# Do you find Roam-Refs useful?

**URL:** <https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/do-you-find-roam-refs-useful/1965>\
**Category:** Meta\
**Created:** [August 22, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/do-you-find-roam-refs-useful/1965 "2021-08-22T16:11:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jbotz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/jbotz/32/616_2.png) [@jbotz](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/jbotz)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/do-you-find-roam-refs-useful/1965/1 "2021-08-22T16:11:50Z")

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I think I understand how Roam-Refs work, but I’m not sure I see how they are of benefit. Why not just consider every link a ref on the backlinks page?

Do you find them useful? When do you use Roam-Refs instead of a link?

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**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/do-you-find-roam-refs-useful/1965/2 "2021-08-22T19:15:22Z")

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This might help. Ref used be Key. The intended use should be the same.

> [@Understanding file refs?](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/understanding-file-refs/786/2):
>
> Hi @Eccentric-J, Allow me to describe my understanding of the original intended purposes; I will let others and project members to correct me or add to my description. I use the backlinks with [[file:path/to/file][description]] in the same way you use. Using “file-refs” with the #+roam\_key: property is an additional way of establishing backlinks. There are two ways to use #+roam\_key:. One is as you intend to use it: for a website. Perhaps an article or blog you find useful for you; you quickl…

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**Author:** ![danderzei](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/danderzei/32/59_2.png) [@danderzei](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/danderzei)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 8:34am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/do-you-find-roam-refs-useful/1965/3 "2021-08-23T08:34:22Z")

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Roam-Refs gives me direct access to the literature. With `org-note-actions` I can jump from the note to the relevant PDF file.