> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.notabase.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.notabase.io/getting-started.md).

# Getting Started

Here are some basics to help you get started.

## Bidirectional linking

Bidirectional linking is a fundamental idea in Notabase. You can link to other notes, and each note displays the notes that link to it (its "backlinks"). This lets you navigate through your notes in an associative way and helps you build connections between similar ideas.

Link to another note by using the hovering menu, pressing `cmd/ctrl + k`, or enclosing its title in double brackets.

## Formatting text

Notabase has a powerful editor that displays rich text in real-time. Here are just a few of the ways you can format text:

* Select some text and use the hovering menu to style your writing
* Click on the menu to the left side of any block to change the block type (e.g. paragraph, heading, bulleted list, etc.).
* Type [markdown shortcuts](/markdown-shortcuts.md), which gets converted automatically to rich text as you type
* Use [keyboard shortcuts](/keyboard-shortcuts.md), like `cmd/ctrl + b` for bold, `cmd/ctrl + i` for italics, etc.

## Creating or finding notes

You can create new notes or find existing notes by clicking on "Find or create note" in the sidebar or by pressing `cmd/ctrl + p`. Just type in the title of the note you want to create or find.

## Learn more

{% content-ref url="/pages/-MkNRPIRUITu1uS1dJ9M" %}
[How to install Notabase](/how-to-install-notabase.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-Mj\_jscZeavvVw8etQYG" %}
[Organizing your notes](/organizing-your-notes.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.notabase.io/getting-started.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.