Leaf - SNS-style Memo & Diary
Leaf is a memo and diary app laid out like a social media timeline, except nobody else can see it. Each note is a post with a time stamp, optional photos and hashtags. You can mark posts as Important (a heart) or Saved (a bookmark), and newer posts appear at the top just like a feed.
Many people already find it easy to jot thoughts into a social app, but posting publicly changes what you write. Leaf keeps that quick, casual posting habit while keeping everything private. It suits a short daily diary, a running log of ideas, things to remember from a meeting, reading notes, or a photo journal of meals, walks and small moments.
The web version needs no account. Your notes and photos are stored only in the browser you use, on your own device.
The app runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is saved only on this device.
How to use Leaf
- Write a post. Press the round + button at the bottom right. Type your note in the composer; words starting with # become hashtags, for example #idea or #reading.
- Add photos. In the composer, use the gallery button to attach pictures from your device, or the camera button where your browser supports it. Thumbnails appear under the text and the small x removes one before posting.
- Post it. Press Save. The note appears at the top of the timeline with how long ago it was written.
- Mark what matters. Under each post, the heart marks it as Important and the bookmark saves it. The tabs at the top filter the timeline to all posts, important ones or saved ones.
- Edit or delete. The three-dot menu on a post offers Edit and Delete. When editing you can change the text, remove photos or add new ones.
- Adjust the look. The gear icon at the top right opens Manage, where you can switch dark mode, pick a theme colour, see how many notes you have, and delete all notes.
Features
- Feed-style timeline of your own posts, newest first
- Hashtags detected automatically from # words
- Photos attached to posts, stored in the browser
- Important (heart) and Saved (bookmark) markers with filter tabs
- Edit posts, remove or add photos later
- Dark mode and selectable theme colours
- Note counts and a delete-all option in Manage
- No account; notes and photos stay in this browser
Keeping a private micro-journal that you will actually use
Why short posts work
Traditional diaries often stall because a blank page asks for a full entry. Short posts lower the bar: a sentence or two, a photo, a hashtag, and you are done. Over weeks, these small entries add up to a surprisingly detailed record of what you did, thought and noticed. Research on expressive writing is not needed to see the practical benefit: you remember more when you write things down, and a quick format makes writing things down more likely.
Using hashtags as a filing system
Hashtags are a lightweight alternative to folders. Pick a handful you will reuse, such as #idea, #work, #family, #book or #health, and add them consistently. A good tag is short, specific and something you would think to look for later. Avoid creating a new tag for every post; ten well-used tags are more helpful than a hundred one-off ones. Writing the tag at the end of the post keeps the text readable.
Important versus saved
Two markers give you two different kinds of shortcut. One approach is to use Important for emotional or personal milestones you want to revisit, such as a good day or a decision, and Saved for practical things you need again, like a recipe, an address or a quote. Whatever rule you choose, keep it simple so that the filter tabs stay meaningful.
Ideas for regular posts
If you are not sure what to write, a few prompts help: one thing that went well today, something you learned, a photo of what you ate or saw, a question you want to think about, or a quick note of mood and energy. A weekly post that looks back over the last seven days is a good way to notice patterns. Because nobody else reads the feed, it is fine to be messy, incomplete or repetitive.
Privacy and backups
Notes written in the browser stay on your device and are not visible to anyone else. The flip side is that they are not backed up anywhere. Browser storage can be cleared by you, by privacy settings or by the browser when space is tight, so avoid using it as the only copy of anything you cannot afford to lose.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my notes and photos stored?
Only in this browser on this device: the text in local storage and the photos in the browser's database (IndexedDB). There is no account and nothing is uploaded. Clearing site data or using a private window deletes them, and they do not appear in other browsers or on your phone.
Can other people see my posts?
No. Leaf only looks like a social network; there are no followers, no sharing of posts and no server that holds your notes.
Are my photos resized?
Yes. To keep browser storage manageable, photos are scaled to at most 1600 pixels on the long side and compressed when you attach them.
What does Delete All Notes remove?
Every post and its photos stored by Leaf in this browser. It cannot be undone.
Can I export my notes?
Not at the moment. If you need a copy, select and copy the text of important posts into another document.
How is the web version different from the phone app?
The posting, markers, photos and themes work the same. The iPhone and Android apps add an optional ad-free upgrade and store rating shortcuts, which are not part of the web version.
Limitations of the web version
- Notes and photos are stored only in this browser and are not synced or backed up
- No export or import of notes
- No search screen; use the Important and Saved tabs to find posts
- Photos are downscaled when attached
- Some interface labels appear only in English
Phone app
Leaf is also available as an app for phones and tablets: