# What Obsidian Property Types Are Supported? Complete YAML Front-Matter Reference

> Discover all seven Obsidian property types Text Number Checkbox Date List Links supported in YAML front-matter for structured metadata and advanced search.

- Repository: [Steph Ango/obsidian-skills](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-03-24

---

**Obsidian supports seven distinct property types—Text, Number, Checkbox, Date, Date & Time, List, and Links—defined in YAML front-matter to enable structured metadata, advanced search, and dynamic note relationships.**

The `kepano/obsidian-skills` repository documents the complete set of Obsidian property types that the application can parse from YAML front-matter. These supported **Obsidian property types** power essential features including tag search, checkbox toggling, date sorting, and link resolution within your vault.

## Complete List of Supported Obsidian Property Types

According to [`skills/obsidian-markdown/references/PROPERTIES.md`](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills/blob/main/skills/obsidian-markdown/references/PROPERTIES.md), Obsidian recognizes seven specific data types for front-matter properties.

### Text

The **Text** type stores simple string values for titles, descriptions, or any character data.

```yaml
title: My Title

```

### Number

The **Number** type accepts integer or decimal values, enabling mathematical operations and numeric sorting.

```yaml
rating: 4.5

```

### Checkbox

The **Checkbox** type uses boolean values (`true` or `false`) that Obsidian renders as interactive toggles in the properties view.

```yaml
completed: true

```

### Date

The **Date** type stores calendar dates in `YYYY-MM-DD` format, used by calendar plugins and chronological sorting features.

```yaml
date: 2024-01-15

```

### Date & Time

The **Date & Time** type requires ISO-8601 timestamps, enabling precise time-aware queries and scheduling.

```yaml
due: 2024-01-15T14:30:00

```

### List

The **List** type accepts YAML arrays or bracketed sequences, supporting multiple values including nested tag hierarchies (`parent/child`).

```yaml
tags: [one, two]

# or

tags:
  - planning
  - roadmap

```

### Links

The **Links** type uses Obsidian’s `[[wikilink]]` syntax to create relationships between notes, automatically resolving vault connections.

```yaml
related: "[[Other Note]]"

```

## YAML Front-Matter Syntax Reference

Implement these Obsidian property types within triple-dash delimiters at the start of any note. The following example from the repository demonstrates proper syntax for all seven types:

```yaml
---
title: Project Planning   # Text

rating: 4.7               # Number

completed: false          # Checkbox

date: 2024-03-01           # Date

due: 2024-03-01T09:00:00   # Date & Time

tags:                     # List

  - planning
  - roadmap
related: "[[Milestones]]" # Links

---

```

Obsidian interprets each entry according to its declared type, automatically rendering checkboxes as clickable elements, dates as calendar objects, and links as bidirectional connections.

## Source Reference Locations

The property type definitions reside in specific files within the `kepano/obsidian-skills` repository:

- **[`skills/obsidian-markdown/references/PROPERTIES.md`](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills/blob/main/skills/obsidian-markdown/references/PROPERTIES.md)** — Central reference documenting all supported front-matter property types (lines 24-35)
- **[`skills/obsidian-markdown/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills/blob/main/skills/obsidian-markdown/SKILL.md)** — Overview of the Obsidian Markdown skill linking to property references
- **[`README.md`](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills/blob/main/README.md)** — General repository documentation and user entry point

## Summary

- Obsidian recognizes **seven property types**: Text, Number, Checkbox, Date, Date & Time, List, and Links.
- Properties are defined in **YAML front-matter** between triple-dash delimiters at the note's beginning.
- Each type enables specific functionality: **Checkbox** provides toggles, **Date & Time** enables sorting, and **Links** creates note relationships.
- Reference definitions are maintained in [`PROPERTIES.md`](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills/blob/main/PROPERTIES.md) within the `kepano/obsidian-skills` repository.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I format Date & Time properties in Obsidian?

Use **ISO-8601 format** (`YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS`) for Date & Time properties. This standard timestamp format enables Obsidian’s time-aware queries and ensures compatibility with calendar plugins.

### Can I create relationships between notes using property types?

Yes, the **Links** property type accepts Obsidian’s `[[wikilink]]` syntax. When you define `related: "[[Other Note]]"`, Obsidian establishes a bidirectional link between the current note and the target note, visible in the graph view and backlinks panel.

### What is the difference between Text and List property types?

**Text** stores single string values, while **List** stores YAML arrays containing multiple values. Use Text for singular attributes like titles, and List for multi-value fields like tags or categories.

### Where are Obsidian property types documented in the source code?

The canonical reference is [`skills/obsidian-markdown/references/PROPERTIES.md`](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills/blob/main/skills/obsidian-markdown/references/PROPERTIES.md) in the `kepano/obsidian-skills` repository. This file defines all seven supported types and their expected YAML syntax.