Inline connections

Inline connections bring the Connections list into the editor. Instead of switching to the Connections view, you can surface relevant notes or blocks for a specific paragraph, heading, or sentence while you write.

How it works

Smart Connections scores the current file's blocks against your vault (based on your settings). When a block has at least one match above your threshold, a small inline Connections icon appears at the end of that block.

The icon is intentionally minimal: it is a fast signal that "this block has relevant context elsewhere".

Using inline connections

1. Hover to scan matches

Hover the Connections icon to open a popover list of the best matches for that block.

Each result shows:

• The matched note or block
• A score (higher means more related)
• A quick path to act (preview or open)

2. Preview before you commit

Hold Cmd/Ctrl while hovering a connection (above in blue) to trigger Obsidian's native Hover Preview (above in pink). This lets you confirm relevance without leaving your current note.

3. Open the full list for the block

Click the top Connections + line numbers row in the popover to open all matches for that block in the main Connections view.

Use this when you want to:

• Expand beyond the top few results
• Switch from scanning to deeper exploration
• Compare multiple candidates side-by-side in the Connections view

4. Show inline connections only when you want them

If you prefer less visual noise while drafting, you can toggle inline connections on demand using the command palette, then assign that command to a hotkey.

A practical flow:

1. Draft normally (inline off).
2. Toggle inline on when you want to add links or check for duplicates.
3. Toggle inline off when you are back in "write mode".

Workflow recipes

Link while you draft

1. Write a paragraph.
2. Hover the inline icon.
3. Preview 1-2 strong matches (Cmd/Ctrl hover).
4. Click to open and pull in what you need, or add a link.

Outcome: you build links as part of writing, not as a separate cleanup step.

Refactor long notes

1. Find a section that feels dense or disorganized.
2. Use inline connections on its blocks to locate related notes you already wrote.
3. Open the strongest matches and split, merge, or extract new notes.

Outcome: you reduce duplication and turn one big note into a network of focused notes.

Catch duplicates early

If you often restart research, inline connections can reveal "you already did this" at the moment you start writing. Hover the icon and look for:

• A prior draft
• A similar concept explained elsewhere
• A related decision note or meeting note

Outcome: less rework, more reuse.

Tuning inline visibility

Inline connections use the same scoping controls as the Connections list, but optimized for quick scanning while editing:

• Inline score threshold: how confident a match must be before the decorator appears
• Results limit: maximum items shown in the inline popover
• Include/exclude filters: restrict candidates by file path

For configuration details, see the inline connections settings.