How Atlas research objects connect

Atlas keeps each research project self-contained. Sources provide evidence. Chats analyze that evidence. Notes preserve your conclusions. Maps show relationships across the same project.

What this page covers

Explain projects, folders, sources, chats, notes, citations, knowledge maps, and semantic maps as one object model.

The Atlas research model

A project is the boundary for a body of work. A project can contain folders, sources, chats, notes, knowledge maps, and one semantic map.

• A source is material that Atlas can read, such as a PDF, webpage, video transcript, or paper.
• A chat is a conversation that can use selected project material as context.
• A note is editable writing that stays in the project.
• A citation connects an answer back to supporting source evidence.
• A knowledge map organizes the concepts and relationships in one selected item.
• A semantic map shows similarity and themes across project material.

Choose the next object

Add a source when you need new evidence. Start a chat when you need analysis. Create a note when you need to preserve or develop an idea. Generate a map when structure is easier to understand visually.

Folders organize sources and notes. Moving an item does not change its content. Switching projects changes the material available to the workspace and agent.