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What Anki Flashcards Are and How They Work

Anki is a free software program that uses flashcards to help you learn and remember information. The name "Anki" comes from a Japanese word meaning "memorization." Unlike traditional paper flashcards that sit in a pile, Anki is a computer program that organizes and schedules your study sessions based on how well you remember each card.

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The basic principle behind Anki is called spaced repetition. This learning method has been studied by scientists for over 100 years. Research shows that your brain remembers information better when you review it at specific times—just as you're about to forget it. Anki automates this timing for you. When you answer a flashcard correctly, the program waits longer before showing it to you again. When you answer incorrectly, it shows the card sooner. This pattern matches how your brain naturally strengthens memories.

Each Anki card typically has two sides: a question or prompt on the front, and the answer on the back. You see the front, try to recall the answer, then reveal the back to check yourself. You rate how well you remembered it—usually on a scale from "again" (you forgot) to "easy" (you remembered it well). Anki then calculates when to show you that card next based on your rating.

The program is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. There are also mobile versions called AnkiDroid (for Android phones) and AnkiWeb (web-based). You can study on your computer at home or use your phone while waiting for a bus or eating lunch. Your progress syncs across devices so you can switch between them without losing track of what you've learned.

Practical Takeaway: Understand that Anki works by showing you information at the right moments to strengthen your memory. This system is based on real learning science, not guessing or luck.

The Science Behind Spaced Repetition and Memory

Spaced repetition is one of the most researched learning techniques in education. A landmark study published in 2008 by researchers at Washington University reviewed decades of memory research. They found that spaced repetition was one of the most powerful learning methods available—far more effective than cramming or reading material repeatedly.

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Here's how memory works in your brain: When you first learn something new, you create a memory trace. This trace is fragile and fades quickly—sometimes within hours or days. Each time you review the information, you strengthen that trace. But the strength of strengthening depends on the timing. If you review too soon (like five minutes later), you don't gain much. If you review too late (like six months later), you've already mostly forgotten it. The sweet spot is reviewing just as the memory is about to fade.

One famous study found that material reviewed with spaced intervals had a retention rate of about 80% after one year, compared to only 35% for material that was crammed. Another study showed that students using spaced repetition improved their exam scores by an average of one full letter grade.

Anki calculates the optimal spacing for each individual card based on scientific formulas. The most common formula is called the "SM-2 algorithm," created in 1987 by researcher Piotr Wozniak. This algorithm considers two factors: how long ago you last reviewed the card, and how easily you remembered it. Based on these factors, it predicts when you should see the card next—typically ranging from one day to several months.

Different types of information benefit from spaced repetition differently. Language vocabulary studies show particularly strong results. Students learning foreign languages with spaced repetition systems retain 60-80% of words after several months, while traditional classroom learners typically retain only 20-30%. Medical students using spaced repetition recall 75% of facts after six months, compared to 40% using traditional studying.

Practical Takeaway: Spaced repetition works because it matches how your brain naturally maintains memories. The timing matters more than the total number of study hours.

Getting Started: Setting Up Your First Anki Deck

A "deck" in Anki is a collection of flashcards organized by topic. Think of it like a physical box of flashcards, except digital. To start using Anki, you'll first need to obtain the software. You can find it at the official Anki website (ankiweb.net or ankisrs.net). The computer versions are completely free with no ads or hidden costs. You won't be asked for a credit card or payment information.

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After installing the software, you have two options: create your own cards, or use decks that other people have created and shared. Shared decks are available through AnkiWeb, a free service where the Anki community uploads decks. There are shared decks for language learning, medical school, history, mathematics, and hundreds of other topics. Searching for your subject of interest will often show that someone has already created cards for it.

If you want to create your own cards, the process is straightforward. You add a new card to your deck, type the question on the front, type the answer on the back, and save it. Many people create cards while reading textbooks or attending classes—you can jot down important facts as cards immediately. This process of creating cards is itself a learning activity because you must think carefully about what information matters most.

When organizing cards, consider grouping related information together. For example, if you're learning Spanish vocabulary, you might create separate decks for food words, travel words, and family words. This organization helps you focus your study sessions. However, Anki also allows "nested decks"—cards organized in folders within folders—so you can have one large "Spanish" deck with subcategories inside it.

Most users start with small decks to test whether they'll stick with the system. A common starting point is 20-50 cards on a single topic. Once you see how the system works and confirm you enjoy it, you can gradually expand to larger decks. Some serious Anki users maintain decks with 10,000 or more cards, reviewing them consistently over years.

Practical Takeaway: Start small with your first deck—even 20 cards on a topic you want to learn. You can always add more cards later once you understand how Anki works.

Creating Effective Flashcards: What Works and What Doesn't

The quality of your flashcards directly affects how much you learn. Research on flashcards shows that how you phrase questions and answers matters significantly. A study published in the journal "Learning and Individual Differences" found that cards with clear, specific questions produced 40% better retention than cards with vague questions.

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Effective flashcards follow several principles. First, each card should contain one piece of information, not multiple concepts. A bad card might ask "What are the causes and symptoms of diabetes?" A better card would have one front side asking "What are three main causes of type 2 diabetes?" with only the causes on the back. Then you'd have a separate card asking "What are common symptoms of diabetes?"

Second, your questions should be specific and clear. Instead of writing "Tell me about photosynthesis," write "What is the name of the light-capturing molecule in plant leaves?" The specific question guides your memory to the right answer. Vague questions make it harder to know whether you remembered correctly.

Third, write answers that are concise. Your answer should be as brief as possible while still being complete. Research shows that processing shorter answers requires less working memory, leaving more mental resources for strengthening the memory itself. For a history card asking "In what year did the Berlin Wall fall?", your answer should simply be "1989," not a paragraph explaining the circumstances.

Fourth, avoid pure memorization when possible. Instead of cards that ask "What is the capital of France?" consider cards that ask "Which French city is located on the Seine River and served as the capital?" This second type of card makes you think about relationships and context, which produces deeper learning. Cards requiring understanding rather than pure memorization tend to stick in memory longer.

Some users include images, audio, or links in their cards to create richer learning experiences. For language learning, you might include a picture of an object and ask "What is this in Spanish?" For anatomy, you might include diagrams. Research suggests that combining words with images improves memory for visual learners, though benefits vary by individual.