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

# Unified Input

> The intelligent home screen experience that adapts to your intent

## What is Unified Input?

Unified Input is Peanuts' immersive home screen experience. Instead of separate buttons for logging, asking questions, and creating Helpers, everything happens through a single intelligent input bar that understands your intent.

<Info>
  The Unified Input replaces the old "Log Anything button" and "Ask Peanuts navigation item" with a fluid, context-aware interface.
</Info>

## The Immersive Hero

When you open Peanuts, you see the **Immersive Hero** — a full-viewport home screen with:

* **Greeting** — Personalized message based on time of day
* **Helper chips** — Quick access to your frequently used Helpers
* **Unified Input Bar** — The single entry point for everything
* **Create button** — Sparkles icon (✨) to create new Helpers

The interface adapts as you type, providing real-time feedback about where your entry will go.

## How It Works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start typing">
    Tap the input bar and begin typing. The interface responds immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="See the Context Cloud">
    As you type, a "Context Cloud" appears above the input, showing which Helper matches your entry and which fields will be filled.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm or adjust">
    If the match is correct, press Enter. If not, tap a different Helper chip or use clarification pills.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Entry logged">
    Your entry goes to the matched Helper with fields auto-filled.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Context Cloud

The Context Cloud is a glassmorphic feedback bubble that appears as you type, showing:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Matched Helper" icon="folder">
    The Helper Peanuts thinks you're logging to
  </Card>

  <Card title="Field Chips" icon="tag">
    Up to 7 fields that will be populated from your input
  </Card>

  <Card title="Confidence" icon="check">
    Visual indication of match certainty
  </Card>

  <Card title="Topic Highlighting" icon="highlighter">
    Specific fields highlighted when topic patterns match
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

The Context Cloud uses a "blur-to-focus" reveal animation and floats above the keyboard for visibility during logging.

## Clarification Pills

When your input could match multiple Helpers, Peanuts shows **Clarification Pills** — tappable options to disambiguate:

```
"spent $45" → Could be: [Expenses] [Business Costs] [Shopping]
```

Tap the correct pill to route your entry. Your choice is remembered for similar future entries.

## Scoped Input

Tap any **Helper chip** in the header to scope the input to that specific Helper:

* Input bar shows the Helper name
* Context Cloud focuses on that Helper's fields
* Entries go directly to that Helper
* More likely to qualify for [Instant Logs](/features/instant-logs) (0 credits)

<Tip>
  Scoped input increases your chances of free Instant Logs because Peanuts doesn't need to guess the destination.
</Tip>

## Inline Chat Mode

The Unified Input smoothly transitions to chat mode for conversations:

1. **Ask a question** — Type something like "how much did I spend this week?"
2. **Input expands** — The input grows into a multi-line textarea
3. **Chat appears** — AI responses render directly below the input
4. **Stay in context** — No page navigation required

This eliminates the old pattern of switching to a separate "Ask Peanuts" screen.

## Inline Helper Creation

Create new Helpers without leaving the home screen:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Tap the sparkles button (✨)">
    Or type a creation phrase: "I want to track my medications"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe what you need">
    "Help me track daily workouts with duration and how I felt"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the preview">
    Peanuts shows the proposed Helper with fields and widgets
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create">
    Tap Create and start logging immediately
  </Step>
</Steps>

The new Helper appears in your chips without refreshing the page.

## 4-Tier Matching System

The Unified Input uses a sophisticated matching pipeline:

| Tier | Name         | Credits | How It Works                                          |
| ---- | ------------ | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| 1    | **Affinity** | 0       | Matches based on learned patterns from your history   |
| 2    | **Local**    | 0       | Pattern matching against Helper field definitions     |
| 3    | **AI**       | 1       | OpenAI analysis for complex/ambiguous inputs          |
| 4    | **Fallback** | 0       | Goes to [Shoebox](/core-concepts/shoebox) if no match |

<Info>
  Tiers 1 and 2 (Affinity and Local) process instantly with **zero credits**. Only ambiguous inputs require AI credits.
</Info>

## Affinity Learning

Peanuts learns your patterns over time:

* **Vocabulary** — Associates words with specific Helpers
* **Time patterns** — "coffee" in the morning → Expenses
* **Frequency** — Commonly logged items match faster
* **Corrections** — Your disambiguation choices improve future matching

This learning happens automatically and makes the system smarter with use.

## Visual Design

The Unified Input follows a distinct aesthetic:

* **Immersive viewport** — Full-height design with breathing room
* **Glassmorphic elements** — Frosted, semi-transparent surfaces
* **Smooth transitions** — Input morphs fluidly between modes
* **Reduced UI noise** — Only 4 core actions visible (Helpers, Settings, Reminders, Create)
* **Dynamic dimming** — Background elements fade to 5% opacity during active input

## Input Modes

| Mode         | Trigger                        | Behavior                                    |
| ------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Logging**  | Start typing an entry          | Context Cloud appears, field matching shown |
| **Chatting** | Type a question or select chat | Multi-line textarea, AI responses inline    |
| **Creating** | Tap ✨ or describe new Helper   | Creation flow with preview                  |
| **Scoped**   | Tap a Helper chip              | Input locked to that Helper                 |

## Help Detection

Type help-related phrases and Peanuts shows an interactive **HelpMenuCard**:

```
"how do I..."     → Shows tutorials and quick actions
"help"            → Interactive help menu
"what can I do?"  → Feature discovery
```

This teaches through conversation rather than requiring separate documentation visits.

## Keyboard Behavior

The input bar stays visible above the mobile keyboard:

* **Position** — Docked at bottom with keyboard offset calculation
* **Context Cloud** — Floats above the input, always visible
* **Tips rotation** — When input is empty, practical examples rotate
* **Safe areas** — Proper padding for notched devices

## Tips When Input is Empty

When you haven't typed anything, `FocusedModeTips` shows rotating examples:

* "Try: coffee \$4.50"
* "Try: ran 5km this morning"
* "Try: how much did I spend this week?"

These help new users understand what they can type.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Log Anything" icon="plus" href="/features/log-anything">
    Detailed logging capabilities
  </Card>

  <Card title="Instant Logs" icon="bolt" href="/features/instant-logs">
    Zero-credit logging patterns
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shoebox" icon="inbox" href="/core-concepts/shoebox">
    Fallback capture destination
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ask Peanuts" icon="brain" href="/core-concepts/ask-peanuts">
    Conversational data queries
  </Card>
</CardGroup>