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

# Create & Manage Labels

> Step-by-step guide to creating, editing, duplicating, and archiving annotation labels.

## What it is

Labels are reusable annotation templates that define what you measure. Each label has a type (categorical, numeric, text, star, or thumbs up/down) and type-specific settings. Labels are shared across your entire organization -- any queue can use any label.

## How to create a label

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Labels tab">
    Go to **Annotations** in the left sidebar, then open the **Labels** tab.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/futureagi/nbq1ldfYBHrx9MIZ/images/docs/annotations/labels-list.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=nbq1ldfYBHrx9MIZ&q=85&s=eb38b32eed41cfbf155df7ce421b610a" alt="Labels list" width="1060" height="340" data-path="images/docs/annotations/labels-list.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create Label">
    Click the **Create Label** button in the top-right corner of the page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter name and description">
    Fill in the **Name** field (required) and an optional **Description** to help annotators understand the label's purpose.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a type">
    Choose the label **Type**. This cannot be changed after creation, so choose carefully.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure type-specific settings">
    Each type has its own configuration options:

    * **Categorical** -- Add at least two options. Toggle **Allow multiple selection** if annotators should be able to pick more than one option.
    * **Numeric** -- Set **Min**, **Max**, and **Step size** values. Choose the display format: **Slider** or **Buttons**.
    * **Text** -- Set **Placeholder text**, **Min character length**, and **Max character length**.
    * **Star** -- Set the **Number of stars** (1--10, default 5).
    * **Thumbs Up/Down** -- No additional settings needed.

          <img src="https://mintcdn.com/futureagi/nbq1ldfYBHrx9MIZ/images/docs/annotations/create-label-categorical.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=nbq1ldfYBHrx9MIZ&q=85&s=41206c27d67cf5ac92398399ac00ceb1" alt="Create label form" width="830" height="770" data-path="images/docs/annotations/create-label-categorical.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable optional notes">
    Toggle **Allow Notes** if you want annotators to add free-text commentary alongside their label value.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the label">
    Click **Save**. The label is now available for use in any queue.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Managing labels

* **Edit** -- Click a label row or use the `⋮` menu and select **Edit**. You can change the name, description, and type-specific settings, but the type itself is immutable.
* **Duplicate** -- Use the `⋮` menu and select **Duplicate**. This creates a copy with the original name prefixed by "Copy of" that you can customize.
* **Archive** -- Use the `⋮` menu and select **Archive**. This soft-deletes the label. Archived labels can be restored.
* **Search** -- Use the search bar at the top to filter labels by name.
* **Filter by type** -- Use the type dropdown to show only labels of a specific type.

## Label type settings reference

| Type           | Settings                                  | Default               |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------- |
| Categorical    | `options` (list), `multi_choice` (bool)   | `multi_choice`: false |
| Numeric        | `min`, `max`, `step_size`                 | 0, 10, 1              |
| Text           | `placeholder`, `min_length`, `max_length` | empty string, 0, 5000 |
| Star           | `no_of_stars`                             | 5                     |
| Thumbs Up/Down | none                                      | none                  |

<Note>
  Labels are shared across your entire organization. Any queue can use any label, and changes to a label's settings apply everywhere the label is used.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Start with a few simple labels -- for example, a 5-star quality rating and a categorical sentiment label -- before creating complex ones. You can always duplicate and customize later.
</Tip>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Create & Manage Queues" icon="list-check" href="/product/annotations/features/queues">
    Set up annotation queues that use your labels.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Annotate Items" icon="pen" href="/product/annotations/features/annotate">
    Learn how to use labels in the annotation workspace.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Labels Concept" icon="tags" href="/product/annotations/concepts/labels">
    Understand the five label types and when to use each one.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>