# Custom Roam-style link

**URL:** <https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/custom-roam-style-link/39>\
**Category:** Development\
**Created:** [May 4, 2020, 8:50am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/custom-roam-style-link/39 "2020-05-04T08:50:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 24

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**Author:** ![bruce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@bruce](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/bruce)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 11:30am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/custom-roam-style-link/39/24 "2020-05-05T11:30:45Z")

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> [@alan](#):
>
> Insert links as you write using typical org syntax: `[[roam:_]]` . But the link face hides the `roam:` prefix, and colors the brackets and link path to stand out. I bound `M-[` to simply insert the roam pattern and place the point where the \_ is, ready to write, but of course the shortcut is arbitrary. I have `M-r` bound to the same construct, but with an ivy completion prompt for more difficult titles. The link is color-coded to indicate whether the note already exists or not.

This may bear on the question of brackets vs no brackets.

I’m confused on the UX.

In Roam, I think they do the brackets to avoid needing any other command to prompt for completion candidates.

Are you saying you first do the brackets, then `M-r`?

If yes, isn’t that redundant?

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