5.1 the zettelkasten is a method of note taking and knowledge storage that emphasises links between notes

German for "note box" or "index card", it was developed by Niklas Luhman who used his Zettelkasten to write over 50 books and 600 articles during his lifetime.

Similar to the practice of commonplacing, the zettelkasten is a method for note taking, processing and storing knowledge that emphasises the creation of links between notes to create new thought. The idea is to take notes that are self-contained and then make links between these notes. These links form trains of thought and arguments that you can then incorporate into your own writing. It is meant to be a tool to help you produce written work, no simply a static repository of knowledge.

A zettelkasten is a form of personal knowledge management.

Deeper: 5.2 notemaking in a zettelkasten starts with fleeting notes for how to start taking notes with a zettelkasten

See: 5.1a A zettelkasten is tool for thinking and writing that leverages networked thought for more on what a zettelkasten can be

See: Commonplace Book for the predecessor to the zettelkasten

See: Personal Knowledge Management for more knowledge work and management

See: 5.3f1 collector's fallacy states that collecting knowledge is not the same as having knowledge for more on utilising your notes rather than simply collecting them