# Payload CMS Development Rules

You are an expert Payload CMS developer. When working with Payload projects, follow these rules:

## Teqo Project Context (read this first)

Teqo is the digital platform for deputado federal Jorge Solla (PT-BA): public site + editorial CMS + an internal `/campanha` campaign-management area, all in this one Next.js + Payload app. Full architecture/decision doc lives outside this repo at `plano-arquitetura-campanha-2026.md` (Cowork workspace) — check it for the "why" behind decisions below.

**Locked decisions — do not relitigate without a new concrete reason:**

- Single Next.js app, three route groups: `(frontend)` public site, `(payload)` admin, `(campaign)` internal campaign tool. No separate Rust service or frontend app for `/campanha`; it is modeled with Payload collections. The campaign roles are `geral`, `coordenador`, and `lideranca`, all on the separate auth collection `campaignUser` (see "Campaign auth" below).
- Hosting stays on Vercel for now. No self-host/Coolify migration in progress.
- Donations are NOT handled in this app — they run through QueroApoiar (`apoiar.me/jorgesolla`, TSE-homologated). The site only needs a "Doar" link/CTA out to that URL.

**Real conventions already established in this codebase (follow these, not just the generic patterns below):**

- `Contact` is the normalized "person" record (name, email, phone, state/city via `src/lib/cities.ts`, CEP). Don't create a parallel "person" collection for new features (e.g. líderanças/apoiadores) — add a join collection that relates to `Contact`, the same way `Signature` and `Subscription` do.
- Every action that writes to more than one collection (see `src/app/(frontend)/actions/*.ts`) wraps the writes in a Payload transaction (`payload.db.beginTransaction/commitTransaction/rollbackTransaction`) and passes `req: { transactionID }` to every `payload.create`/`payload.update` call. Follow this pattern for any new multi-collection write.
- LGPD consent is tracked via a `Consent` collection (richText, versioned, optional stable `key`) referenced by relationship from `Signature`/`Subscription`/campaign `leadership`. New campaign opt-in flows resolve Consent by stable `key` (e.g. `lideranca-autopreenchimento`) and fail closed when missing — don't invent a parallel consent mechanism or hardcode document IDs for new work.
- Cache invalidation: collections/globals call `revalidateDocumentById` (`src/utilities/documents.ts`) / `revalidateGlobal` (`src/utilities/globals.ts`) in an `afterChange` hook. Add the same hook to any new collection/global that backs a public page. Collections whose listing is cached under a shared tag also call the listing helper (`revalidateCollectionListing`, e.g. `revalidatePostsListing()` → `revalidateTag('posts')`) — see "Posts & Tags" below.
- Admin UI is organized via `admin.group` (e.g. `'Abaixo-assinados'`, `'Contatos'`, `'Configurações'`, `'Paginas'`, `'Campanha'`, `'Dados Eleitorais'`) — group new collections consistently instead of leaving them ungrouped.
- i18n: Payload admin defaults to `pt` (not `pt-BR` — see `payload.config.ts`, `payload/i18n/pt`).
- Language & naming conventions: ALL code identifiers are in English — variable, function, parameter, type/interface names, local constants, and Next.js dynamic route segment folder names used as param keys (e.g. `[type]/[category]/[slug]`, not `[tipo]/[categoria]`). Portuguese is allowed ONLY in: user-visible string literals (JSX text, button/labels), image `alt` text, SEO/metadata values (title/description/keywords), Payload admin config text (`labels`/`singular`/`plural`/`admin.description`/field `label`), and intentional URL slug/enum VALUES kept in Portuguese for SEO (e.g. the `post.type` enum values `noticia|campanha|artigo|evento`, tag/category slugs like `saude`, `eleitoral`). Never translate those data/URL values or admin labels. Renaming a route segment folder changes only the param KEY, never the public URL (segment values come from the data).

**Database & local development (safety-critical — production is a live Neon Postgres with real citizens' PII):**

- Local dev and tests must NEVER touch production. Local dev runs against a local Docker Postgres (`pnpm db:start`); `pnpm dev` refuses a non-local `DATABASE_URL` (guard: `scripts/guard-dev-db.mjs`) unless `ALLOW_REMOTE_DB=true`. Tests load `.env.test` (`teqo_test`) and refuse any database whose name doesn't end in `_test` (`tests/helpers/assertTestDatabase.ts`). Never repoint `.env`/`.env.local`/`.env.test` `DATABASE_URL` at Neon. Full workflow lives in the `local-database` skill (`.cursor/skills/local-database`).
- Schema changes go through committed Payload migrations — `push: false` everywhere, never flip it on against a remote DB. Edit configs → `pnpm migrate:create <name>` → commit `src/migrations/*` (both `.ts` and `.json`, plus `index.ts`) → `pnpm migrate` locally. `pnpm build` runs `payload migrate`, so **every Vercel deploy applies pending migrations to prod**. Prod is baselined at migration `20260715_163458_initial` — never regenerate or replace the initial migration. Full workflow (incl. hand-written data/reconciliation migrations) lives in the `payload-migrations` skill (`.cursor/skills/payload-migrations`).
- `Consent.text` was reconciled from `varchar` to `jsonb` via `20260715_163500_consent_text_to_jsonb` (matching the `richText` field). Any future field-type change is a migration, not a manual DB edit.
- To copy production content locally, use `pnpm db:pull` (`scripts/db-pull.mjs`): it only reads prod, only writes local, and excludes supporter PII (`contact`/`signature`/`subscription` row data).
- To (re)populate news content, `pnpm db:seed:posts` fetches articles live from jorgesolla.com.br into the LOCAL db (same non-local `DATABASE_URL` guard as `pnpm dev`). It writes from a CLI process outside the deployed runtime, so after seeding — or after ANY direct-DB change — you must bust the production `posts` cache via `POST /api/revalidate`. See "Posts & Tags" below.
- To (re)populate the TSE 2022 election baseline, `pnpm db:seed:tse` downloads TSE open data and imports the Bahia scope into the LOCAL db (same guard; no revalidate needed — campaign pages are dynamic). See "Election baseline data (TSE 2022)" below.

## Known Gaps (as of 2026-07-18 — resolve before relying on this file for onboarding new devs)

Backlog consolidado (bloqueadores, site, campanha, white-label): [`docs/roadmap.md`](docs/roadmap.md).

1. **Payload admin RBAC is still absent.** The campaign auth collection now has `role`, but the `users` admin collection still has no roles; every admin user has full Payload admin access. Add admin roles before opening `/admin` to a broader team.
2. **Legacy public consent flows still hardcode document IDs** (e.g. `consent: 2` in `submitWhatsapp.ts`). The campaign leadership flow does not: it requires `Consent.key = 'lideranca-autopreenchimento'` and fails closed when missing. Migrating the older public flows remains separate work.
3. **`Post`/`Tag` ship the news system, but there is still no `Pages` collection for institutional content.** Partly resolved: the `post`/`tag` collections back the news/publications system, and the home "Últimas notícias" list plus the `/[type]`, `/[type]/[category]`, and article routes are live (see "Posts & Tags" below). Still hardcoded/pending: the home hero heading + subtitle copy (`HomePage` global still exposes only a single `image` field — the text lives in `src/app/(frontend)/(home)/page.tsx`), and there is no `Pages` collection yet for institutional content such as the bio and propostas.
4. **Campaign LGPD consent text is not yet configured in production.** Invites and self-service leadership flows fail closed until an admin creates `Consent.key = 'lideranca-autopreenchimento'` with counsel-approved copy (see deploy checklist).

**Recently resolved (2026-07-18):** the `/campanha` nuclei MVP shipped (auth/RBAC, nuclei, leaderships, vote estimates, updates, WhatsApp invites, dashboard) with consolidated migration `20260718_010733_consolidate_campaign_schema`. Later the same day, cycle 2 was merged and deployed: multi-municipality/neighborhood territory arrays (migration `20260718_190559_territorio_multi_municipio_bairro`), TSE 2022 election baseline collections + `pnpm db:seed:tse` (migration `20260718_195854_add_election_results`), the filtered nuclei-list overview panel, the nucleus share dialog, and the installable `/campanha` PWA. Earlier (2026-07-15): local Postgres via `docker-compose.yml` (Postgres 17, `teqo_test`); Payload migrations baselined; dev/test database guards; `post`/`tag` news routes deployed (see "Posts & Tags" below).

## Posts & Tags (news / publications)

The public news/publications system is backed by two collections (both in the `Publicações` admin group) plus the helpers in `src/utilities/posts.ts`.

- **`post`** (`src/collections/Post.ts`) — fields: `title`, `slug` (unique, indexed, auto-slugified from `title` when left empty), `type` (select enum `noticia|campanha|artigo|evento`), `category` (required single relationship → `tag`), `tags` (`hasMany` relationship → `tag`), `subtitle`, `coverImage` (upload → `media`), `publishedDate`, `body` (richText). Has drafts/versions (`schedulePublish`, `maxPerDoc: 5`).
- **`tag`** (`src/collections/Tag.ts`) — fields: `name`, `slug` (unique, indexed, auto-slugified from `name`), and `hidden` (checkbox, admin label "Esconder", default `false`). Tags are the shared taxonomy for both `post.category` and `post.tags`.

**Tags are a taxonomy, not a person record.** The `Contact` convention above applies to _people_; `tag` is publication metadata (categories + a visibility control flag), so post/tag relations do not touch `Contact`. Don't fold taxonomy into `Contact` or vice-versa.

**Electoral visibility control (`hidden` + fail-closed `isPostVisible`).** Marking a tag `hidden` hides every post that references it — as `category` or in `tags` — with a single toggle. This exists so campaign / pre-candidacy content (tagged `eleitoral`) can be pulled from the public site during the electoral period. `isPostVisible(post)` (`src/utilities/posts.ts`) returns true only when the post is `published` AND none of its related tags (`category` + `tags`) is `hidden`. It **fails closed**: an unpopulated relation (a bare numeric id) is treated as hiding, so callers must fetch with `depth >= 1`. Every public read filters through `getVisiblePosts()`, which applies this predicate to the cached published list.

**URLs and Portuguese SEO values.** The canonical article path is `/[type]/[category]/[slug]` (e.g. `/noticia/saude/<slug>`), with `/[type]` and `/[type]/[category]` listing routes and the home "Últimas notícias" list. The `type` enum values (`noticia|campanha|artigo|evento`) and tag/category slugs (`saude`, `eleitoral`, …) are deliberately Portuguese for SEO and are **data, not identifiers** — never translate them (see the naming-conventions bullet above). The route folders are `[type]/[category]/[slug]` (English param keys); the article route redirects any stale/mismatched URL to the canonical path derived from the post's _current_ `type` + category slug. Article pages emit JSON-LD (`Article`) and Open Graph metadata.

**Caching (mixed ISR, `posts` tag).** Public reads go through the `unstable_cache` wrappers in `src/utilities/posts.ts` (`getCachedPublishedPosts`, `getCachedPostBySlug`), all tagged `posts`. The routes set `export const dynamicParams = true` and build `generateStaticParams` from `getVisiblePosts()`: known paths are statically generated, unknown ones render on demand, and everything stays cached until the `posts` tag is busted. `revalidatePostsListing()` (`src/utilities/documents.ts`) is `revalidateTag('posts')` (the listing tag is `` `${collection}s` `` → `posts`), so one call busts the home page, every listing route, and every article route at once.

**Self-revalidation on admin edits.** Both collections have an `afterChange` hook. `post` busts its own document tag + the `posts` listing on every publish/update (skipping only the initial draft that the admin create view generates during render). `tag` is broader: on change it re-reads every post referencing that tag (as `category` or in `tags`, passing `req` for transaction safety) and revalidates each one plus the listing — so flipping `hidden` is reflected on the site immediately.

**Seeding news content (`pnpm db:seed:posts`).** `scripts/seed-posts.mjs` (loaded via `scripts/seed-loader.mjs`) fetches ~39 articles live from jorgesolla.com.br (WordPress REST API, with an HTML-crawl fallback), imports them as `type: 'noticia'` published posts, converts the WP HTML body to Payload Lexical, and uploads cover images to Vercel Blob. The taxonomy (categories + the `eleitoral` control tag, and the per-slug classification) is hardcoded in the script; it reads/writes the `hidden` flag. It is **idempotent by slug** (existing posts are skipped; tags/media are reused by slug/filename) and reuses the same non-local `DATABASE_URL` guard as `pnpm dev` (override only with `ALLOW_REMOTE_DB=true`). The Vercel Blob store is shared across environments, so before uploading a cover it deletes any orphan blob left under the same deterministic `<slug>.<ext>` key, keeping the seed re-runnable.

### Revalidating after a manual/direct DB change

Admin edits made through the deployed app self-revalidate via the `afterChange` hooks above. But any write that does **not** go through the deployed Payload runtime — direct SQL, `pnpm db:seed:posts`, a DB restore / `db:pull` — will **not** bust production's frozen `posts` cache. (Even when such a write triggers the hook, its `revalidateTag('posts')` runs in that CLI/local process and cannot touch the deployed server's cache.) The pages keep serving stale content until the tag is busted.

Bust it with the secured endpoint (`src/app/(frontend)/api/revalidate/route.ts`), which calls `revalidatePostsListing()`:

```bash
curl -X POST "https://<prod-domain>/api/revalidate" \
  -H "x-revalidate-secret: $REVALIDATE_SECRET"
```

- **Auth:** send the secret via `x-revalidate-secret` or `Authorization: Bearer <secret>`; it is compared to `REVALIDATE_SECRET` with a constant-time check.
- `REVALIDATE_SECRET` must be set in the Vercel **production** env (and in your local env if you want to test the endpoint). It is documented in `.env.example`.
- **Responses:** `200 { revalidated: true, tag: 'posts' }` on success; `401` if the secret is missing/wrong; `500` if `REVALIDATE_SECRET` is not configured on the server.
- This POST is the required last step of the post-seed / direct-DB-change runbook.

## Campaign auth (`/campanha`)

The internal `/campanha` area is gated by its own authentication, deliberately kept **isolated from the Payload admin (`/admin`)** so a campaign session and an admin session can coexist in the same browser.

- **`campaignUser` collection** (`src/collections/CampaignUser.ts`) — a separate Payload auth collection with `name`, optional contact `phone`, and required `role`: `geral`, `coordenador`, or `lideranca` (default and least privilege). Staff may sign in by email; leadership accounts use the normalized 11-digit phone as `username`. It is not `users`: `admin.user` remains `users`, so campaign users cannot log into `/admin`.
- **Isolated session cookie `campaign-token`.** The flow sets its own httpOnly cookie named `campaign-token` (constant `CAMPAIGN_TOKEN_COOKIE` in `src/utilities/campaignAuth.ts`), scoped to `path: '/campanha'`, `sameSite: 'lax'`, and `secure` only in production. It is deliberately NOT the default `payload-token` cookie — using a distinct name + path is what lets a campaign session and a Payload admin session live side by side without clobbering each other.
- **Session verification — `getCampaignUser()`** (`src/utilities/campaignAuth.ts`). Reads the `campaign-token` cookie, calls `payload.auth({ headers })`, accepts only `user.collection === 'campaignUser'`, then reloads that document by ID. The fresh read makes role downgrades effective immediately instead of trusting a stale JWT role.
- **Login/logout server actions** (`src/app/(campaign)/campanha/actions/auth.ts`). `loginCampaign` validates input with `campaignLoginSchema` (`src/lib/schemas/campaign-login.ts`), calls `payload.login({ collection: 'campaignUser' })`, and — because the Local API returns a token WITHOUT setting a cookie — sets the `campaign-token` cookie itself (using the collection's `auth.tokenExpiration` as `maxAge`) before redirecting to `/campanha`. `logoutCampaign` clears the cookie (`maxAge: 0`) and redirects to `/campanha/login`.
- **Route layout.** The route group's root layout `src/app/(campaign)/layout.tsx` renders the `<html>`/`<body>` with `data-theme="campaign"`. The public login lives at `src/app/(campaign)/campanha/login/` (`page.tsx` + client `LoginForm.tsx`). Everything gated sits in the `(app)` group, whose layout (`src/app/(campaign)/campanha/(app)/layout.tsx`) calls `getCampaignUser()` and `redirect('/campanha/login')` when there is no session — that layout is the barrier.
- **Migrations.** `20260716_010420_add_campaign_user` created the auth collection; the unpublished 2026-07-17 campaign chain was consolidated into `20260718_010733_consolidate_campaign_schema`, which adds role/username auth, contact phone, and the remaining final campaign schema.

## Campaign nuclei MVP

The first `/campanha` operational cycle is centered on `electoralNucleus`; a Núcleo is the campaign's operating unit and is not a TSE electoral zone.

- **Collections:** `electoralNucleus` (territory, coordinators, TSE zone references, intelligence and vote estimates), `leadership` (unique `Contact`↔nucleus join with support status), `nucleusUpdate` (immutable field reports), and `campaignInvite` (single-use WhatsApp invite hashes). All are in admin group `Campanha`.
- **Canonical nucleus URLs:** nuclei use a unique canonical `slug` generated from `name` and route through `/campanha/nucleos/[slug]`. IDs stay internal. Names are immutable after creation so existing shared links remain durable without an alias table.
- **Territory:** Bahia is implicit. Since 2026-07-18 nuclei use `hasMany` arrays `regions` / `cities` / `neighborhoods` (plus `locality` / `territoryNotes`), validated against official Bahia identity territories (`src/lib/bahiaTerritories.ts`): `regions` is derived server-side from the selected cities, and neighborhoods require exactly one city. List filters stay single-select and query array membership with `{ equals }`. Migration `20260718_190559_territorio_multi_municipio_bairro` backfilled the old scalar fields (`docs/plans/territorio-multi-municipio-bairro.md`).
- **Role scope:** `geral` sees/manages all nuclei, assigns coordinators, and confirms estimates; `coordenador` sees assigned nuclei and manages their leaderships, updates, invites, and estimates; `lideranca` sees only nuclei linked through an engaged leadership record, creates own updates, and suggests estimates.
- **Sensitive fields:** `leadership.supportStatus`, internal notes, consent notes, and strategic nucleus intelligence are staff-only and are excluded from leadership view models. Revoking `engajado` revokes nucleus access immediately. Dashboard aggregates omit Payload-redacted missing statuses and fail closed on invalid enum values.
- **People and consent:** leaderships always reuse `Contact`; multi-collection writes are transactional. Self-service updates accept a strict whitelist derived from the invite token. Campaign consent is looked up only by the stable key `lideranca-autopreenchimento`.
- **Invites:** only SHA-256 token hashes are persisted. Absolute invite URLs require a valid `NEXT_PUBLIC_SITE_URL` (exact HTTPS DNS origin in production). Public invite pages are dynamic, `no-store`, `noindex,nofollow`, `no-referrer`, and have no third-party application scripts. Login invites are allowed only for engaged leaderships.
- **Vote estimates:** proposals never overwrite the confirmed value; each proposal carries a server-generated UUID version compared under advisory lock on confirm. Only a coordinator assigned to the nucleus or `geral` may confirm.
- **List overview (B1, 2026-07-18):** `/campanha/nucleos` renders an aggregate panel between the filters and the list (`NucleusListOverview` + `loadNucleusListOverviewData`): confirmed vote estimate total/%, coordinator coverage, and a 3-update preview, computed over the entire filtered set (`buildNucleusListWhere`, `pagination: false`, `overrideAccess: false`). Hidden when the filtered set is empty; `lideranca` gets a reduced select without pending-suggestion counts.
- **Share dialog (C1, 2026-07-18):** the nucleus detail header has a "Compartilhar" dialog (WhatsApp `wa.me` per recipient + copy link) that sends only the URL — it never creates invites or grants access. Recipients (gerais, assigned coordinators, `engajado` leaderships) are loaded on open via a read-only Server Action; the loader gates on nucleus access (`overrideAccess: false`) then reads name+phone privileged (`overrideAccess: true`) to avoid N+1 field-access checks. `canReadCampaignUserPhone` allows any campaign user to read `geral` phones.
- **PWA (D1, 2026-07-18):** `/campanha` is installable — manifest and service worker are served by route handlers under `/campanha` (script built in `src/utilities/campaignPwa.ts`), scoped to the vertical only (public site and `/admin` have no SW). Cache is named `campanha-<buildId>` and swapped on deploy (`skipWaiting`/`claim`); navigation is network-first with an `/campanha/offline` fallback; RSC/Flight responses and `/campanha/convite/*` are never cached. `InstallPwaToast` prompts install on mobile (Android `beforeinstallprompt`, iOS step-by-step drawer, `sessionStorage` dismissal), and logout wipes the Cache API client-side before the server action runs. Push handlers are placeholders for D2.

## Election baseline data (TSE 2022)

Public TSE 2022 results back the electoral baseline (roadmap item A3; UI lands with A4). Three collections in admin group `Dados Eleitorais`: `electionTally` (per city×zone totals: eligible voters, turnout, valid/blank/null votes), `electionCandidateVote` (nominal votes per candidate×city×zone), and `electionCandidate` (candidate registry with a cross-year `identityKey` hash — no CPF or voter ID is ever persisted). Read access requires an authenticated `campaignUser` or `users` account (`canReadElectionData`); writes are Payload-admin-only, and the import runs via CLI with `overrideAccess: true`.

`pnpm db:seed:tse` (`scripts/seed-tse-results.mjs`) downloads the TSE open-data zips (provenance URLs + SHA-256 in the script header), parses the Bahia scope, and imports via `payload.db.drizzle` in a transaction — idempotent by replace-per-scope `(year, office, turn)`, only `voteType: 'nominal'` rows in v1. It refuses a non-local `DATABASE_URL` (same guard family as the other seeds; override with `ALLOW_REMOTE_DB=true`) and caches downloads under `data/tse/` (gitignored). No revalidate step is needed: campaign pages are dynamic with auth, not ISR-cached.

### Local verification and deploy checklist

1. Confirm `DATABASE_URL` is `postgresql://teqo:teqo@localhost:5432/teqo` and `.env.test` points to `teqo_test`; never use Neon for development, tests, E2E, or local builds.
2. Run `pnpm db:start`, `pnpm migrate:status`, and `DATABASE_URL=postgresql://teqo:teqo@localhost:5432/teqo_test pnpm migrate:status`; every migration must show `Ran: Yes`.
3. Run `pnpm generate:types`, `pnpm generate:importmap` when components changed, `pnpm exec tsc --noEmit`, `pnpm lint`, `pnpm test` (unit + int), `pnpm test:e2e` (or `pnpm test:all`), and `pnpm build` against the local database. Payload CLI scripts (`migrate`, `generate:*`, `payload`) and the build migrate step use `--conditions=react-server` so `server-only` modules load correctly outside Next.js.
4. Scan every edited runtime source file with Aikido and resolve new findings before handoff. Do not expand hardening work into unrelated pre-existing findings without an explicit scope change.
5. Review Vercel environment variables and migration SQL before deploy; `pnpm build` applies pending migrations to production automatically.
6. **Mandatory production blocker:** do not insert real leadership/support data or enable invites until electoral counsel documents the LGPD art. 11 basis, approves the specific versioned consent text, and an admin creates it with exactly `Consent.key = 'lideranca-autopreenchimento'`. The app intentionally fails closed when this key is absent.

## Core Principles

1. **TypeScript-First**: Always use TypeScript with proper types from Payload
2. **Security-Critical**: Follow all security patterns, especially access control
3. **Type Generation**: Run `generate:types` script after schema changes
4. **Transaction Safety**: Always pass `req` to nested operations in hooks
5. **Access Control**: Understand Local API bypasses access control by default
6. **Access Control**: Ensure roles exist when modifiyng collection or globals with access controls

### Code Validation

- To validate typescript correctness after modifying code run `tsc --noEmit`
- Generate import maps after creating or modifying components.
- Any change to a collection/global/field schema requires a migration: `pnpm migrate:create <name>`, then `pnpm migrate` locally. Never rely on `push` (it is `false`). See the `payload-migrations` skill.

## Project Structure

Generic Payload layout (aspirational — `access/` and `hooks/` as separate dirs don't exist yet in this repo; access control and hooks are currently written inline inside each collection/global file):

```
src/
├── app/
│   ├── (frontend)/          # Frontend routes + server actions (src/app/(frontend)/actions/*.ts)
│   ├── (payload)/           # Payload admin routes
│   └── (campaign)/          # Internal campaign-management area (auth barrier, see "Campaign auth")
├── collections/             # Users, CampaignUser, CampaignInvite, ElectoralNucleus, Leadership, NucleusUpdate, ElectionTally, ElectionCandidateVote, ElectionCandidate, Media, Petition, Signature, Consent, Contact, Subscription, Post, Tag
├── globals/                 # Global configs (SiteSettings, HomePage, Metadata)
├── components/              # Custom React components (campaign/*, ui from shadcn)
├── lib/                     # cities.ts, bahiaTerritories.ts, formData.ts, zod schemas (lib/schemas/*)
├── utilities/               # campaign*, nucleus*, posts, documents, globals, locks, etc.
└── payload.config.ts        # Main config
```

## Configuration

### Minimal Config Pattern

```typescript
import { buildConfig } from 'payload'
import { mongooseAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-mongodb'
import { lexicalEditor } from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical'
import path from 'path'
import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'

const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
const dirname = path.dirname(filename)

export default buildConfig({
  admin: {
    user: 'users',
    importMap: {
      baseDir: path.resolve(dirname),
    },
  },
  collections: [Users, Media],
  editor: lexicalEditor(),
  secret: process.env.PAYLOAD_SECRET,
  typescript: {
    outputFile: path.resolve(dirname, 'payload-types.ts'),
  },
  db: mongooseAdapter({
    url: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
  }),
})
```

## Collections

### Basic Collection

```typescript
import type { CollectionConfig } from 'payload'

export const Posts: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'posts',
  admin: {
    useAsTitle: 'title',
    defaultColumns: ['title', 'author', 'status', 'createdAt'],
  },
  fields: [
    { name: 'title', type: 'text', required: true },
    { name: 'slug', type: 'text', unique: true, index: true },
    { name: 'content', type: 'richText' },
    { name: 'author', type: 'relationship', relationTo: 'users' },
  ],
  timestamps: true,
}
```

### Auth Collection with RBAC

```typescript
export const Users: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'users',
  auth: true,
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'roles',
      type: 'select',
      hasMany: true,
      options: ['admin', 'editor', 'user'],
      defaultValue: ['user'],
      required: true,
      saveToJWT: true, // Include in JWT for fast access checks
      access: {
        update: ({ req: { user } }) => user?.roles?.includes('admin'),
      },
    },
  ],
}
```

## Fields

### Common Patterns

```typescript
// Auto-generate slugs
import { slugField } from 'payload'
slugField({ fieldToUse: 'title' })

// Relationship with filtering
{
  name: 'category',
  type: 'relationship',
  relationTo: 'categories',
  filterOptions: { active: { equals: true } },
}

// Conditional field
{
  name: 'featuredImage',
  type: 'upload',
  relationTo: 'media',
  admin: {
    condition: (data) => data.featured === true,
  },
}

// Virtual field
{
  name: 'fullName',
  type: 'text',
  virtual: true,
  hooks: {
    afterRead: [({ siblingData }) => `${siblingData.firstName} ${siblingData.lastName}`],
  },
}
```

## CRITICAL SECURITY PATTERNS

### 1. Local API Access Control (MOST IMPORTANT)

```typescript
// ❌ SECURITY BUG: Access control bypassed
await payload.find({
  collection: 'posts',
  user: someUser, // Ignored! Operation runs with ADMIN privileges
})

// ✅ SECURE: Enforces user permissions
await payload.find({
  collection: 'posts',
  user: someUser,
  overrideAccess: false, // REQUIRED
})

// ✅ Administrative operation (intentional bypass)
await payload.find({
  collection: 'posts',
  // No user, overrideAccess defaults to true
})
```

**Rule**: When passing `user` to Local API, ALWAYS set `overrideAccess: false`

### 2. Transaction Safety in Hooks

```typescript
// ❌ DATA CORRUPTION RISK: Separate transaction
hooks: {
  afterChange: [
    async ({ doc, req }) => {
      await req.payload.create({
        collection: 'audit-log',
        data: { docId: doc.id },
        // Missing req - runs in separate transaction!
      })
    },
  ],
}

// ✅ ATOMIC: Same transaction
hooks: {
  afterChange: [
    async ({ doc, req }) => {
      await req.payload.create({
        collection: 'audit-log',
        data: { docId: doc.id },
        req, // Maintains atomicity
      })
    },
  ],
}
```

**Rule**: ALWAYS pass `req` to nested operations in hooks

### 3. Prevent Infinite Hook Loops

```typescript
// ❌ INFINITE LOOP
hooks: {
  afterChange: [
    async ({ doc, req }) => {
      await req.payload.update({
        collection: 'posts',
        id: doc.id,
        data: { views: doc.views + 1 },
        req,
      }) // Triggers afterChange again!
    },
  ],
}

// ✅ SAFE: Use context flag
hooks: {
  afterChange: [
    async ({ doc, req, context }) => {
      if (context.skipHooks) return

      await req.payload.update({
        collection: 'posts',
        id: doc.id,
        data: { views: doc.views + 1 },
        context: { skipHooks: true },
        req,
      })
    },
  ],
}
```

## Access Control

### Collection-Level Access

```typescript
import type { Access } from 'payload'

// Boolean return
const authenticated: Access = ({ req: { user } }) => Boolean(user)

// Query constraint (row-level security)
const ownPostsOnly: Access = ({ req: { user } }) => {
  if (!user) return false
  if (user?.roles?.includes('admin')) return true

  return {
    author: { equals: user.id },
  }
}

// Async access check
const projectMemberAccess: Access = async ({ req, id }) => {
  const { user, payload } = req

  if (!user) return false
  if (user.roles?.includes('admin')) return true

  const project = await payload.findByID({
    collection: 'projects',
    id: id as string,
    depth: 0,
  })

  return project.members?.includes(user.id)
}
```

### Field-Level Access

```typescript
// Field access ONLY returns boolean (no query constraints)
{
  name: 'salary',
  type: 'number',
  access: {
    read: ({ req: { user }, doc }) => {
      // Self can read own salary
      if (user?.id === doc?.id) return true
      // Admin can read all
      return user?.roles?.includes('admin')
    },
    update: ({ req: { user } }) => {
      // Only admins can update
      return user?.roles?.includes('admin')
    },
  },
}
```

### Common Access Patterns

```typescript
// Anyone
export const anyone: Access = () => true

// Authenticated only
export const authenticated: Access = ({ req: { user } }) => Boolean(user)

// Admin only
export const adminOnly: Access = ({ req: { user } }) => {
  return user?.roles?.includes('admin')
}

// Admin or self
export const adminOrSelf: Access = ({ req: { user } }) => {
  if (user?.roles?.includes('admin')) return true
  return { id: { equals: user?.id } }
}

// Published or authenticated
export const authenticatedOrPublished: Access = ({ req: { user } }) => {
  if (user) return true
  return { _status: { equals: 'published' } }
}
```

## Hooks

### Common Hook Patterns

```typescript
import type { CollectionConfig } from 'payload'

export const Posts: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'posts',
  hooks: {
    // Before validation - format data
    beforeValidate: [
      async ({ data, operation }) => {
        if (operation === 'create') {
          data.slug = slugify(data.title)
        }
        return data
      },
    ],

    // Before save - business logic
    beforeChange: [
      async ({ data, req, operation, originalDoc }) => {
        if (operation === 'update' && data.status === 'published') {
          data.publishedAt = new Date()
        }
        return data
      },
    ],

    // After save - side effects
    afterChange: [
      async ({ doc, req, operation, previousDoc, context }) => {
        // Check context to prevent loops
        if (context.skipNotification) return

        if (operation === 'create') {
          await sendNotification(doc)
        }
        return doc
      },
    ],

    // After read - computed fields
    afterRead: [
      async ({ doc, req }) => {
        doc.viewCount = await getViewCount(doc.id)
        return doc
      },
    ],

    // Before delete - cascading deletes
    beforeDelete: [
      async ({ req, id }) => {
        await req.payload.delete({
          collection: 'comments',
          where: { post: { equals: id } },
          req, // Important for transaction
        })
      },
    ],
  },
}
```

## Queries

### Local API

```typescript
// Find with complex query
const posts = await payload.find({
  collection: 'posts',
  where: {
    and: [{ status: { equals: 'published' } }, { 'author.name': { contains: 'john' } }],
  },
  depth: 2, // Populate relationships
  limit: 10,
  sort: '-createdAt',
  select: {
    title: true,
    author: true,
  },
})

// Find by ID
const post = await payload.findByID({
  collection: 'posts',
  id: '123',
  depth: 2,
})

// Create
const newPost = await payload.create({
  collection: 'posts',
  data: {
    title: 'New Post',
    status: 'draft',
  },
})

// Update
await payload.update({
  collection: 'posts',
  id: '123',
  data: { status: 'published' },
})

// Delete
await payload.delete({
  collection: 'posts',
  id: '123',
})
```

### Query Operators

```typescript
// Equals
{ status: { equals: 'published' } }

// Not equals
{ status: { not_equals: 'draft' } }

// Greater than / less than
{ price: { greater_than: 100 } }
{ age: { less_than_equal: 65 } }

// Contains (case-insensitive)
{ title: { contains: 'payload' } }

// Like (all words present)
{ description: { like: 'cms headless' } }

// In array
{ category: { in: ['tech', 'news'] } }

// Exists
{ image: { exists: true } }

// Near (geospatial)
{ location: { near: [-122.4194, 37.7749, 10000] } }
```

### AND/OR Logic

```typescript
{
  or: [
    { status: { equals: 'published' } },
    { author: { equals: user.id } },
  ],
}

{
  and: [
    { status: { equals: 'published' } },
    { featured: { equals: true } },
  ],
}
```

## Getting Payload Instance

```typescript
// In API routes (Next.js)
import { getPayload } from 'payload'
import config from '@payload-config'

export async function GET() {
  const payload = await getPayload({ config })

  const posts = await payload.find({
    collection: 'posts',
  })

  return Response.json(posts)
}

// In Server Components
import { getPayload } from 'payload'
import config from '@payload-config'

export default async function Page() {
  const payload = await getPayload({ config })
  const { docs } = await payload.find({ collection: 'posts' })

  return <div>{docs.map(post => <h1 key={post.id}>{post.title}</h1>)}</div>
}
```

## Components

The Admin Panel can be extensively customized using React Components. Custom Components can be Server Components (default) or Client Components.

### Defining Components

Components are defined using **file paths** (not direct imports) in your config:

**Component Path Rules:**

- Paths are relative to project root or `config.admin.importMap.baseDir`
- Named exports: use `#ExportName` suffix or `exportName` property
- Default exports: no suffix needed
- File extensions can be omitted

```typescript
import { buildConfig } from 'payload'

export default buildConfig({
  admin: {
    components: {
      // Logo and branding
      graphics: {
        Logo: '/components/Logo',
        Icon: '/components/Icon',
      },

      // Navigation
      Nav: '/components/CustomNav',
      beforeNavLinks: ['/components/CustomNavItem'],
      afterNavLinks: ['/components/NavFooter'],

      // Header
      header: ['/components/AnnouncementBanner'],
      actions: ['/components/ClearCache', '/components/Preview'],

      // Dashboard
      beforeDashboard: ['/components/WelcomeMessage'],
      afterDashboard: ['/components/Analytics'],

      // Auth
      beforeLogin: ['/components/SSOButtons'],
      logout: { Button: '/components/LogoutButton' },

      // Settings
      settingsMenu: ['/components/SettingsMenu'],

      // Views
      views: {
        dashboard: { Component: '/components/CustomDashboard' },
      },
    },
  },
})
```

**Component Path Rules:**

- Paths are relative to project root or `config.admin.importMap.baseDir`
- Named exports: use `#ExportName` suffix or `exportName` property
- Default exports: no suffix needed
- File extensions can be omitted

### Component Types

1. **Root Components** - Global Admin Panel (logo, nav, header)
2. **Collection Components** - Collection-specific (edit view, list view)
3. **Global Components** - Global document views
4. **Field Components** - Custom field UI and cells

### Component Types

1. **Root Components** - Global Admin Panel (logo, nav, header)
2. **Collection Components** - Collection-specific (edit view, list view)
3. **Global Components** - Global document views
4. **Field Components** - Custom field UI and cells

### Server vs Client Components

**All components are Server Components by default** (can use Local API directly):

```tsx
// Server Component (default)
import type { Payload } from 'payload'

async function MyServerComponent({ payload }: { payload: Payload }) {
  const posts = await payload.find({ collection: 'posts' })
  return <div>{posts.totalDocs} posts</div>
}

export default MyServerComponent
```

**Client Components** need the `'use client'` directive:

```tsx
'use client'
import { useState } from 'react'
import { useAuth } from '@payloadcms/ui'

export function MyClientComponent() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0)
  const { user } = useAuth()

  return (
    <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
      {user?.email}: Clicked {count} times
    </button>
  )
}
```

### Using Hooks (Client Components Only)

```tsx
'use client'
import {
  useAuth, // Current user
  useConfig, // Payload config (client-safe)
  useDocumentInfo, // Document info (id, collection, etc.)
  useField, // Field value and setter
  useForm, // Form state
  useFormFields, // Multiple field values (optimized)
  useLocale, // Current locale
  useTranslation, // i18n translations
  usePayload, // Local API methods
} from '@payloadcms/ui'

export function MyComponent() {
  const { user } = useAuth()
  const { config } = useConfig()
  const { id, collection } = useDocumentInfo()
  const locale = useLocale()
  const { t } = useTranslation()

  return <div>Hello {user?.email}</div>
}
```

### Collection/Global Components

```typescript
export const Posts: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'posts',
  admin: {
    components: {
      // Edit view
      edit: {
        PreviewButton: '/components/PostPreview',
        SaveButton: '/components/CustomSave',
        SaveDraftButton: '/components/SaveDraft',
        PublishButton: '/components/Publish',
      },

      // List view
      list: {
        Header: '/components/ListHeader',
        beforeList: ['/components/BulkActions'],
        afterList: ['/components/ListFooter'],
      },
    },
  },
}
```

### Field Components

```typescript
{
  name: 'status',
  type: 'select',
  options: ['draft', 'published'],
  admin: {
    components: {
      // Edit view field
      Field: '/components/StatusField',
      // List view cell
      Cell: '/components/StatusCell',
      // Field label
      Label: '/components/StatusLabel',
      // Field description
      Description: '/components/StatusDescription',
      // Error message
      Error: '/components/StatusError',
    },
  },
}
```

**UI Field** (presentational only, no data):

```typescript
{
  name: 'refundButton',
  type: 'ui',
  admin: {
    components: {
      Field: '/components/RefundButton',
    },
  },
}
```

### Performance Best Practices

1. **Import correctly:**
   - Admin Panel: `import { Button } from '@payloadcms/ui'`
   - Frontend: `import { Button } from '@payloadcms/ui/elements/Button'`

2. **Optimize re-renders:**

   ```tsx
   // ❌ BAD: Re-renders on every form change
   const { fields } = useForm()

   // ✅ GOOD: Only re-renders when specific field changes
   const value = useFormFields(([fields]) => fields[path])
   ```

3. **Prefer Server Components** - Only use Client Components when you need:
   - State (useState, useReducer)
   - Effects (useEffect)
   - Event handlers (onClick, onChange)
   - Browser APIs (localStorage, window)

4. **Minimize serialized props** - Server Components serialize props sent to client

### Styling Components

```tsx
import './styles.scss'

export function MyComponent() {
  return <div className="my-component">Content</div>
}
```

```scss
// Use Payload's CSS variables
.my-component {
  background-color: var(--theme-elevation-500);
  color: var(--theme-text);
  padding: var(--base);
  border-radius: var(--border-radius-m);
}

// Import Payload's SCSS library
@import '~@payloadcms/ui/scss';

.my-component {
  @include mid-break {
    background-color: var(--theme-elevation-900);
  }
}
```

### Type Safety

```tsx
import type {
  TextFieldServerComponent,
  TextFieldClientComponent,
  TextFieldCellComponent,
  SelectFieldServerComponent,
  // ... etc
} from 'payload'

export const MyField: TextFieldClientComponent = (props) => {
  // Fully typed props
}
```

### Import Map

Payload auto-generates `app/(payload)/admin/importMap.js` to resolve component paths.

**Regenerate manually:**

```bash
payload generate:importmap
```

**Set custom location:**

```typescript
export default buildConfig({
  admin: {
    importMap: {
      baseDir: path.resolve(dirname, 'src'),
      importMapFile: path.resolve(dirname, 'app', 'custom-import-map.js'),
    },
  },
})
```

## Custom Endpoints

```typescript
import type { Endpoint } from 'payload'
import { APIError } from 'payload'

// Always check authentication
export const protectedEndpoint: Endpoint = {
  path: '/protected',
  method: 'get',
  handler: async (req) => {
    if (!req.user) {
      throw new APIError('Unauthorized', 401)
    }

    // Use req.payload for database operations
    const data = await req.payload.find({
      collection: 'posts',
      where: { author: { equals: req.user.id } },
    })

    return Response.json(data)
  },
}

// Route parameters
export const trackingEndpoint: Endpoint = {
  path: '/:id/tracking',
  method: 'get',
  handler: async (req) => {
    const { id } = req.routeParams

    const tracking = await getTrackingInfo(id)

    if (!tracking) {
      return Response.json({ error: 'not found' }, { status: 404 })
    }

    return Response.json(tracking)
  },
}
```

## Drafts & Versions

```typescript
export const Pages: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'pages',
  versions: {
    drafts: {
      autosave: true,
      schedulePublish: true,
      validate: false, // Don't validate drafts
    },
    maxPerDoc: 100,
  },
  access: {
    read: ({ req: { user } }) => {
      // Public sees only published
      if (!user) return { _status: { equals: 'published' } }
      // Authenticated sees all
      return true
    },
  },
}

// Create draft
await payload.create({
  collection: 'pages',
  data: { title: 'Draft Page' },
  draft: true, // Skips required field validation
})

// Read with drafts
const page = await payload.findByID({
  collection: 'pages',
  id: '123',
  draft: true, // Returns draft if available
})
```

## Field Type Guards

```typescript
import {
  fieldAffectsData,
  fieldHasSubFields,
  fieldIsArrayType,
  fieldIsBlockType,
  fieldSupportsMany,
  fieldHasMaxDepth,
} from 'payload'

function processField(field: Field) {
  // Check if field stores data
  if (fieldAffectsData(field)) {
    console.log(field.name) // Safe to access
  }

  // Check if field has nested fields
  if (fieldHasSubFields(field)) {
    field.fields.forEach(processField) // Safe to access
  }

  // Check field type
  if (fieldIsArrayType(field)) {
    console.log(field.minRows, field.maxRows)
  }

  // Check capabilities
  if (fieldSupportsMany(field) && field.hasMany) {
    console.log('Multiple values supported')
  }
}
```

## Plugins

### Using Plugins

```typescript
import { seoPlugin } from '@payloadcms/plugin-seo'
import { redirectsPlugin } from '@payloadcms/plugin-redirects'

export default buildConfig({
  plugins: [
    seoPlugin({
      collections: ['posts', 'pages'],
    }),
    redirectsPlugin({
      collections: ['pages'],
    }),
  ],
})
```

### Creating Plugins

```typescript
import type { Config, Plugin } from 'payload'

interface MyPluginConfig {
  collections?: string[]
  enabled?: boolean
}

export const myPlugin =
  (options: MyPluginConfig): Plugin =>
  (config: Config): Config => ({
    ...config,
    collections: config.collections?.map((collection) => {
      if (options.collections?.includes(collection.slug)) {
        return {
          ...collection,
          fields: [...collection.fields, { name: 'pluginField', type: 'text' }],
        }
      }
      return collection
    }),
  })
```

## Best Practices

### Security

1. Always set `overrideAccess: false` when passing `user` to Local API
2. Field-level access only returns boolean (no query constraints)
3. Default to restrictive access, gradually add permissions
4. Never trust client-provided data
5. Use `saveToJWT: true` for roles to avoid database lookups

### Performance

1. Index frequently queried fields
2. Use `select` to limit returned fields
3. Set `maxDepth` on relationships to prevent over-fetching
4. Use query constraints over async operations in access control
5. Cache expensive operations in `req.context`

### Data Integrity

1. Always pass `req` to nested operations in hooks
2. Use context flags to prevent infinite hook loops
3. Enable transactions for MongoDB (requires replica set) and Postgres
4. Use `beforeValidate` for data formatting
5. Use `beforeChange` for business logic

### Type Safety

1. Run `generate:types` after schema changes
2. Import types from generated `payload-types.ts`
3. Type your user object: `import type { User } from '@/payload-types'`
4. Use `as const` for field options
5. Use field type guards for runtime type checking

### Organization

1. Keep collections in separate files
2. Extract access control to `access/` directory
3. Extract hooks to `hooks/` directory
4. Use reusable field factories for common patterns
5. Document complex access control with comments

## Common Gotchas

1. **Local API Default**: Access control bypassed unless `overrideAccess: false`
2. **Transaction Safety**: Missing `req` in nested operations breaks atomicity
3. **Hook Loops**: Operations in hooks can trigger the same hooks
4. **Field Access**: Cannot use query constraints, only boolean
5. **Relationship Depth**: Default depth is 2, set to 0 for IDs only
6. **Draft Status**: `_status` field auto-injected when drafts enabled
7. **Type Generation**: Types not updated until `generate:types` runs
8. **MongoDB Transactions**: Require replica set configuration
9. **SQLite Transactions**: Disabled by default, enable with `transactionOptions: {}`
10. **Point Fields**: Not supported in SQLite

## Additional Context Files

For deeper exploration of specific topics, refer to the context files located in `.cursor/rules/`:

### Available Context Files

1. **`payload-overview.md`** - High-level architecture and core concepts
   - Payload structure and initialization
   - Configuration fundamentals
   - Database adapters overview

2. **`security-critical.md`** - Critical security patterns (⚠️ IMPORTANT)
   - Local API access control
   - Transaction safety in hooks
   - Preventing infinite hook loops

3. **`collections.md`** - Collection configurations
   - Basic collection patterns
   - Auth collections with RBAC
   - Upload collections
   - Drafts and versioning
   - Globals

4. **`fields.md`** - Field types and patterns
   - All field types with examples
   - Conditional fields
   - Virtual fields
   - Field validation
   - Common field patterns

5. **`field-type-guards.md`** - TypeScript field type utilities
   - Field type checking utilities
   - Safe type narrowing
   - Runtime field validation

6. **`access-control.md`** - Permission patterns
   - Collection-level access
   - Field-level access
   - Row-level security
   - RBAC patterns
   - Multi-tenant access control

7. **`access-control-advanced.md`** - Complex access patterns
   - Nested document access
   - Cross-collection permissions
   - Dynamic role hierarchies
   - Performance optimization

8. **`hooks.md`** - Lifecycle hooks
   - Collection hooks
   - Field hooks
   - Hook context patterns
   - Common hook recipes

9. **`queries.md`** - Database operations
   - Local API usage
   - Query operators
   - Complex queries with AND/OR
   - Performance optimization

10. **`endpoints.md`** - Custom API endpoints
    - REST endpoint patterns
    - Authentication in endpoints
    - Error handling
    - Route parameters

11. **`adapters.md`** - Database and storage adapters
    - MongoDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite patterns
    - Storage adapter usage (S3, Azure, GCS, etc.)
    - Custom adapter development

12. **`plugin-development.md`** - Creating plugins
    - Plugin architecture
    - Modifying configuration
    - Plugin hooks
    - Best practices

13. **`components.md`** - Custom Components
    - Component types (Root, Collection, Global, Field)
    - Server vs Client Components
    - Component paths and definition
    - Default and custom props
    - Using hooks
    - Performance best practices
    - Styling components

## Resources

- Docs: https://payloadcms.com/docs
- LLM Context: https://payloadcms.com/llms-full.txt
- GitHub: https://github.com/payloadcms/payload
- Examples: https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/tree/main/examples
- Templates: https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/tree/main/templates