# Concept Guide Template

Concept guides establish a shared mental model before feature or API docs. Define the idea, show how it behaves over time, and point to practical follow-ups.

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## ❌ DO NOT COPY: Guidance & Constraints

- Frontmatter must include `title`, `description`, `icon`. Lead with a definition + analogy in two sentences max.
- Add an `<Info>` block (“Why it matters”) with 2–3 bullets summarizing user impact. Use `<Warning>` near limitations or beta callouts.
- Introduce vocabulary via `## Key terms` (table or bullets) before diving deeper.
- When migrating legacy pages, preserve canonical distinctions (e.g., short-term vs long-term) and fold them into the template rather than replacing them with new frameworks.
- Organize the body with question-style headings (`How does it work?`, `When should you use it?`, `How it compares`). Optional diagrams should be left-to-right (`graph LR`).
- Include at least one light code/JSON snippet or data table so the concept ties back to implementation.
- Close with a “Put it into practice” checklist, “See it live” links, and the standard two-card CTA (left = feature/reference, right = applied cookbook).

---

## ✅ COPY THIS: Content Skeleton

````
---
title: [Concept name]
description: [One-sentence promise of understanding]
icon: "lightbulb"
---

# [Concept headline]

[Define the concept in one sentence.] [Add an analogy or context hook.]

<Info>
  **Why it matters**
  - [Impact bullet]
  - [Impact bullet]
  - [Impact bullet]
</Info>

## Key terms

- **[Term]**: [Short definition]
- **[Term]**: [Short definition]

{/* Optional: delete if not needed */}
```mermaid
graph LR
A[Input] */} B[Concept]
B */} C[Outcome]
```

## How does it work?

[Explain lifecycle or architecture.]

```python
# Minimal snippet that anchors the concept in code
```

<Tip>
  [Nuance or best practice related to this concept.]
</Tip>

## When should you use it?

- [Scenario 1]
- [Scenario 2]
- [Scenario 3]

## How it compares

| Option | Best for | Trade-offs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Concept] | [Use case] | [Caveat] |
| [Alternative] | [Use case] | [Caveat] |

<Warning>
  [Optional limitation or beta note.] Delete if not needed.
</Warning>

## Put it into practice

- [Operation or feature doc that relies on this concept]
- [Another supporting doc]

## See it live

- [Cookbook or integration demonstrating the concept]
- [Recording, demo, or sample repo]

{/* DEBUG: verify CTA targets */}

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="[Feature or reference]"
    description="[Why this deep dive matters]"
    icon="book"
    href="/[feature-link]"
  />
  <Card
    title="[Applied cookbook]"
    description="[What they’ll build next]"
    icon="rocket"
    href="/[cookbook-link]"
  />
</CardGroup>
````

---

## ✅ Publish Checklist

- [ ]  Definition + analogy stay within two sentences.
- [ ]  “Why it matters” bullets focus on user impact, not implementation detail.
- [ ]  Key terms, lifecycle explanation, and comparison table are present (or intentionally removed when irrelevant).
- [ ]  At least one code/JSON/table example grounds the concept.
- [ ]  CTA pair links to a feature/reference (left) and applied tutorial (right).

---