> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.telltandem.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Categories

> Classify tasks with structured categories at the project or account level.

## What are categories?

Categories are structured labels that classify what type of work a task is. Every task has at most one category. Unlike tags, categories come from a predefined list — either your project's category list or your general category list.

## Two levels of categories

**Project categories** — specific to a project. When a task belongs to a project, its category dropdown shows that project's list. For example, a software project might have: `Frontend`, `Backend`, `Database`, `CLI`, `DevOps`, `Design`, `AI`, `Marketing`, `Business`.

**General categories** — apply to tasks not in any project. You define a list that works across all your personal tasks. Examples: `Finance`, `Health`, `Personal`, `Work`, `Admin`, `Travel`.

## Managing project categories

From the CLI:

```bash theme={null}
# View categories for a project
tandem project categories list "My Project"

# Add a single category
tandem project categories add "My Project" Backend

# Replace all categories at once
tandem project categories set "My Project" Frontend Backend Database DevOps Design AI
```

From the app: edit any task in the project and click the category field — you can add new categories directly from the dropdown.

## Managing general categories

```bash theme={null}
tandem categories list
tandem categories add Finance
tandem categories set Finance Health Personal Work Admin Travel
```

## How categories are assigned

When you create a task through conversation, Tandem picks the best matching category from your list automatically. If nothing fits, it may suggest a new one.

You can change the category on any task from the task detail view or via the CLI:

```bash theme={null}
tandem task category <task-id> Backend
```

## Categories vs tags

Categories answer "what kind of work is this?" — one clear classification per task. Tags answer "what else is true about this task?" — open-ended, multiple allowed.

Use a `bug` tag rather than a `Bug` category so you can see *where* the bug lives (Frontend, Backend, etc.) and filter by tag to find all bugs across categories.