Roam Research: a primer

• A. A folder
• B. A block ✓
• C. A tag
• D. A template

Why: Roam Research organizes content into blocks, which are individual bullet points that can be nested, referenced, and linked. Everything in Roam is built from these blocks.

• A. Color-coded labels
• B. Hierarchical file trees
• C. Bidirectional links and page references ✓
• D. Desktop shortcuts

Why: Roam relies on bidirectional links and page references rather than folders, so notes connect to each other through links and can be found through the connections they form.

• A. A page that is automatically deleted each day
• B. A page automatically created for each date that serves as a journal entry point ✓
• C. A read-only summary of your week
• D. A shared page for team announcements only

Why: Roam automatically generates a page for each date, which is used as a default place to capture thoughts, tasks, and journal entries without needing to create a new page manually.

• A. It bolds the text on the page
• B. It creates a link to a page with that name, creating the page if it does not exist ✓
• C. It hides the text from search results
• D. It encrypts the content of the block

Why: Typing double brackets creates a link to a page with the enclosed name. If the page does not yet exist, Roam creates it, and the link also appears in the page's linked references section.

• A. To list all pages you have never visited
• B. To display every block elsewhere in your graph that links to the current page ✓
• C. To show the page's version history
• D. To export the page as a PDF

Why: Linked References automatically collects every block across the graph that references the current page, which makes backlinks visible and supports the bidirectional nature of Roam.

• A. A folder
• B. A block ✓
• C. A page title
• D. A tag

Why: In Roam Research, everything is built from blocks, which are individual outliner bullets that can be nested, linked, and referenced. Pages are collections of blocks rather than the basic unit themselves.

• A. It bolds the text
• B. It creates a bidirectional link to a page, creating that page if it does not exist ✓
• C. It hides the block from view
• D. It converts the text into a code snippet

Why: Typing [[ ]] creates a page reference that links to a page with that name. If the page does not exist yet, Roam creates it automatically, and the link appears in the page's linked references so connections go both ways.

• A. It is a locked archive that cannot be edited
• B. It is a default page for each date where you can capture thoughts without first deciding where they belong ✓
• C. It stores only your account settings
• D. It lists all pages created in the past year

Why: The Daily Notes page is a journaling space automatically generated for each day, letting you capture information quickly and link it to other pages later, which reduces friction when recording ideas.

• A. It deletes the block after a set time
• B. It functions as a page reference, equivalent to [[Tag]] ✓
• C. It changes the font color of the text
• D. It exports the block to an external file

Why: In Roam, #Tag is simply an alternative syntax for [[Tag]]. Both create a link to a page of that name and show up in its linked references, so the choice between them is largely a matter of style.

• A. Ctrl+Shift+D
• B. Tab ✓
• C. Alt+F4
• D. Esc

Why: Pressing Tab indents the current block, nesting it under the previous sibling, while Shift+Tab outdents it. This nesting structure is central to how Roam organizes information in its outliner format.

• A. Page
• B. Block ✓
• C. Tag
• D. Folder

Why: Roam Research is built around blocks: every bullet point is a block, and blocks can be nested, referenced, and linked. Pages are collections of blocks rather than the basic unit itself.

• A. [Project Alpha]
• B. #Project Alpha without any brackets
• C. [[Project Alpha]] ✓
• D. {{Project Alpha}}

Why: Double square brackets [[ ]] create a page link in Roam. If the page doesn't exist yet, Roam creates it automatically, and the link appears in the linked references of the target page.

• A. A list of external websites cited on the page
• B. A list of every block elsewhere in the graph that links to the current page ✓
• C. A table of contents generated from headings
• D. A history log of edits made to the page

Why: Linked References automatically display all blocks across your graph that reference the current page, which is what makes links bidirectional: you can navigate from either end and see the connection.

• A. Copy and paste the block text
• B. Type ((block reference)) using the block's UID ✓
• C. Type [[block]] followed by the text
• D. Drag the block into a new page title

Why: Block references use double parentheses ((...)) containing the block's unique ID. This embeds a live reference, so edits to the original block update everywhere it appears, unlike copied text which becomes a separate duplicate.

• A. It deletes the parent block and merges the text
• B. It makes the block a child of the block above, creating a hierarchical outline ✓
• C. It converts the block into a page
• D. It hides the block from search results

Why: Indentation creates parent-child relationships between blocks, forming the nested outline structure that is central to Roam. Children can be collapsed or zoomed into, making hierarchy a core organizing principle.

• A. To archive completed projects permanently
• B. To serve as a default, date-stamped page where you can quickly capture thoughts and tasks each day ✓
• C. To store only meeting agendas and calendar events
• D. To replace the graph overview as the home screen

Why: Daily Notes pages are automatically created for each date, giving you a low-friction place to capture ideas, tasks, and observations as they happen without first deciding where they belong.

• A. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+D to delete the current page
• B. Using the Go to Today or Daily Notes shortcut from the left sidebar or command palette ✓
• C. Typing /today inside any existing block only
• D. Exporting the graph and reopening it

Why: Roam provides a Daily Notes entry point in the sidebar and command palette, letting you jump straight to today's page without navigating through the page list.

• A. Daily Notes pages cannot be linked to other pages
• B. It reduces friction, so you capture thoughts before deciding how to organize them, and you can later link or move blocks ✓
• C. Daily Notes are automatically deleted at midnight
• D. New pages require a paid subscription

Why: Capturing in Daily Notes separates the act of recording from the act of organizing. Blocks can be referenced or moved into topic pages later, which keeps capture fast and prevents premature categorization.

• A. Deleting completed blocks each day
• B. Using the TODO command to create checkbox tasks and reviewing them via a query or linked reference ✓
• C. Renaming every block to start with a date
• D. Turning off block references

Why: Roam's TODO syntax creates checkbox blocks, and queries or linked references can aggregate open tasks across Daily Notes so unfinished items resurface for review.

• A. It automatically rewrites your notes in a new language
• B. You can query or scroll across multiple dates to revisit and synthesize captured thoughts ✓
• C. It locks past pages so they cannot be edited
• D. It removes all tags from your graph

Why: Because every Daily Note is a dated page in the same graph, you can use queries or sequential review to revisit a week or month of captures and extract patterns or action items.

• A. To change the font style of a block
• B. To connect a block to another page so the connection is visible from both ends ✓
• C. To export a page as a PDF file
• D. To lock a page from being edited by others

Why: A backlink connects a block to another page, and Roam automatically shows the connection from both pages, letting you navigate in either direction.

• A. In the page's Linked References section ✓
• B. In the Roam settings menu under Themes
• C. In the daily notes page only
• D. In the sidebar's Favorites list only

Why: The Linked References section at the bottom of a page lists every block across your graph that links to that page.

• A. Linked References show blocks that contain the page title as plain text without a link, while Unlinked References show blocks that explicitly link to the page
• B. Linked References show blocks that explicitly link to the page, while Unlinked References show blocks that mention the page title as plain text without a link ✓
• C. Linked References are only visible to the page author, while Unlinked References are public
• D. There is no difference; they are two names for the same feature

Why: Linked References contain explicit [[links]] or tags to the page, while Unlinked References surface plain-text mentions of the title that could be converted into links.

• A. It deletes any existing page with that name
• B. It creates a new page if one doesn't exist and links the block to it ✓
• C. It highlights the text in yellow without creating anything
• D. It sends the block to another user's graph

Why: Typing double brackets creates a link to a page with that name, and if the page doesn't exist yet, Roam creates it automatically.

• A. They automatically delete outdated notes
• B. They reveal unexpected connections between ideas by surfacing related content across your graph ✓
• C. They reduce the file size of your graph to save storage
• D. They prevent you from writing more than one note per page

Why: Because backlinks show every place an idea is referenced, they help you discover relationships between notes you may have forgotten about, supporting non-linear thinking.

• A. Tags can only be used on daily notes, while page links work anywhere
• B. Tags and page links both create references to a page, but tags are a lighter-weight shorthand for the same underlying linking mechanism
• C. Tags hide the referenced page from the sidebar, while page links make it visible
• D. Tags create a separate database that cannot be queried, while page links are searchable

• A. {{query: [[Productivity]]}}
• B. {{[[query]]: [[Productivity]]}}
• C. [[query: Productivity]]
• D. #query(Productivity)

• A. Only the pages that you have manually bookmarked
• B. All blocks across your graph that contain a link or tag pointing to that page
• C. A list of all pages created on the same day
• D. Only the blocks on that page that have been edited recently

• A. Create a unique tag for every single idea so nothing overlaps
• B. Avoid using tags entirely and rely only on folder hierarchies
• C. Use a consistent, small set of tags for recurring topics so related notes can be easily found together
• D. Tag each block with the current date so notes stay chronological

• A. It automatically deletes blocks that have not been viewed in a month
• B. It stores structured metadata in a block that can later be filtered and queried across the graph
• C. It converts the block into a PDF file for export
• D. It makes the text bold and changes its color for easier reading

• A. Folders
• B. Blocks ✓
• C. Tabs
• D. Pages only

Why: Roam Research is built around blocks, which are individual pieces of content that can be nested, referenced, and rearranged. Pages are collections of blocks, but the block is the basic unit.

• A. It formats text in bold
• B. It creates a bidirectional link to a page, creating that page if it doesn't exist ✓
• C. It hides the enclosed text
• D. It creates a code block

Why: Typing [[Page Name]] creates a link to that page and, if the page doesn't exist yet, creates it automatically. Roam also automatically records backlinks so you can see every place the page is referenced.

• A. It archives completed projects
• B. It serves as a default, date-stamped entry point for capturing thoughts as they occur ✓
• C. It stores only calendar events
• D. It is used to export notes to PDF

Why: The Daily Notes page gives you a fresh, date-stamped space each day to quickly capture ideas, tasks, and observations, which can later be linked to topic pages.

• A. A citation to an external website
• B. A way to embed or reference a specific block from elsewhere, so the same content stays synced in multiple places ✓
• C. A password-protected section of a page
• D. A reminder attached to a due date

Why: A block reference (created with ((...)) syntax or by copying a block's reference) lets you reuse a single block in multiple locations. Edits to the original block are reflected wherever it is referenced.

• A. It requires you to memorize every note verbatim
• B. Linking and backlinks let ideas connect across contexts, helping you discover relationships and build understanding over time ✓
• C. It eliminates the need to write anything yourself
• D. It automatically sorts notes into fixed categories you cannot change

Why: A personal knowledge system works best when notes are densely interconnected. Bidirectional links and backlinks surface relationships between ideas that a rigid folder hierarchy would hide.