anytype-docs-organize-relations.md
For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. This page is also available as Markdown.
Properties are the details you attach to an Object—its due date, status, priority, tags, or any other attribute you care about. Using a spreadsheet analogy, think of every Object as a row and every Property as a column.
Properties enable you to organize your knowledge into flexible systems. Once your Objects have Properties, you can sort, filter, and query them:
Find all Tasks with Priority set to High.
Find all Books where Status is Reading and sort by highest Rating.
Find all Ideas with a Creation Date from Last Year.
Properties serve two functions. We'll use a Task Object as an example.
1. Describe Objects — Add useful and defining details with Properties such as:
Status: In Progress
Priority: High
Due Date: Next Friday
2. Connect Objects — Link an Object to another through a Property, such as:
Assigned To: → Alex (a Person Object)
Project: → Website Redesign (a Project Object)
Here are the currently available Property types within Anytype:
Property Type
Description
Text
Accepts free-form text as input.
Number
For all numbers. Different formats are coming soon.
Date
Date, with optional time.
Select
Predefined list of options. You can choose one.
Multi-select
Predefined list of options. You can choose multiple, with no limit.
Email/Phone/URL
Special formats for email addresses, phone numbers, or URLs.
Checkbox
A true/false value.
File & Media
Attach audio, video, or images to view, play, or download.
Object
Reference to another object, such as a person, task, or document.
Properties on Objects can exist independently from Types. Think of Types as a group of Properties that all get applied to an Object at the same time.
You can use the same Property on multiple Types. For example, a Genre Property can be used on both Books and Movies.
You can have a Property on an Object that is not part of its Type. For example, a Favorites Property can be on a Book Object, but not part of the Book Type.
Because all Objects have a Type, it's best to use Properties within the context of a Type. You can:
Create new Properties.
Add existing Properties.
Rearrange the order.
Toggle visibility.
Remove the Property from the Type.
Move the Property to the Bin.
While editing a Type, you can use the 'plus' button of the Properties section to add an existing Property or create a new one. To edit a Property, simply click on it. To rearrange the order, click and drag the handle on the left-hand side.
When viewing a Type, you can click on the 'View settings' button on the top right, select Properties , and add your desired Property. To edit a Property, simply click on it. The rearrange the order, click and drag on the handle located on the left-hand side.
You can add a Property to your Objects as you would with any other block in the editor: by using the + button or the in-line / menu.
You can add Properties to the Object that are not connected to the Object's Type. However, if you do this often enough, it's best to add the Property to the Object's Type for clearer organization.
Open your Channel Settings, and navigate to Content Model and select Properties. Afterwards, simply click on 'New' button to create a new Property.
Properties are best used in context with their Type. You can manage Properties from the 'Edit Type' panel—see here.
Properties are most powerful in Views, which offer flexible, customizable ways to interact with your knowledge. To learn more, please see the Views section.
When viewing an Object in a Page format, the Properties can be shown in the Object's Header. This is the section below the title but above the content. There are two layout options:
Line —for a more minimal look.
List —for displaying more structured information.
These are set on the Type level, which means the layout will be the same for all Objects of that Type.
You can use the Object Header to:
Show the most relevant Properties —edit the Type, navigate to the Properties section, drag the Properties you want shown, and arrange the order to your liking. Everything in the 'Properties Panel' and 'Hidden' sections will not display in the Header.
Directly edit Properties in the editor —click on the Property in the Header to make an edit.
Properties that are not seen in the Header can still be part of the Type, which are typically used in Views.
If you want to have your Properties displayed in the content area of your Pages, you can insert Properties as a block. You can do this with the following methods:
Open the command menu, with the / or the 'plus' button, and scroll to the Properties section.
Type the Property name with the slash command, such as: /tags or /description.
Property blocks can only be added for Properties that have been added to the Type or already have a value associated with the Property.
Once inserted as a block, you can manipulate the Property just like any other block. This is particularly helpful if you want to design nice Templates, as the Object Header is more limited in design flexibility.
When viewing an Object, you can quickly see all of its Properties by opening the Properties Panel. This is located in the top right corner with the 'information' icon.
Properties exist independently from Types and Objects—they are their own thing. Because of this, there are multiple ways to remove them.
Navigate to the Type that you want to remove the Property from.
Right-click on the Property and select:
Remove from Type — unlinks the Property from the Type, but keeps the Property in the space. The values you assigned to Objects under this Property will be retained, even though you've removed it from the Type.
Move to Bin — unlinks the Property from all Types and removes it from the space. The Property can be restored from the Bin.
In this section, you can see how many Objects are connected to a Property, which Types use it, and other details to help you stay organized.
Navigate to the Channel Settings from the Sidebar.
Under 'Content Model', select Properties.
Right-click on the desired Property, select Move to Bin. This will unlink the property from all Types as well.
Keep it simple, less is more. When getting started, use as few Properties as possible. Only add new Properties as you find yourself needing more organization power.
Tags is the easiest way to get started with Properties. Add relevant tags to all of your documents and create a Query that groups them all together.
Last updated 3 hours ago
Was this helpful?