---
title: Properties
description: Add structured metadata to your notes with YAML frontmatter
---

Properties are structured metadata attached to your notes via YAML frontmatter. They live at the very top of a Markdown file, between `---` delimiters:

```yaml
---
title: Project Brief
status: active
priority: 1
due: 2026-05-01
pinned: true
tags:
  - work
  - planning
---
```

## Browsing Properties

Open the **Properties** page from the More menu. It shows every unique property key found across all notes in your workspace, along with a count of how many notes use each one.

Use the header search button to filter properties by name. Tap a property to see the notes that have it, grouped by modification date with content previews. Tap the property name in the results header to switch to another property without returning to the full index, or search within its matching notes.

## Supported Value Types

When adding or editing a property in the editor's properties sheet, you can choose from these types:

| Type | Example value |
|------|---------------|
| **Text** | `status: draft` |
| **Number** | `priority: 1` |
| **Date** | `due: 2026-05-01` |
| **Date & Time** | `meeting: 2026-05-01T09:30` |
| **Checkbox** | `pinned: true` |
| **List** | A multi-line list of values |
| **Tags** | A multi-line list of tag strings |
| **Files** | A multi-line list of file references |

## Special Properties

A few property keys have special meaning in Octarine:

| Property | Type | Effect |
|----------|------|--------|
| `pinned` | Checkbox | Adds the note to the Pinned section in Library |
| `locked` | Checkbox | Makes the note read-only — the editor disables editing |
| `tags` | Tags (list) | Adds the note to the listed tags, visible in the Tags browser |

Any other keys are custom — add whatever metadata makes sense for your workflow.

## Adding and Editing Properties

Properties are edited directly below the note title:

1. Expand the **Properties** panel. Octarine remembers whether you leave this panel expanded or collapsed.
2. Tap an existing name or value to edit it, or tap **Add property** to create a row.
3. Use the type icon to choose Text, Number, Date, Date & Time, Checkbox, or List, then enter the value.

As you type a property name, Octarine suggests definitions already used in the workspace. Value fields also suggest values previously used for the same property, which helps keep values such as `status: active` consistent between notes.

List values can be entered one per line or separated by commas. `tags` and `external_files` use their special list types automatically and cannot be changed to an incompatible type.

Remove a property with the **×** button on its row. After adding, editing, renaming, or removing a property, tap the undo arrow in the Properties header to restore the previous frontmatter state. The undo history is kept for the current editing session and resets when you open another note.

If a note has no visible properties, choose **Add Property** from the editor's options sheet to reveal a new row. For a locked note, the panel remains visible but read-only.

> Property edits change the YAML frontmatter in the Markdown file. The collapse state of the Properties panel is an app preference and is not written into the note.