Note independence principle¶
The note independence principle is a core tenet of the Zettelkasten method (also known as the "Slipbox" or card-box note-taking system). It states that individual notes should be created as self-contained units, capable of being understood in isolation without relying on the context of other files or specific folder hierarchies.^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md]
Characteristics¶
Under this principle, a note should focus on a single idea or topic^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md]. This concept is closely related to the principle of [[atomicity|Atomicity]], which dictates that a note should only record one specific thing^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md]. By ensuring notes are independent, they can be freely moved, processed, or merged with other notes without losing their meaning or value^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
Implications¶
When the independence principle is applied effectively, a reader should be able to open any single note in the system and comprehend its content entirely, without needing to reference external documents or a specific background structure^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
Related Concepts¶
- Zettelkasten
- [[Atomicity]]
- [[筆記法|Note-taking Method]]