# Notebook Navigator plugin for Obsidian
A modern file explorer plugin for [[Obsidian]] that is a great alternative to the default [[File explorer core plugin for Obsidian]].
It provides a powerful dual-pane interface, and enables advanced navigation through folders, tags, pinned notes, search, a calendar view, and a ton more. All with extensive customization and performance optimization.
## Core Features
### Interface
- **Dual-pane layout**: Navigation (folders/tags) on left, file list on right
- **Mobile-friendly**: Single-pane mode for mobile devices
- **Multi-language support**: Including RTL languages
- **Customizable themes**: Extensive theming support
- **Icon packs**: Multiple icon pack options
- **Performance optimized**: React-based with virtualized rendering
### Navigation Methods
- **Folders view**: Hierarchical folder tree with note counts
- **Tags view**: Hierarchical tag browser with note counts
- **Pinned notes**: Quick access to frequently used notes
- **Search**: File name or full-text search (with [[Omnisearch plugin for Obsidian|Omnisearch]] integration)
- **Recent files**: Chronologically sorted recent files
- **Auto-reveal**: Automatically reveals active file in tree
### File Management
- **Drag-and-drop**: File and tag operations
- **Multi-file selection**: Bulk operations
- **Folder notes**: Quick access to folder overview notes (works with [[Folder note plugin for Obsidian]])
- **Note counts**: Display number of notes per folder/tag (similar to [[File Explorer note count plugin for Obsidian]])
### Display Options
- **Note previews**: Configurable preview on hover
- **Thumbnail images**: Display thumbnails for notes
- **Date grouping**: Group files by date
- **Metadata display**: Show note metadata
- **Clickable tags**: Interactive tag navigation
- **Slim display mode**: Compact view option
- **Custom colors**: Folder and tag color customization
- **Per-folder settings**: Customizable display per folder/tag
### Organization
- **Pinned notes and shortcuts**: Quick access hub
- **Favorite tags**: Mark frequently used tags
- **Hidden tags**: Hide irrelevant tags from view
- **Untagged notes section**: Find untagged notes easily
### Advanced Capabilities
- **Keyboard navigation**: Customizable shortcuts
- **Public API**: JavaScript/TypeScript API for developers
- **Comprehensive caching**: Optimized performance for large vaults
- **Drag-and-drop tag operations**: Assign tags visually
## Technical Details
- **Technology**: Built with React and virtualized rendering
- **Performance**: Optimized caching system for large vaults
- **API**: Public JavaScript/TypeScript API available
- **License**: GPL-3.0 (free and open source)
## Comparison with Default File Explorer
Notebook Navigator provides:
- Multiple navigation methods (folders, tags, search, pins, recent)
- Rich metadata and previews
- Advanced organization features
- Better performance for large vaults
- Extensive customization options
## References
- Official Website: https://notebooknavigator.com/
- Documentation: https://notebooknavigator.com/docs.html
- GitHub Repository: https://github.com/johansan/notebook-navigator
## Related
- [[Obsidian Starter Kit]]
- [[Obsidian Starter Kit - Tutorial - Using the Notebook Navigator Plugin]] - Practical usage tutorial
- [[File Explorer note count plugin for Obsidian]] - Alternative for note counts (not needed with Notebook Navigator)
- [[Folder note plugin for Obsidian]] - Folder notes integration
- [[Omnisearch plugin for Obsidian]] - Enhanced search integration