# Frontmatter Tag/Link Handling **URL:** \ **Category:** Basement\ **Created:** [September 1, 2020, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/frontmatter-tag-link-handling/5146 "2020-09-01T11:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalGeorge](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@CalGeorge](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/CalGeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/frontmatter-tag-link-handling/5146/1 "2020-09-01T11:00:00Z")
With the new update, frontmatter in previews are now handled as code blocks. The problem I have is I’ve been putting links and tags in the frontmatter. These are now no longer styled like the rest of the page, but more importantly, they’re no longer processed as tags or links. This includes Links no longer creating backlinks and tags no longer being recognized. For example, the following block is now rendered as follows: ``` --- links: [[Service Mesh MOC|Service Mesh]] tags: #service-mesh #kubernetes #talk author: [[Cloud Native Computing Foundation]] --- ``` ![frontmatter-example](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/2X/1/198e715b4472a86679cf43eeec8f704fb0ab22ba.png) This may be down to me using these blocks differently as intended, as I know I can fix this issue by removing the top `---`; but it would be nice to have an option so that the frontmatter isn’t handled like a code block, or at least tags and links are still processed in frontmatter. ---
**Author:** ![Nebucatnetzer](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/nebucatnetzer/32/3918_2.png) [@Nebucatnetzer](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Nebucatnetzer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 11:34am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/frontmatter-tag-link-handling/5146/2 "2020-09-01T11:34:56Z")
There were already similar posts and the developer said that want to use the frontmatter for plugins and that it isn’t meant to be edited by the user. ---
**Author:** ![CalGeorge](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@CalGeorge](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/CalGeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/frontmatter-tag-link-handling/5146/3 "2020-09-01T11:48:48Z")
That does make some sense. Though my assumption is when they go down that route with plugins that each plugin would have it’s own nested mapping to prevent conflicts. This would still allow user entered entries. If instead this is the approach the developers are taking then it may be worth by default showing a warning when someone creates frontmatter in their notes, as it may prevent someone from getting into a situation like me where they may have hundreds of notes that follow this format. ---
**Author:** ![CalGeorge](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@CalGeorge](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/CalGeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 11:54am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/frontmatter-tag-link-handling/5146/4 "2020-09-01T11:54:28Z")
I do see now that this has been recently discussed here: > [@Include / show note links in yaml frontmatter (v0.8.5)](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/include-show-note-links-in-yaml-frontmatter-v0-8-5/4673/17): > > That’s what I meant. I was interested in YAML, mainly for sorting purposes (among other benefits to YAML). I appreciate sorting by the date in YAML, rather than by edit time. I would have taken a sort function by creation date, but with respect to migration, I think that would screw some things up, so yeah, thats why I like the sorting by YAML idea. ---
**Author:** ![ryanjamurphy](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/ryanjamurphy/32/334_2.png) [@ryanjamurphy](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/ryanjamurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/frontmatter-tag-link-handling/5146/5 "2020-09-01T14:38:18Z")
I think this is more a case of Obsidian still being a rapidly-evolving beta. Problem is the devs have built something too shiny, stable, and useful so we are all using it as if it’s production-level software! Arguably, warnings should be everywhere. I would expect YAML syntax and use to continue to change as we approach the plugin API. ---
**Author:** ![WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/whitenoise/32/11_2.png) [@WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/WhiteNoise)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/frontmatter-tag-link-handling/5146/6 "2023-04-01T13:50:00Z")
Closed on April 1, 2023, 1:50pm UTC