Flashcards for Obsidian · v2 syntax guide

Write the syntax.
See the result.

A visual 101 for every main authoring pattern. Each example shows the Markdown you write, the fields the plugin reads, the number of Anki cards created, and where the source boundary ends.

9authoring patterns
4managed note types
1source of truth: Obsidian
01 · Quick answer

Inline basic

Use for a short question and answer.

Basic 1 note · 1 card Default: ::
Markdown 
What does HTTP mean?::Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Result · 1 card

Basic

Question

What does HTTP mean?

Answer

Hypertext Transfer Protocol

Boundary The line contains the complete question and answer.
02 · Two directions

Inline reversed

Use only when recall in both directions is useful.

Reversed 1 note · 2 cards Default: :::
Markdown 
TCP:::Transmission Control Protocol
Result · 2 cards

Card 1

Question → answer

TCP → Transmission Control Protocol

Card 2

Question → answer

Transmission Control Protocol → TCP

Boundary The line creates one Anki note with two review cards.
03 · Recall in context

Cloze

Hide one or more meaningful spans.

Cloze 1 note · 1 card == is on
Markdown 
The {1:heart} pumps blood through the {1:circulatory system}.
Result · cloze 1

Cloze

Question

The […] pumps blood through the […].

Answer

The heart pumps blood through the circulatory system.

Boundary Spans with the same number hide together. Use ==text== for automatic numbering.
04 · Exact container

Fenced card

Use for explicit or multi-line fields.

Basic 1 note · 1 card type: basic
Markdown 
```flashcard
front: What does CSS stand for?
back: Cascading Style Sheets
```
Result · 1 card

Basic · default type

Question

What does CSS stand for?

Answer

Cascading Style Sheets

Boundary The closing fence ends the card. basic reversed cloze reminder
05 · Section answer

Hashtag heading

Use when the answer needs several Markdown blocks.

Basic 1 note · 1 card #card
Markdown 
## What is recursion? #card

A function that calls itself.

### Required property

It needs a base case.
Result · 1 card

Basic

Question

What is recursion?

Answer

A function that calls itself.

Required property

It needs a base case.

Boundary Lower headings stay in the answer. A heading at the same or a higher level ends it.
06 · Visible container

Card callout

Use an Obsidian callout as an explicit card.

Basic 1 note · 1 card Explicit
Markdown 
> [!CARD] : What is recursion?
> A function that calls itself.
>
> It needs a base case.
Result · 1 card

Basic

Question

What is recursion?

Answer

A function that calls itself.

It needs a base case.

Boundary The callout body belongs to this card.
07 · Structured answer

Inline list card

Keep an answer and its child blocks together.

Basic 1 note · 1 card Uses ::
Markdown 
- What belongs to this card?:: Its first answer.

  This child paragraph also belongs.

  - This nested item belongs too.
Result · 1 card

Basic

Question

What belongs to this card?

Answer

Its first answer.

This child paragraph also belongs.

  • This nested item belongs too.
Boundary The list item owns its indented children. A sibling item at the same indentation starts a separate card.
08 · Scheduled principle

Reminder

Return one piece of content without a question and answer.

Reminder 1 note · 1 card One field
Markdown 
Keep the feedback loop short. #card-reminder
Result · 1 card

Reminder

Content

Keep the feedback loop short.

After reveal

How soon should this come back?

Boundary A reminder paragraph owns only that paragraph. It has no authored answer.
09 · Whole-note intent

Atomic note

Use when the note is intentionally authored as one concept.

Basic 1 card per cue Explicit
Photosynthesis.md 
---
test:
  - title
  - "What does chlorophyll do?"
---

Chlorophyll absorbs light energy.

This paragraph is never part of the card.
Result · 2 cards

Basic · title

Question

Photosynthesis

Answer

Chlorophyll absorbs light energy.

Basic · custom question

Question

What does chlorophyll do?

Answer

Chlorophyll absorbs light energy.

Boundary The first paragraph is the complete answer; nothing after it is read. Each list item becomes its own card and they share that answer. Items must all differ, and a custom question must not repeat the filename. title custom question reversed cloze

Used when you do not configure them

Important defaults

Basic separator ::
Reversed separator :::
Highlight cloze ==text== is enabled.
Fenced type Missing type: means basic.
Deck cards-deck, then folder, then Default.
Tag Every card gets obsidian.
Context Parent headings appear above the question.
Deletion Confirmation is enabled.