Backlinks are one of Foam’s most powerful features for knowledge discovery. They automatically show you which notes reference your current note, creating a web of interconnected knowledge that reveals surprising relationships between your ideas.
[đź“ą Watch: Understanding and using backlinks in Foam]
A backlink is a connection from another note that points to the note you’re currently viewing. While you create forward links intentionally with [[wikilinks]], backlinks are discovered automatically by Foam.
Forward Links (what you create):
# Machine Learning Note
I'm studying [[Neural Networks]] and [[Deep Learning]] concepts.
Backlinks (what Foam discovers): If you’re viewing the “Neural Networks” note, Foam shows you that “Machine Learning Note” links to it, even though you didn’t explicitly create that reverse connection.
This bidirectional linking creates a richer knowledge network than traditional hierarchical folders.
The Connections panel shows both forward links and backlinks:
Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)[đź“ą Watch: Finding and opening the backlinks panel]
Backlinks often reveal relationships you didn’t consciously create:
Example: While reviewing a “Productivity” note, backlinks might show connections from:
These diverse connections can spark new insights and cross-domain learning.
Notes with many backlinks are often central to your thinking:
Backlinks provide context for how you use concepts across different areas:
[đź“ą Watch: Using backlinks for knowledge discovery and research]