What really is a Zettelkasten? (And why it matters to understand it well)

Do you have a Zettelkasten — or just a box of notes?

There’s a lot of confusion around what the Zettelkasten method actually is. I’m not talking about its benefits (like generating more ideas or writing more), but about its precise definition:

• Is it a note-taking method, as Sönke Ahrens suggests?
• A writing system, as Bob Doto proposes?
• An information management tool, like a Second Brain?

This ambiguity makes it hard to learn the method or put it into practice. For example, Ryder Carroll, author of The Bullet Journal Method, defines the Bullet Journal as a combination of diary, to-do list, and planner. That clarity makes it easier to know if you need the tool — and how to integrate it into your workflow.

A few weeks ago, Sascha Fast shared his definition of the Zettelkasten method in the zettelkasten.de forum. In my opinion, it’s the clearest and most useful one available so far, because it explains:

• what a Zettelkasten is for,
• and how it transforms your workflow.

Here’s his definition, with a few personal comments from me to add context.

What Is a Zettelkasten?

The Zettelkasten is an integrated thinking environment, that feeds on the notes you are taking to build itself up. The Zettelkasten Method is a system of principles and best practices to transform your note-taking habits into a constant improvement of your thinking and your personal integrated thinking environment.
—Sascha Fast, “My Current Definition of the Zettelkasten Method”

Object vs. method. It’s essential to distinguish between the Zettelkasten as an object (the collection of notes) and the method (the most effective way to use it).

A thinking environment. We all use different environments for thinking: a notebook, a conversation, a walk. The Zettelkasten is one more — designed specifically for knowledge work.

An integrated environment. It brings together all the tools you need to think: writing, connecting, reviewing, searching for ideas — all in one place.

It builds itself through your notes. It’s not a passive archive. It grows and takes shape as you take notes and develop ideas. In a Zettelkasten, you think by writing — and that thinking becomes part of the system.

Principles and best practices. The method has essential principles (for example, a Zettelkasten is a hypertext), but its concrete implementation depends on each person (for example, how you link your notes). Best practices may vary, but they should follow the core principles.

A virtuous cycle. When you use your Zettelkasten to think — following the Zettelkasten Method — you create a positive feeback loop:

1. You think better, thanks to the environment you’ve built.
2. Your thinking environment improves with every note you write and connect.

In short, a Zettelkasten is a thinking environment that gets better every time you use it.

Warm regards,
Fernando Nóbel