Organize Notes in Obsidian Using MOC (Map of Content)
I’ve been there. You create hundreds of notes, each one valuable, but then you can’t find anything. You scroll through endless lists, search blindly, and feel overwhelmed by your own knowledge base. It’s like having a library with thousands of books but no catalog system.
You’ve probably experienced this too. You’re learning something new, taking notes diligently, but after a few weeks, you’ve created so many disconnected notes that you don’t even remember what you have. The notes become a digital graveyard instead of a living, breathing knowledge system.
What You’ll Get From This Here’s what you’ll learn from this guide:
- How to create a Map of Content (MOC) to index your notes in Obsidian
- The zero-friction approach to note-taking and organizing simultaneously
- Using quick switcher to find notes in seconds
- Creating a mental map that helps you locate information fast
- Future-proofing your notes with plain text storage
The Solution Let’s dive into the practical steps for organizing your Obsidian notes with MOC. I’ll show you exactly how to create an index system that makes your knowledge base searchable and organized.
What Is a Map of Content?
MOC stands for “Map of Content” in Obsidian terminology. Think of it as an index or table of contents for your notes. Instead of having notes scattered everywhere, you create a central node that links to all related notes on a particular topic.
The beauty of MOC is that it’s not a fancy feature—it’s simply a note that lists and links to other notes. It’s your personal catalog system that makes finding information as easy as looking up a book in a library index.
Creating Your First MOC
Let’s say you’re learning about investment. You’ve been taking notes on various topics like how to invest, stock selection, IPO, index funds, and more. Instead of leaving these notes scattered, you create a MOC node called “MOC investment.”
Here’s how to create it:
- Right-click in your vault and create a new note
- Name it “MOC investment” (the “MOC” prefix is important—it makes the note easy to find)
- Start indexing all your investment-related notes in this MOC
When you start typing inside double brackets, Obsidian’s search feature kicks in. If you type “how,” it filters all notes starting with “how.” Type “stock,” and it shows all stock-related notes. This intelligent filtering makes it easy to find and link notes even when you have thousands in your vault.
The Zero-Friction Approach
Here’s the key insight: note-taking and organizing should happen at the same time, not as separate tasks. The most common problem people face is the multi-step process: take note → organize note → repeat. This friction kills the habit.
Instead, use this zero-friction method:
When you create a new note or find an existing one you want to link, simply press the link shortcut (left square bracket twice), and start typing. Obsidian will show you matching notes and placeholders. Select the right one, and the link is created instantly.
You’re taking notes and organizing them in one step. No separate organizing session needed. This is how you build a sustainable note-taking habit that doesn’t feel like a chore.
Using Quick Switcher
Quick Switcher is your best friend for finding notes. Press Ctrl+O (or Cmd+O on Mac) to open it. This shows you all your notes and lets you search instantly.
The key tip: Start your MOC notes with “MOC” at the beginning. This makes them easy to filter. When you open Quick Switcher and type “MOC,” you’ll see all your index notes. Select “MOC investment,” and you’re immediately in your investment index.
Once you’re in the MOC, you can see all your indexed notes. Click on any note to open it. If you need to find a specific note within the MOC, you can use the search feature inside Obsidian.
Creating a Mental Map
The MOC helps you build a mental map of your knowledge. When you look at your MOC investment, you see the structure:
- How to invest
- How to buy good companies
- How to select a stock
- How stock price is decided
- IPO (Initial Public Offering)
- Index funds
- Investment advice for lazy people
This visual organization helps your brain understand the relationships between concepts. You’re not just storing information—you’re building a connected knowledge structure that mirrors how concepts relate in the real world.
Making Your MOC More Useful
To make your MOC more functional, you can:
- Create bulleted lists: Organize notes in a logical structure
- Use indentation: Create hierarchies by indenting notes (press Tab)
- Add headings: Use headings to create sections within your MOC
For example, you might have:
- Basic concepts
- Stock-specific topics
- Investment strategies
This structure makes it even easier to navigate your knowledge base.
Finding Notes in the Future
Here’s a common worry: “If I have thousands of notes, how will I find them months or years later?”
The answer is: through your MOCs and Quick Switcher. Let’s say you created an IPO note two years ago. When you open your MOC investment, you’ll see the IPO entry. Click on it, and you’re instantly at that note.
Even if you forget the exact title, Quick Switcher helps you find it. Open the MOC investment, browse through the list, and you’ll recognize “IPO” or “Initial Public Offering.”
This is the power of indexing: you don’t need to remember where you filed something. You just need to know it exists in your knowledge base.
Future-Proofing Your Notes
One of the most important advantages of Obsidian is that your notes are stored in plain text format. This means:
- Your notes are future-proof: Even if Obsidian doesn’t exist in 10 or 20 years, your notes will still be readable
- You own your data: Everything is stored locally in your directory
- Easy backup and sync: You can copy your Obsidian vault to Google Drive, OneDrive, or any sync service
- Cross-platform access: Open the same folder on any computer
Unlike proprietary note-taking apps that lock you in, Obsidian gives you complete control over your knowledge base.
Watch the Full Video For the complete step-by-step walkthrough, watch the full video below:
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👋 About Me
Hi, I’m Shuvangkar Das — a power systems researcher with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, currently working as a Research Scientist. I work at the intersection of power electronics, inverter-based DERs (IBRs), and AI to help build smarter, greener, and more stable electric grids.
My work spans large-scale EMT simulations, firmware development, reinforcement learning, and hardware prototyping. Beyond engineering, I’m also a YouTuber and content creator — sharing hands-on insights on productivity, research, and knowledge management. My goal is simple: to make complex ideas more accessible and actionable for everyone.
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