---
id: "scaffold-concept"
type: "guide"
title: "Scaffold a concept page"
summary: "Create a validated concept with problem, why, and mental model."
why: "Concepts without why become unusable glossary stubs."
audiences: ["developers", "builders"]
related: ["explicit-authoring"]
invariants: ["Docify does not invent the concept from source code"]
confirmationRequired: false
packageVersion: "1.4.2"
updatedAt: "2026-07-30T16:00:45.570Z"
---
# Scaffold a concept page

Create a validated concept with problem, why, and mental model.

## Why this path

Concepts without why become unusable glossary stubs.

## Use this when

- Documenting a product idea that needs explanation first

## Do not use this when

- Writing a step-by-step production procedure (use a guide)

## Invariants

- Docify does not invent the concept from source code

## Steps

1. **Run docify scaffold concept <id>** — Markdown file under concepts/
2. **Fill summary, problem, why, mental model** — Human-understanding fields present
3. **Run docify validate** — Validation passes

## Verification

- Concept appears in INDEX.md after build