---
id: F4
title: Inbox
status: partial
order: 4
---

# F4 — Inbox

## What it is

The **inbox** is where new and rough ideas land before they become **tasks**. Inbox **items** are not tasks yet — they are **not ready**. They do not appear on the main task page, in [F3 projects](./f3-projects.mdx), or in [F5 views](./f5-views.mdx) until the user **marks them ready**.

<!-- status: done -->

### Foundation

- **Backend** — unified `tasks` table with a storage-only `ready` flag; inbox and task list share one store with scoped queries and actions (`list-inbox-items`, `create-inbox-item`, `update-inbox-item`, `delete-inbox-item`, `mark-inbox-item-ready`, `reorder-inbox-items`)
- **Navigation** — `/inbox` route and sidebar entry (before Tasks)
- **Inbox UI** — add, inline edit, delete, mark ready, drag-to-reorder, and multi-select (bulk mark ready / bulk delete)
- **Chat capture** — [chat](./f8-chat.mdx) defaults to `create-inbox-item`; `create-task` when the user asks to add directly to the task list

## What users can do

<!-- status: done -->

- **Add** an inbox item from the inbox page or via agent (`create-inbox-item`).
- **Edit** title inline or via `update-inbox-item`.
- **Reorder** via drag-and-drop or `reorder-inbox-items`.
- **Select** multiple items on the inbox page; bulk mark ready or bulk delete.
- **Mark ready** via row action, bulk toolbar, or `mark-inbox-item-ready` — becomes an incomplete task (same id).
- **Delete** via row action, bulk toolbar, or `delete-inbox-item` (confirm with user first in chat).

<!-- status: todo -->

- **Edit** [custom fields](./f2-custom-fields.mdx) and project assignment on items.

## How it behaves

| State     | What it is     | Where it appears                                                                                |
| --------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Inbox** | Not-ready item | Inbox page only                                                                                 |
| **Task**  | Ready item     | Main task page, project (if assigned), [F5 views](./f5-views.mdx), [F6 search](./f6-search.mdx) |

- **Completion** cannot be changed on inbox items — only after mark ready (F1).
- An item may have a **project assigned** before it is ready; the project page does not show it until mark ready.
- **Mark ready** creates a normal **incomplete** task with any preset project applied.
- New capture from chat defaults to **inbox** unless the user asks for the task list directly ([F8](./f8-chat.mdx)).
- New items added on the main task page or in a project are **tasks immediately** (`ready` in storage).
- A task cannot return to the inbox.
- Flat list — no sub-groups within the inbox.

## Still partial

Feature status stays **partial** until inbox metadata (custom fields, project assignment before mark ready) ships. Core inbox triage — capture, edit, reorder, select, mark ready, delete — is shipped.