# Labels & Categorization
Labels let you categorize contacts within a book using **color-coded tags**. They help you organize, filter, and find contacts based on any criteria that matters to your team.
> [!quote] Flexible Organization
> Every team organizes differently. Labels let you ==build your own system== without rigid categories.
## What are Labels?
Labels are **custom tags** that you create per book. Each label has:
- A **name** (e.g., "VIP", "Follow Up", "New Lead")
- A **color** (hex color for visual identification)
- A **sort order** (drag to reorder in the sidebar)
You can assign **multiple labels** to a single contact.
## Creating Labels
1. Open a book
2. Go to the **Labels** section in the sidebar
3. Click **Add Label**
4. Enter a name and choose a color
5. Save
> [!tip] Color strategy
> Use distinct colors for labels that serve different purposes. For example:
> - **Red** → Urgent / Follow Up
> - **Green** → Active / Current
> - **Blue** → VIP / Key Account
> - **Yellow** → Pending / Awaiting Response
## Assigning Labels to Contacts
- Open a contact's detail view
- Click the **Labels** field
- Select one or more labels
- Labels appear as colored badges on the contact card
## Filtering by Label
Click any label in the sidebar to **filter contacts** to only those with that label. This works across all views in the current book.
> [!highlight] Label counts
> Each label in the sidebar shows a **count** of how many contacts use it. This gives you a quick overview of your book's composition.
## Managing Labels
### Edit a Label
- Click the edit icon next to any label
- Change the **name** or **color**
- Changes apply to all contacts using that label
### Reorder Labels
- Drag labels in the sidebar to change their **sort order**
- The order is reflected everywhere labels appear
### Delete a Label
- Click delete on a label
- The label is removed from all contacts that had it
- Contacts themselves are not affected
> [!note] Per-book labels
> Labels are scoped to a single book. Each book has its own set of labels, so you can customize categorization for different purposes.
## Label Ideas
| Use Case | Example Labels |
|----------|---------------|
| Sales Pipeline | New Lead, Qualified, Proposal Sent, Won, Lost |
| Event Management | Speaker, Sponsor, Attendee, VIP |
| Vendor Management | Active, Preferred, Under Review, Inactive |
| Recruiting | Applied, Interviewing, Offer Extended, Hired |
## Why Labels Matter
- **Organization** → group contacts by any criteria
- **Filtering** → quickly find the right contacts
- **Visibility** → color-coded badges provide context at a glance
- **Flexibility** → create, edit, and reorder labels as your needs evolve
> [!success] The Key Idea
> Labels are your custom categorization system. Create them to match how your team thinks about contacts, then use filters to slice through your data instantly.
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**Next:** Learn how to add contacts with [[Adding Contacts]].