators, as well as examples of how to use them.

• Experiment

The best way to learn OQL is to experiment with it. Try different keywords, operators, and values to see what you can find. The more you use OQL, the better you will become at using it to find the information you need in your Obsidian notes.

Advanced Techniques for Using Obsidian Query Language

Here are some advanced techniques that you can use when using Obsidian Query Language:

Using modifiers to refine search results

You can refine your search results with the help of modifiers. The "-" modifier, for instance, can be used to exclude specific words from your search query. Alternatively, you can use the "~" modifier to find words that are akin to your search term. In my experience, using these modifiers can greatly improve the accuracy of your search results.

Searching for specific types of content

You can also use Obsidian Query Language to search for specific types of content. For example, you can use the "tag:" modifier to search for notes that have a specific tag, or you can use the "header:" modifier to search for notes that have a specific header.

Using regular expressions to create more complex queries

You can also use regular expressions to create more complex queries. For example, you could use the following regular expression to search for all notes that contain the word "hello" and were created in the last 24 hours:

hello(?<created_at>.*?)(?<created_at>.*?)

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the Obsidian Query Language can greatly enhance your note-taking and knowledge management capabilities. With the tips and tricks shared in this article, you can become more efficient in searching, filtering, and organizing your notes.

Remember to experiment with different syntax and operators to find the queries that work best for you. And if you have any other tips or questions, feel free to leave a comment below and share this post with fellow Obsidian users to help them on their own note-taking journey.