Bases Descendant Filter
Show query results that descend from a root through a chosen parent property.
How to find descendant notes in Obsidian Bases
As of October 2026, Bases can filter files with property expressions. A direct-parent filter checks one relationship. Use Bases Descendant Filter when you need to follow a chain of parent links through several notes.
Background
A project can have a design note, a detail note and a deliverable below it. A direct-parent test on the deliverable cannot follow that chain by itself.
2 ways to do it
Filter direct parents
Use a Bases expression such as
list(parents).contains(link("Project Alpha"))for a direct parent match. The list function accepts a scalar or a list.- limits
- This expression checks membership in one note property. It does not traverse the parent properties of intermediate notes.
- source
- Bases functions
Bases Descendant Filter from this site
Add a Descendants view and choose the root and parent property. The view follows parent links, keeps visible query order and gives each result its shortest depth. Tested on desktop only.
- limits
- Parent values need wikilink syntax and resolved Markdown targets. The plugin adds a separate layout with text columns instead of changing another layout.
Open larger MIT · no telemetry · core features free
Use Bases Descendant Filter
Enable Bases and Bases Descendant Filter.
Store parent wikilinks in a note property such as parents.
Add a Descendants view to your base.
Choose the root note and parent property in the view options.
Review matching notes and warnings, then use Explain route with Pro if needed.
Common questions
Must an intermediate note match the base filter?
No. The parent scan reads cached properties across the vault. Only the displayed descendant results must belong to the visible query.
Why does the route show only one path?
The traversal keeps one predecessor per note at the shortest depth. Pro uses those predecessors to show one route. Other routes can exist.
Why does a warning mention an unrelated note?
Warning counts cover the vault parent scan. A note outside the displayed query can contribute an invalid value or unresolved parent link.
Sources
- Bases functionshelp.obsidian.md
- Bases views and filtershelp.obsidian.md
- Bases Descendant Filter sourcegithub.com
You can now find descendant notes.
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The plugin in this guide