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

# categories

> Returns the list of token categories, optionally filtered by kind (canonical or narrative) and lifecycle status. Defaults to active categories.

Returns the list of token categories: curated groupings such as DeFi, L1s, stablecoins, AI, and memes. Use the `status` argument to scope the list; only `ACTIVE` categories are returned by default.

Use this query to populate category pickers and navigation, then fetch a single category with [`category`](https://docs.codex.io/api-reference/queries/category) or list its tokens with [`categoryTokens`](https://docs.codex.io/api-reference/queries/categorytokens). To filter or exclude categories directly on token discovery queries, use the `categories` filter ([`TokenCategoryFilter`](https://docs.codex.io/api-reference/input-objects/tokencategoryfilter)) on [`filterTokens`](https://docs.codex.io/api-reference/queries/filtertokens).

## GraphQL

```
type Query {
  categories(
    type: CategoryType
    status: CategoryStatus
  ): [Category!]!
}

enum CategoryType {
  CANONICAL
  NARRATIVE
}

enum CategoryStatus {
  DRAFT
  ACTIVE
  ARCHIVED
}

type Category {
  id: String!
  name: String!
  shortName: String
  slug: String!
  description: String
  type: CategoryType!
  status: CategoryStatus!
  parentId: String
  memberCount: Int
}
```

### Example

[Test this query in the Explorer →](https://docs.codex.io/explore.md)

```graphql theme={null}
{
  categories(status: ACTIVE) {
    id
    name
    shortName
    description
    status
    parentId
  }
}
```

### Usage Guidelines

* This is a lightweight call. Fetch once and cache client-side; category membership changes slowly.
* `shortName` is optional and does not fall back to `name`. Use it for compact surfaces (pills, badges) and fall back to `name` yourself when it is null.


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