# Memos
URL: https://usememos.com/docs/usage/memos

Memos are the central unit of content in the product. A good memo practice keeps capture fast while still making notes readable and searchable later.

## Core actions [#core-actions]

* create a memo from the global composer on any authenticated route
* edit content inline
* link related memos with Relations
* pin important memos
* set visibility before sharing
* archive memos that are no longer active

## Navigation and creation [#navigation-and-creation]

The resizable sidebar contains the calendar, Views, tags, Quick Find, and navigation for the current route. Open the global composer from the sidebar to write without returning to Home.

Selecting a Space scopes browsing and memo creation to that Space. Check placement and visibility before saving; assigning a memo does not change its audience. Existing memos remain Unassigned after upgrading. See [Spaces](/docs/usage/spaces) for scope and membership rules.

Only the author can edit a memo. Editing an assigned memo also requires active membership in its Space; instance and Space admins do not gain editing rights to another author's content.

## What the editor supports [#what-the-editor-supports]

* Markdown formatting
* decorated source editing that keeps Markdown syntax directly editable
* a formatting toolbar and keyboard shortcuts
* focus mode for a quieter writing surface
* list indentation with `Tab` and `Shift+Tab`
* inline tags such as `#project-x`
* code blocks and checklists
* file attachments
* memo visibility controls
* tag suggestions when you type `#`
* auto-saved drafts cached locally so content is not lost on page reload

## Browsing your memos [#browsing-your-memos]

Choose one, two, three, or automatic columns in your display preferences.
Compact mode and link previews are configurable there too, and the choices are
saved for your account. Link previews discover metadata from oEmbed, Open Graph, Twitter Cards, JSON-LD, and ordinary HTML when the linked site supplies it. Sites without usable metadata may still appear as plain links. The single-column layout shows full memo content by
default; multi-column and compact layouts favor faster scanning.

New memos appear above the pinned section. When you return from a memo detail
page, Memos restores your previous feed position so you can continue where you
left off.

## Memo detail [#memo-detail]

Opening a memo shows its full content and discussion alongside a property rail
for metadata and actions such as visibility, tags, relations, attachments,
reactions, and sharing. On smaller screens, the same controls remain available
in a responsive layout.

## Memo properties [#memo-properties]

Memos automatically computes properties from memo content. These can be used in filter expressions:

| Property field         | Meaning                               |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `has_link`             | Contains one or more Markdown links   |
| `has_code`             | Contains code blocks or inline code   |
| `has_task_list`        | Contains at least one task list item  |
| `has_incomplete_tasks` | Contains unchecked `- [ ]` task items |
| `has_location`         | Has location data attached            |

## Linking memos with Relations [#linking-memos-with-relations]

Choose **Link memo** from the editor's add menu, search active memos you own, and select one. After you save, the current memo displays the outgoing connection under **Referencing**; the selected memo displays the incoming connection under **Referenced by**.

Relations are separate from Markdown links. Pasting a memo URL into the content creates a normal link but does not create a Relation or an incoming reference. Use Relations to connect knowledge inside Memos, and use Markdown links when the URL itself should be part of the memo.

A Relation does not grant access to either memo. Each side keeps its own visibility, and readers only see connections to memos they can already access.

## Useful memo metadata [#useful-memo-metadata]

* placement: Unassigned or exactly one [Space](/docs/usage/spaces)
* visibility: `PRIVATE`, `PROTECTED`, `PUBLIC`, or `SPACE`
* tags extracted from inline hashtags
* attachments such as screenshots and documents
* checklist items for lightweight task tracking
* display time — editable so you can reorder memos in the timeline if needed

## Good habits [#good-habits]

* keep each memo focused on one topic or update
* use headings when a memo gets long
* add tags while writing, not later
* archive stale memos instead of leaving everything active forever
* pin only the memos that truly deserve persistent attention

## Related guides [#related-guides]

* [Use Memos as a Digital Bullet Journal](/docs/guides/bullet-journal) for rapid logging and reflection.
* [Use Memos for GTD](/docs/guides/getting-things-done) for action management.
* [Build a Zettelkasten in Memos](/docs/guides/zettelkasten) for connected knowledge.