Blinks
diagonalcounty69 downloadsBlock links that don't make you type #^fa5d4c and pretend you meant it. [[note^^ → phrase search → readable ^slugs.
- Overview
- Scorecard
- Updates1
Better block links for Obsidian.
Obsidian will happily let you link to a paragraph using a dignified identifier like #^fa5d4c.
That’s fine if you enjoy grepping ciphertext. The rest of us remember words.
Blinks is the missing door: pick the note (you already know how), type ^^, find the block by phrase, get a link that still works when the plugin is off.
[[2026-06-28_Squad_Career_Trajectories#^current-people-bios-have|bios]]
Readable. Portable. Slightly smug.
What it does
| Trigger | Inside a wikilink — open or already closed with ]] — type ^^ |
| Search | Phrase-ranked blocks in that note (not “hope the token bag is feeling generous”) |
| Storage | Real Obsidian #^readable-slug ids (writes the ^slug on the target line if missing) |
| Aliases | Normal [[note#^slug|display text]] — core handles the pretty face |
| Realign | If you rewrite the opening words, Blinks can prompt to refresh the slug + inbound links |
The door that matches real life
- Type
[[, find the note, Tab or click (Obsidian will close with]]— of course it will). - Move the cursor before the
]]. - Type
^^→ block picker. - Type the words you actually remember. Pick. Done.
Also works if you never closed the link: [[Note^^.
Commands (Command palette)
- Blinks: Insert block link (pick note…)
- Blinks: Insert block link in current note
- Blinks: Insert block link for wikilink at cursor
- Blinks: Realign block slug at cursor (update links)
What it does not do (yet)
- Vault-wide “I forgot which file” block search (Craft nostalgia; later)
- Replace Obsidian’s soul
- Make
#^fa5d4ccool
Native random hex block ids still work. We just refuse to make more of them on purpose.
Durability (the part that matters)
Links follow the ^slug on the line, not the poetry of the paragraph.
| You do this | Link |
|---|---|
Reword the sentence, keep ^slug |
✅ lives |
Move the line with its ^slug inside the same note |
✅ lives |
| Delete or rename the slug and ghost the old id | ❌ dies (as it should) |
| Disable Blinks | ✅ still works — it’s core #^ syntax |
Optional prompt on edit: if opening words drift from a readable slug, Blinks offers to update the slug and the inbound links it can find. You can always hit Keep slug and live with a slightly nostalgic id.
Install
Community Plugins (soon / preferred)
Search Blinks in Obsidian → Community plugins once published.
Manual
- Download
main.js,manifest.json,styles.cssfrom the latest release - Put them in
.obsidian/plugins/blinks/ - Enable Blinks → reload if needed
Requires Obsidian 1.5.0+.
Author
diagonalcounty · github.com/diagonalcounty/blinks
Related: obsidian-plugins monorepo shelf
License
MIT — same as the monorepo. Break links responsibly.