How to manage literature using Zotero's tags and folders?

Zotero facilitates dual literature management through a hierarchical folder system for structural organization and free-form tags for thematic categorization. Folder management involves creating nested collections to reflect ontological classification schemes or discrete research projects. Tags enable flexible assignment of descriptors like methodologies, concepts, or priority levels, supporting granular search and filtering independently of folder structure; users should consistently apply meaningful tags for optimal retrieval. Regular review and refinement of both systems prevents redundancy and maintains organization, with items assignable to multiple folders and tags simultaneously. Effectively implement this system by first creating primary folders reflecting major project themes or disciplines. Add subfolders for specific topics or chapters within these. During literature import or review, systematically apply descriptive tags to each item based on content, methodology, or relevance. Utilize saved searches based on tag combinations to dynamically generate virtual collections. This dual-strategy enables rapid thematic searches across the entire library regardless of folder location, significantly enhancing research workflow efficiency and contextual organization.