Element
An element is a thing.
A person, an idea, an activity, a risk, a company, an event — anything. The product imposes no fixed type. The user decides what kind of thing an element is by giving it properties.
What makes it an element
Nothing beyond existence. An element has a name and an identity. Everything else — type, tags, attributes, relationships — comes from properties the user adds.
How elements appear
An element shows up in three places depending on which view is open:
- Map — rendered as a card, dot, or label depending on styling. Position is either user-placed (Freedom layout) or arranged by a property (Grouped layout).
- Database — appears as a row. Its properties are columns.
- Page view — opened by clicking the element. Shows all properties, rich text body, wikilinks, backlinks, and any relations that involve this element.
What elements are not
Elements are not typed by the product. There is no “Person” element type or “Risk” element type built in. Type is a user-defined single-select property if the user wants it.
Vocabulary note
“Element” replaces “node” everywhere — in the UI, in the codebase, and in conversation. Never use “node.”