diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0d9957a..114de4c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 ### Removed
 ### Changed
 - [#1795](https://github.com/org-roam/org-roam/pull/1795) buffer: optimized reflinks fetch
+- [#1809](https://github.com/org-roam/org-roam/pull/1809) capture: the mandatory `:if-new` property of each capture template is now renamed to `:target`
 
 ### Fixed
 - [#1798](https://github.com/org-roam/org-roam/pull/1798) org-roam-node-at-point: do not skip invisible headings
diff --git a/doc/org-roam.org b/doc/org-roam.org
index ae19127..33817d6 100644
--- a/doc/org-roam.org
+++ b/doc/org-roam.org
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ extension in your Org-roam capture templates. For example:
 
 #+begin_src emacs-lisp
 (setq org-roam-capture-templates '(("d" "default" plain "%?"
-     :if-new (file+head "${slug}.org.gpg"
+     :target (file+head "${slug}.org.gpg"
                         "#+title: ${title}\n")
      :unnarrowed t)))
 #+end_src
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ of the template are similar to ~org-capture~ templates.
 
 #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
 (("d" "default" plain "%?"
-  :if-new (file+head "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-${slug}.org"
+  :target (file+head "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-${slug}.org"
                      "#+title: ${title}\n")
   :unnarrowed t))
 #+END_SRC
@@ -913,8 +913,12 @@ of the template are similar to ~org-capture~ templates.
    here.
 5. ~"%?"~ is the template inserted on each call to ~org-roam-capture-~.
    This template means don't insert any content, but place the cursor here.
-6. ~:if-new~ is a compulsory specification in the Org-roam capture template.
-   This indicates the location for the new node.
+6. ~:target~ is a compulsory specification in the Org-roam capture template. The
+   first element of the list indicates the type of the target, the second
+   element indicates the location of the captured node, and the rest of the
+   elements indicate prefilled template that will be inserted and the position
+   of the point will be adjusted for. The latter behavior various from type to
+   type of the capture target.
 7. ~:unnarrowed t~ tells org-capture to show the contents for the whole file,
    rather than narrowing to just the entry. This is part of the Org-capture
    templates.
@@ -1054,7 +1058,7 @@ Here is a sane default configuration:
 (setq org-roam-dailies-capture-templates
       '(("d" "default" entry
          "* %?"
-         :if-new (file+head "%<%Y-%m-%d>.org"
+         :target (file+head "%<%Y-%m-%d>.org"
                             "#+title: %<%Y-%m-%d>\n"))))
 #+end_src
 
diff --git a/doc/org-roam.texi b/doc/org-roam.texi
index ed06eff..dc310c8 100644
--- a/doc/org-roam.texi
+++ b/doc/org-roam.texi
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ extension in your Org-roam capture templates. For example:
 
 @lisp
 (setq org-roam-capture-templates '(("d" "default" plain "%?"
-     :if-new (file+head "$@{slug@}.org.gpg"
+     :target (file+head "$@{slug@}.org.gpg"
                         "#+title: $@{title@}\n")
      :unnarrowed t)))
 @end lisp
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ of the template are similar to @code{org-capture} templates.
 
 @lisp
 (("d" "default" plain "%?"
-  :if-new (file+head "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-$@{slug@}.org"
+  :target (file+head "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-$@{slug@}.org"
                      "#+title: $@{title@}\n")
   :unnarrowed t))
 @end lisp
@@ -1331,8 +1331,12 @@ here.
 This template means don't insert any content, but place the cursor here.
 
 @item
-@code{:if-new} is a compulsory specification in the Org-roam capture template.
-This indicates the location for the new node.
+@code{:target} is a compulsory specification in the Org-roam capture
+template. The first element of the list indicates the type of the
+target, the second element indicates the location of the captured
+node, and the rest of the elements indicate prefilled template that
+will be inserted and the position of the point will be adjusted for.
+The latter behavior various from type to type of the capture target.
 
 @item
 @code{:unnarrowed t} tells org-capture to show the contents for the whole file,
@@ -1519,7 +1523,7 @@ Here is a sane default configuration:
 (setq org-roam-dailies-capture-templates
       '(("d" "default" entry
          "* %?"
-         :if-new (file+head "%<%Y-%m-%d>.org"
+         :target (file+head "%<%Y-%m-%d>.org"
                             "#+title: %<%Y-%m-%d>\n"))))
 @end lisp
 
diff --git a/extensions/org-roam-dailies.el b/extensions/org-roam-dailies.el
index 686a9fc..4534783 100644
--- a/extensions/org-roam-dailies.el
+++ b/extensions/org-roam-dailies.el
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ This path is relative to `org-roam-directory'."
 (defcustom org-roam-dailies-capture-templates
   `(("d" "default" entry
      "* %?"
-     :if-new (file+head "%<%Y-%m-%d>.org"
+     :target (file+head "%<%Y-%m-%d>.org"
                         "#+title: %<%Y-%m-%d>\n")))
   "Capture templates for daily-notes in Org-roam.
 Note that for daily files to show up in the calendar, they have to be of format
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ See `org-roam-capture-templates' for the template documentation."
                                       (function :tag "Template function")))
                         (plist :inline t
                                ;; Give the most common options as checkboxes
-                               :options (((const :format "%v " :if-new)
+                               :options (((const :format "%v " :target)
                                           (choice :tag "Node location"
                                                   (list :tag "File"
                                                         (const :format "" file)
diff --git a/extensions/org-roam-protocol.el b/extensions/org-roam-protocol.el
index e4c8bf8..bb58487 100644
--- a/extensions/org-roam-protocol.el
+++ b/extensions/org-roam-protocol.el
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 
 (defcustom org-roam-capture-ref-templates
   '(("r" "ref" plain "%?"
-     :if-new (file+head "${slug}.org"
+     :target (file+head "${slug}.org"
                         "#+title: ${title}")
      :unnarrowed t))
   "The Org-roam templates used during a capture from the roam-ref protocol.
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ See `org-roam-capture-templates' for the template documentation."
                                       (function :tag "Template function")))
                         (plist :inline t
                                ;; Give the most common options as checkboxes
-                               :options (((const :format "%v " :if-new)
+                               :options (((const :format "%v " :target)
                                           (choice :tag "Node location"
                                                   (list :tag "File"
                                                         (const :format "" file)
diff --git a/org-roam-capture.el b/org-roam-capture.el
index 78045b7..edbe339 100644
--- a/org-roam-capture.el
+++ b/org-roam-capture.el
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 ;;; Options
 (defcustom org-roam-capture-templates
   '(("d" "default" plain "%?"
-     :if-new (file+head "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-${slug}.org"
+     :target (file+head "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-${slug}.org"
                         "#+title: ${title}\n")
      :unnarrowed t))
   "Templates for the creation of new entries within Org-roam.
@@ -92,30 +92,41 @@ template     The template for creating the capture item.
              in order to get a template from a file, or dynamically
              from a function.
 
-The template contains a compulsory :if-new property. This determines the
-location of the new node. The :if-new property contains a list, supporting
-the following options:
+The template contains a compulsory :target property. The :target property
+contains a list, where:
+  - The first element indicates the type of the target.
+  - The second element indicates the location of the captured node.
+  - And the rest of the list indicate the prefilled template, that will be
+    inserted and the position of the point will be adjusted for.
+    This behavior various from type to type.
+
+The following options are supported for the :target property:
 
    (file \"path/to/file\")
        The file will be created, and prescribed an ID.
 
    (file+head \"path/to/file\" \"head content\")
        The file will be created, prescribed an ID, and head content will be
-       inserted into the file.
+       inserted if the node is a newly captured one.
 
    (file+olp \"path/to/file\" (\"h1\" \"h2\"))
-       The file will be created, prescribed an ID. The OLP (h1, h2) will be
-       created, and the point placed after.
+       The file will be created, prescribed an ID. If the file doesn't contain
+       the outline path (h1, h2), it will be automatically created. The point
+       will be adjusted to the last element in the OLP.
 
    (file+head+olp \"path/to/file\" \"head content\" (\"h1\" \"h2\"))
        The file will be created, prescribed an ID. Head content will be
-       inserted at the start of the file. The OLP (h1, h2) will be created,
-       and the point placed after.
+       inserted at the start of the file if the node is a newly captured one.
+       If the file doesn't contain the outline path (h1, h2), it will be
+       automatically created. The point will be adjusted to the last element in
+       the OLP.
 
-   (file+datetree \"path/to/file\" day)
-       The file will be created, prescribed an ID. Head content will be
-       inserted at the start of the file. The datetree will be created,
-       available options are day, week, month.
+   (file+datetree \"path/to/file\" tree-type)
+       The file will be created, prescribed an ID. A date based outline path
+       will be created for today's date. The tree-type can be one of the
+       following symbols: day, week or month. The point will adjusted to the
+       last element in the tree. To prompt for date instead of using today's,
+       use the :time-prompt property.
 
    (node \"title or alias or ID of an existing node\")
        The point will be placed for an existing node, based on either, its
@@ -289,7 +300,7 @@ streamlined user experience in Org-roam."
                                       (function :tag "Template function")))
                         (plist :inline t
                                ;; Give the most common options as checkboxes
-                               :options (((const :format "%v " :if-new)
+                               :options (((const :format "%v " :target)
                                           (choice :tag "Node location"
                                                   (list :tag "File"
                                                         (const :format "" file)
@@ -377,7 +388,7 @@ during the Org-roam capture process.")
 This variable is populated dynamically, and is only non-nil
 during the Org-roam capture process.")
 
-(defconst org-roam-capture--template-keywords (list :if-new :id :link-description :call-location
+(defconst org-roam-capture--template-keywords (list :target :id :link-description :call-location
                                                     :region)
   "Keywords used in `org-roam-capture-templates' specific to Org-roam.")
 
@@ -445,8 +456,9 @@ the capture)."
 (defun org-roam-capture--prepare-buffer ()
   "Prepare the capture buffer for the current Org-roam based capture template.
 This function will initialize and setup the capture buffer,
-create the target node (`:if-new') if it doesn't exist, and place
-the point for further processing by `org-capture'.
+position the point to the current :target (and if necessary,
+create it if it doesn't exist), and place the point for further
+processing by `org-capture'.
 
 Note: During the capture process this function is run by
 `org-capture-set-target-location', as a (function ...) based
@@ -464,8 +476,7 @@ capture target."
   "Initialize the buffer, and goto the location of the new capture.
 Return the ID of the location."
   (let (p new-file-p)
-    (pcase (or (org-roam-capture--get :if-new)
-               (user-error "Template needs to specify `:if-new'"))
+    (pcase (org-roam-capture--get-target)
       (`(file ,path)
        (setq path (org-roam-capture--target-truepath path)
              new-file-p (org-roam-capture--new-file-p path))
@@ -564,6 +575,11 @@ Return the ID of the location."
           (org-id-get-create)
         (run-hooks 'org-roam-capture-new-node-hook)))))
 
+(defun org-roam-capture--get-target ()
+  "Get the current capture :target for the capture template in use."
+  (or (org-roam-capture--get :target)
+      (user-error "Template needs to specify `:target'")))
+
 (defun org-roam-capture--target-truepath (path)
   "From PATH get the correct path to the current capture target and return it.
 PATH is a string that can optionally contain templated text in
diff --git a/org-roam-compat.el b/org-roam-compat.el
index a976e08..62fce91 100644
--- a/org-roam-compat.el
+++ b/org-roam-compat.el
@@ -153,6 +153,29 @@ nodes." org-id-locations-file)
                            (expand-file-name ".orgids" (file-truename org-roam-directory)))
                      (apply fn args)))))))
 
+(with-eval-after-load 'org-roam-capture
+  ;; :if-new capture template property is deprecated in favor of :target
+  (add-to-list 'org-roam-capture--template-keywords :if-new)
+
+  (advice-add 'org-roam-capture--get-target :around #'org-roam-capture--get-if-new-target-a)
+  (let ((warning-was-displayed 'dont-display)) ; REVIEW Set this to nil close to next major release
+    (defun org-roam-capture--get-if-new-target-a (fn &rest args)
+      "Get the current capture target using deprecated :if-new property."
+      (if-let ((target (org-roam-capture--get :if-new)))
+          (prog1 target
+            (unless warning-was-displayed
+              (lwarn 'org-roam-capture :warning
+                     (mapconcat
+                      #'identity
+                      ["`:if-new' property is deprecated in favor of `:target'."
+                       "This warning will popup once per each session. In order to get"
+                       "rid of it, rename all the references to the `:if-new' property"
+                       "in your capture templates to `:target'."]
+                      "\n"))
+              ;; Don't irritate the user too much. Displaying the warning once per session should be enough.
+              (setq warning-was-displayed t)))
+        (apply fn args)))))
+
 ;;; Obsolete aliases (remove after next major release)
 (define-obsolete-function-alias
   'org-roam-setup