Obsidian launches new Bases plugin for database workflows and property format changes

Obsidian latest update debuts the new Bases plugin, allowing users to transform sets of notes into structured databases. This feature lets individuals organize projects, travel itineraries, reading lists, and a variety of other structured content, all within their existing vaults. Users can create custom views to visualize and interact with stored data and benefit from advanced property filtering and formula-driven dynamic properties.

All Base content remains in locally stored Markdown files with properties in YAML, alongside a new .base file format and syntax. Functionally, Bases present a Markdown-centric alternative for users who want database-like capabilities similar to Anytype, integrated directly into Obsidian.

This release also brings a major change to properties: the singular forms tag, alias, and cssclass are replaced by lists tags, aliases, and cssclasses. The Format converter plugin helps migrate older files and correct formatting to ease the transition. Other additions include a Footnotes view plugin for managing references in a sidebar, a Property editor in previews and Canvas, Sync conflict resolution and options to create new bases or canvases directly from File Explorer.