Monofile indexes a wiki-link on both ends. The file you link to gains a backlink, and the graph view draws every linked file as a node. Neither needs setup beyond writing `[[links]]`.
## The Referenced by strip
Open a markdown file and look under the editor. If anything links to it, a strip labelled "Referenced by" lists every file that does. Each entry shows the linking file's name, shows its full path on hover, and opens it in the editor on click.
When nothing links to the file, the strip is absent.
## What counts as a backlink
| Source | Counts? |
|---|---|
| A resolved `[[wiki-link]]` in a `.md`, `.mdx` or `.txt` file | Yes |
| A canvas board with a node pointing at the file | Yes |
| A wiki-link that does not resolve to any file | No, an unresolved link has nothing to attach to |
| A wiki-link inside a code block | No, the indexer skips code |
| A standard markdown link (`[text](url)`) | No, the indexer only reads wiki-links and board nodes |
Each linking file appears once, however many links it contains.
## When the index updates
Monofile updates the link index in the same request that writes the file. That covers every write path: autosave in the editor, a file created from the sidebar, a `write` or `edit` through the API, an MCP client, the CLI, and the AI assistant. There is no background job and no reindex button, because the index cannot lag behind the content.
A link an agent adds to one of your notes shows up in your backlinks exactly like a link you typed.
Backlinks also guard deletes. Delete a file that canvas boards reference and the confirmation dialog tells you how many boards point at it before the nodes go dangling.
## The graph view
Open the command palette with Ctrl + Shift + P (⌘ + Shift + P on macOS) and run **Open graph view**. It opens as its own tab called Graph, alongside your files.
Every file that takes part in at least one link is a node, and every link is a line between two nodes. A node grows with the number of files linking to it, so the most-referenced files are the largest. Colors come from your current theme and change with it.
Unresolved links appear too, as a dashed "ghost" node labelled with the missing name. Hover one and it says "Referenced but not created yet".
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Click a node | Opens that file in a tab |
| Hover a node | Dims everything except it and its direct neighbours |
| Scroll | Zooms in and out around the pointer |
| Drag empty space | Pans the graph |
| Drag a node | Pins it where you drop it |
| Orphans checkbox | Adds notes and boards that have no links at all |
Labels fade in as you zoom, and while zoomed out you see the label of whatever you are hovering plus its neighbours. A counter in the corner keeps a running total of nodes and links.
> [!NOTE]
> A new workspace shows "No links yet" with a prompt to link some notes. Past 2000 nodes the graph keeps the most connected ones and says it is showing a subset.
The graph covers the workspace you are in, so a personal and a team workspace have different graphs.
## Next steps
:::cards
- [[Wiki-Links]] — Links between files: autocomplete, aliases, and links that survive renames.
- [[The Markdown Editor]] — Live WYSIWYG editing, slash commands, and how saving works.
- [[Finding Things]] — The command palette, filename search and semantic search over your files.
- [[Files and Folders]] — Paths, the file tree, renaming, moving, deleting and restoring.
:::