# A property is a promise A property says: "this field means the same thing on every note that carries it". One name, one meaning, one type. Everywhere. Break that promise often enough, and nothing can rely on your knowledge base anymore. No query, no dashboard, no AI. `finished`, `date_completed`, and `done_on` all meaning "when I finished this" is three broken promises wearing different names. This goes way beyond [[Obsidian Properties]]. Database columns, API fields, spreadsheet headers, configuration keys: they're all promises. The value of metadata comes from being able to trust it blindly. The moment you have to open a note to check what a field REALLY means there, the promise is broken, and so is everything built on top of it. Keeping the promise is a design job, not a discipline job. [[Metadata is an interface]], and [[Discipline doesn't scale, automation does]]. ## Related - [[Obsidian Properties]] - [[Metadata is an interface]] - [[Discipline doesn't scale, automation does]] - [[When you take a note, you need to add a minimum of metadata]] - [[On the importance of consistency]] - [[The Complete Guide to Obsidian Properties (Article)]]