> ## 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.

# category

> Returns a single token category by its slug, or null if none matches. Reference for the category query in the Codex API: arguments, response fields, and usage.

Returns a single token category by its slug. Use it to render a category detail page header (name, description) before fetching the category's tokens with [`categoryTokens`](https://docs.codex.io/api-reference/queries/categorytokens). To list all categories, use [`categories`](https://docs.codex.io/api-reference/queries/categories).

## GraphQL

```
type Query {
  category(
    slug: String!
  ): 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}
{
  category(slug: "artificial-intelligence") {
    id
    name
    shortName
    slug
    description
    status
    parentId
  }
}
```

### Usage Guidelines

* The `slug` is the same value as the category `id` and is the value stored on tokens.
* Returns null when no category matches the slug.


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