Loading…
Guide
A mind map breaks a subject into parent and child nodes. Unlike a whiteboard where lines are drawn freely, this tool stores each node's name, parent and note explicitly, so it can export to interchange-friendly OPML and restore the whole editing document from JSON. A right-hand tree is easier to read with long text, while a radial layout suits a single centre with short branches.
Updated 2026-09-193 sources5 min read
A mind map breaks a subject into parent and child nodes. Unlike a whiteboard where lines are drawn freely, this tool stores each node's name, parent and note explicitly, so it can export to interchange-friendly OPML and restore the whole editing document from JSON. A right-hand tree is easier to read with long text, while a radial layout suits a single centre with short branches.
The connections here mean “belongs to this subject”, not “has been shown to cause”. When sorting a course, an article or a life project, put evidence, questions and material sources into the notes rather than letting a pretty layout stand in for understanding.
The modern mind mapping promoted by Tony Buzan emphasises radiating associations out from a central subject and organising ideas with branches, keywords, colour and images. That author's method is related to earlier tree diagrams and concept maps, but not every node-and-line diagram can be called a complete implementation of the original method. This tool is a structured generator inspired by hierarchical organisation; it offers no certification or guarantee of learning outcomes. Author's description
Farrand, Hussain and Hennessy directly examined the mind map study technique. A single study cannot show that it works for every age, subject, task and way of using it; this page therefore does not present a “memory improvement percentage” as a product promise, nor does it use a supposed left-brain/right-brain division as a basis for layout. Study
In the model, every node has a stable ID and the parent references form a tree or forest. Circular parent references are rejected, and deleting a branch deletes its descendants with it as a single undoable step. The layout estimates sizes from the length of the card text rather than relying on random browser positions or first-screen measurement. The radial and tree forms are just two projections of the same structure, so switching layout does not change the meaning.
OPML expresses an outline through nested outlines and suits exchanging hierarchies. This tool exports the text and note attributes, but other programs may differ in how they support note extensions. OPML does not contain all local settings; JSON is the complete restore format. Format description
The built-in “Course revision outline” uses research methods as its root, branching into questions and hypotheses, research design, and data interpretation; further down it records falsifiable predictions, comparisons and controls, and alternative explanations. When revising you can hide the notes first, answer actively from the subjects, and only then check the material, rather than looking at the diagram repeatedly.
“Moving house project breakdown” separates dates and services, sorting belongings, and continuity of daily life. Important documents and first-day essentials can be one node, but document numbers or medication details should not go into a share link.
Research methods
Questions and hypotheses
Falsifiable predictions
Research design
Comparisons and controls
Data interpretation
Uncertainty and alternative explanationsAfter importing, there are seven nodes, one root and three levels. Deleting “Questions and hypotheses” deletes its children too, and undo restores the whole branch rather than only the heading.
Up to 80 nodes and 20 levels; this suits a small structure you can discuss, not an unlimited knowledge base.
A node has exactly one parent and cannot express arbitrary cross-links; when rigorous propositions and many-to-many relationships are needed, use a concept map or an argument map.
Markdown input is a limited outline syntax, not a complete Markdown document parser.
OPML import does not fetch links, rejects DTD and entity declarations, and executes no scripts.
Positions in an image cannot restore the parent-child relationships; OPML or JSON has to be kept.
The glyph appearance of long text and complex Unicode may vary with the font, so check the exported SVG or PNG.
Cramming a whole article into each node makes the structure unscannable; use a short heading plus a note. Keeping the same number of branches everywhere may only be visual symmetry and does not mean the knowledge is equally important. If a branch cannot explain its relationship to the parent subject, reclassify it rather than just moving the shape.
A mind map cannot replace active recall, practice and evidence checking. Putting an untested claim in a “facts” branch does not make it a fact; mark assumptions and material sources in the node or the note.
When there are several roots or the cards carry longer notes, the tool prioritises avoiding overlap and suggests the tree; no content is lost.
That would create a cycle and break both the hierarchy and the export.
It keeps subjects, hierarchy and this tool's note extension. For reliable restoration of the title, the layout and every application field, use JSON.
Editing, layout and file generation happen in the browser. Sharing is an unencrypted URL snapshot that anyone holding it can read; above 8 KB, switch to JSON. Browser autosave can be cleared, so an important outline should be backed up separately. Importing does not automatically request remote resources named in the OPML, while clicking a reference link does visit that site.
Updated 2026-09-19
Turn an indented outline, Markdown list or OPML into a radial or rightward mind map with editable structure and portable exports
Checking local recovery and shared data…
Local storage is not a backup and can be cleared by the browser. JSON restores all fields. Share links are not encrypted; do not include sensitive data.