# A naturalist's guide to the modern team inbox

> Observe the Mention, the Task and the Unread Mailbox in their natural habitat.

Source: https://llll.gg/blog/inbox-zoo

At first light, the Mention emerges from a Channel. It is small, brightly colored and usually accompanied by the phrase “quick question.”

Nearby, a Task waits patiently for its assigned Member. It has been waiting since Monday. The Task does not understand why everyone keeps calling it “the thing.”

In the distance, an unread Mailbox makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a notification badge.

## A field guide

Different things need different responses. A mention might need an answer. A Task might need a decision or an hour of work. An Agent Run may still be working, or it may have something ready to inspect. A Mailbox needs a human to read the actual email.

L4's Server Inbox collects items relevant to the signed-in Member: approvals, mentions, Agent work, assigned Tasks, accessible unread Mailboxes and unread chats. It is a place to see what needs attention, not a claim that all these creatures are the same animal.

The badge counts approvals and mentions rather than every standing item. Unread mail appears per Mailbox; individual Email Conversations stay in Mail. The Member still needs the appropriate permissions to see the relevant resources.

## Please do not feed every animal at once

An Inbox can't make a 40-item to-do list disappear. It can help you choose the next step without searching six corners of the workspace. Read the mention. Open the Task. Check the result. Then close the tab for a moment and let the wildlife settle.

If a teammate writes “just bumping this,” stay calm. It is a common call, especially in the afternoon.