The Templater plugin is what the core Templates plugin should have been.

The name is unfortunate, as it implies that the two plugins are similar. Turns out they’re only similar in that one is a limited version of the other.

Here’s what you can do with Templater– and not with Templates.

Add dynamic variables to your notes

You’re probably thinking, but Templates can already add dates.

Templater can do that, and more. You can use it to fetch values in YAML frontmatter, random quotes from the interwebs, and even clipboard contents.

Make your notes context-sensitive

Templater can create notes with different templates depending on context.

For example, you could set up Obsidian to create a new note using the Person template in the People folder but a Weekly Review note on Sunday nights.

Increment your notes automatically

Templater can automatically increment new instances of a series.

You can set it up to create a session log for your 100th D&D session, a review note for your 12th monthly review, or your 10th book review.

Interact with other plugins

Templater leverages all the best parts of Obsidian’s ecosystem.

You can read from and write to YAML frontmatter using Dataview, or run commands that create notes based on text input with Buttons.

Write and run your own scripts

Templater lets you write and call user scripts within an Obsidian note.

This is the ultimate in extensibility. The ability to run custom JavaScript means you’re limited only by your imagination (and skill).

Templater lets you turn Obsidian into exactly what you want.

And isn’t that what a PKM should do?