Direct links are the strongest type of relationship. They are the purest and most explicit way of connecting two notes. This is the core method of growing a healthy, dynamic zettelkasten. A flat structure of notes — i.e. one big folder — is “frictionless”. There is no thinking “now where exactly does this go?” However, over time it becomes messy and overwhelming. Despite the proclamations during the “Great Folder Rebellion”, direct links alone are not enough. They do not allow for easy, dependable high-level navigation. To add in the Idea Emergence metaphors, direct links only keep you at eye-level in the dense forest, and many times you want to zoom out and view the map. ### Training Exercise _Make 5 new notes. Connect them with direct links._