You are a constitutional council ranking individual git commits for ownership allocation.

Compare these two commits. Decide which contributed more lasting value to the project.

Judge substance, not spectacle:
- Prefer correct, lasting design and real bugfixes over churn, formatting, renames, or generated noise.
- Prefer clarity and necessity over sheer line count. A small precise change can beat a large diffuse one.
- Do not favor a side merely because its patch is longer or noisier.
- Weight what the change does for the project, not the contributor's name.

Return ONLY a JSON object: {"winner": "A" or "B", "ratio": "N:M", "explanation": "..."}
The explanation must cite concrete differences in the patches (1-3 sentences).

Side A — contributor: tommy-mor
Side A — commit message:
[993d359c] Fix Reddit children import wiring and unranked child labels.

Listing imports attach posts directly under the subreddit without ensure_path
pulling comment-path segments in, and the ranking panel shows imported titles.
Update integration tests for JS SSE morphs and children fetch.

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>

Side A — unified diff (full patch):
diff --git a/server/src/api/ui_html.rs b/server/src/api/ui_html.rs
index d1defd28242fd2ca3b886adc91a7070bef75e653..e649a7d192feade465e19ce6187a829f6ec74372 100644
--- a/server/src/api/ui_html.rs
+++ b/server/src/api/ui_html.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub async fn post_ui_html(
             let tree = state.tree.read().await;
             let empty = crate::reducer::NodeState::default();
             let node = tree.get(&parent).unwrap_or(&empty);
-            let panel = ranking_panel(&parent, node);
+            let panel = ranking_panel(&parent, node, &tree);
             JsBuilder::new()
                 .morph_selector("#ranking-panel", panel)
                 .into_response()
diff --git a/server/src/fetch/mod.rs b/server/src/fetch/mod.rs
index 0177bb161cea1b72a100b52efdfc5e710271c9eb..35f968c21c69ca557bab7951413e3cfbbccfebfd 100644
--- a/server/src/fetch/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/fetch/mod.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ pub fn fetch_entity_stream(
                 let mut b = JsBuilder::new()
                     .morph_selector("#entity-section", html::entity_section(&id, node, false));
                 if kind == FetchKind::Children {
-                    b = b.morph_selector("#ranking-panel", ranking_panel(&id, node));
+                    b = b.morph_selector("#ranking-panel", ranking_panel(&id, node, &tree));
                 }
                 yield Ok(js_event(b.build()));
             }
diff --git a/server/src/html/mod.rs b/server/src/html/mod.rs
index 27ce9118c73ec5643e04363ab1a36cf5da6101bf..e88cc43ddc9d8100f7994be6f5960ec4d8f22c55 100644
--- a/server/src/html/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/html/mod.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use crate::{
     ranking::{
         connected_components_from_voted_pairs, ranked_items_subset, RankedItem, MAX_ITERS, TOL,
     },
-    reducer::NodeState,
+    reducer::{GlobalTree, NodeState},
     state::AppState,
     ui_action::UI_RPC_FIELD,
 };
@@ -182,8 +182,15 @@ fn display_label(id: &ItemId) -> String {
         .to_string()
 }
 
+fn child_label(tree: &GlobalTree, id: &ItemId) -> String {
+    tree.get(id)
+        .and_then(|n| n.data.as_ref())
+        .map(|d| d.title.clone())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| display_label(id))
+}
+
 /// Plain (unscored) list of children that have no votes yet.
-fn unranked_list(label: &str, items: &[ItemId]) -> Markup {
+fn unranked_list(label: &str, items: &[ItemId], tree: &GlobalTree) -> Markup {
     html! {
         @if !items.is_empty() {
             h3 class="rank-heading muted small" { (label) }
@@ -191,7 +198,7 @@ fn unranked_list(label: &str, items: &[ItemId]) -> Markup {
                 @for it in items {
                     li {
                         a href=(item_href(it)) {
-                            strong { (display_label(it)) }
+                            strong { (child_label(tree, it)) }
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -200,7 +207,7 @@ fn unranked_list(label: &str, items: &[ItemId]) -> Markup {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn ranking_panel(item: &ItemId, node: &NodeState) -> Markup {
+pub fn ranking_panel(item: &ItemId, node: &NodeState, tree: &GlobalTree) -> Markup {
     let group = &node.local_ranking;
     let n = group.idx_to_item.len();
     let (comps, _isolates) =
@@ -248,7 +255,7 @@ pub fn ranking_panel(item: &ItemId, node: &NodeState) -> Markup {
                     @let label = if multi { format!("Ranking group {}", gi + 1) } else { "Ranking".to_string() };
                     (rank_list(&label, ranked, 1))
                 }
-                (unranked_list("Unranked", &unranked))
+                (unranked_list("Unranked", &unranked, tree))
             }
         }
     }
@@ -297,7 +304,7 @@ async fn item_page(state: AppState, uri: Uri, item: ItemId) -> Markup {
         (input_panel("", None))
         (breadcrumb_path(&item))
         (entity_section(&item, node, false))
-        (ranking_panel(&item, node))
+        (ranking_panel(&item, node, &tree))
     };
     layout("sorter2", body, views)
 }
diff --git a/server/src/reddit.rs b/server/src/reddit.rs
index a0eb688709478ee0185b953b41a5d26cc354764d..69d979bc7e4a1cb078f70114dc539bdc1986b574 100644
--- a/server/src/reddit.rs
+++ b/server/src/reddit.rs
@@ -300,9 +300,16 @@ async fn reddit_worker(
                     }
                     {
                         let mut tree = tree.write().await;
-                        apply_entity_import(&mut tree, &child_id, child_payload);
                         if kind == FetchKind::Children {
-                            tree.link_child(&fetch_id, &child_id);
+                            let view = entity_view_from_payload(&child_id, &child_payload);
+                            tree.apply_entity_under_parent(
+                                &fetch_id,
+                                &child_id,
+                                child_payload,
+                                view,
+                            );
+                        } else {
+                            apply_entity_import(&mut tree, &child_id, child_payload);
                         }
                     }
                     written += 1;
diff --git a/server/src/reducer.rs b/server/src/reducer.rs
index a36cd5c9287d61536f9f4a3f6b0df2342388857a..4e42d0369dab50bb2f8ca664aa69b628292f6c07 100644
--- a/server/src/reducer.rs
+++ b/server/src/reducer.rs
@@ -209,14 +209,24 @@ impl GlobalTree {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Directly attach `child` under `parent`, bypassing path-based nesting.
-    /// Used for imported listings (e.g. a subreddit's posts) so they show up
-    /// as children of the subreddit rather than a deep `…/comments/<id>` path.
-    pub fn link_child(&mut self, parent: &ItemId, child: &ItemId) {
+    /// Import entity data for `id` and attach it as a direct child of `parent`
+    /// without running [`Self::ensure_path`] on `id` (avoids Reddit `/comments/`
+    /// parent rules pulling intermediate path segments into the subreddit).
+    pub fn apply_entity_under_parent(
+        &mut self,
+        parent: &ItemId,
+        id: &ItemId,
+        payload: Value,
+        view: Option<EntityData>,
+    ) {
         self.ensure_path(parent);
-        self.ensure_path(child);
+        self.ensure_node(id);
+        if let Some(node) = self.nodes.get_mut(id) {
+            node.entity_raw = Some(payload);
+            node.data = view;
+        }
         if let Some(p) = self.nodes.get_mut(parent) {
-            p.children.insert(child.clone());
+            p.children.insert(id.clone());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/reddit_import.clj b/test/reddit_import.clj
index 84cbdcf7965e50290313cbce2243a16b583d2097..45a2a19f20799d77e84d8aa64735ab5e7e45f97c 100644
--- a/test/reddit_import.clj
+++ b/test/reddit_import.clj
@@ -67,6 +67,36 @@
           (do (Thread/sleep 200) (recur))
           false)))))
 
+(defn- run-reddit-fetch-assertions [app-base data-dir]
+  (let [browse-url (str app-base "/~/https://reddit.com/r/rust")
+        log-path (str data-dir "/events.jsonl")
+        before (:out (process/shell {:out :string :err :string}
+                                    "curl" "-sf" browse-url))]
+    (is (str/includes? before "Fetch from Reddit"))
+    (is (not (str/includes? before "The Rust Programming Language")))
+    (let [sse (curl-fetch-ui-sse app-base "reddit.com/r/rust" "self")]
+      (is (zero? (:exit sse)) "POST /ui fetch_entity (self) SSE succeeds")
+      (is (str/includes? (:out sse) "Idiomorph.morph"))
+      (is (str/includes? (:out sse) "The Rust Programming Language"))
+      (is (wait-event-log log-path 2000) "event log written"))
+    (let [after (:out (process/shell {:out :string :err :string}
+                                     "curl" "-sf" browse-url))
+          log (slurp (io/file log-path))]
+      (is (str/includes? after "The Rust Programming Language"))
+      (is (str/includes? log "\"type\":\"entity_imported\""))
+      (is (str/includes? log "\"subscribers\":350000"))
+      (is (str/includes? log "\"display_name\":\"rust\"")))
+    (let [children-sse (curl-fetch-ui-sse app-base "reddit.com/r/rust" "children")]
+      (is (zero? (:exit children-sse)) "POST /ui fetch_entity (children) SSE succeeds")
+      (is (str/includes? (:out children-sse) "Idiomorph.morph"))
+      (is (str/includes? (:out children-sse) "Announcing Rust 1.99")))
+    (let [after-children (:out (process/shell {:out :string :err :string}
+                                              "curl" "-sf" browse-url))
+          log2 (slurp (io/file log-path))]
+      (is (str/includes? after-children "Announcing Rust 1.99"))
+      (is (str/includes? after-children "Unranked"))
+      (is (str/includes? log2 "announcing_rust_199")))))
+
 (deftest reddit-fetch-via-mock-api
   (testing "Fetch more queues import; event log stores full payload; page shows title"
     (let [root (repo-root)
@@ -102,24 +132,7 @@
                                     bin)]
           (try
             (is (wait-health app-base 20000) "app healthz")
-            (let [browse-url (str app-base "/~/https://reddit.com/r/rust")
-                  before (:out (process/shell {:out :string :err :string}
-                                              "curl" "-sf" browse-url))]
-              (is (str/includes? before "Fetch from Reddit"))
-              (is (not (str/includes? before "The Rust Programming Language")))
-              (let [log-path (str data-dir "/events.jsonl")
-                    sse (curl-fetch-ui-sse app-base "reddit.com/r/rust")]
-                (is (zero? (:exit sse)) "POST /ui fetch_entity SSE succeeds")
-                (is (str/includes? (:out sse) "event: complete"))
-                (is (str/includes? (:out sse) "The Rust Programming Language"))
-                (is (wait-event-log log-path 2000) "event log written")
-                (let [after (:out (process/shell {:out :string :err :string}
-                                                 "curl" "-sf" browse-url))
-                      log (slurp (io/file log-path))]
-                  (is (str/includes? after "The Rust Programming Language"))
-                  (is (str/includes? log "\"type\":\"entity_imported\""))
-                  (is (str/includes? log "\"subscribers\":350000"))
-                  (is (str/includes? log "\"display_name\":\"rust\"")))))
+            (run-reddit-fetch-assertions app-base data-dir)
             (finally
               (process/destroy proc))))
         (finally
diff --git a/test/smoke.clj b/test/smoke.clj
index 11887c48282088e140d823a88ba616f6325835b3..ce9f958c84b9a89ae55e215ab519f1df6435e24b 100644
--- a/test/smoke.clj
+++ b/test/smoke.clj
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
           (is (wait-health base 15000) "server responds to /healthz")
           (let [home (:out (process/shell {:out :string :err :string}
                                          "curl" "-sf" (str base "/")))]
-            (is (str/includes? home "vote-panel"))
+            (is (str/includes? home "entity-section"))
             (is (str/includes? home "ranking-panel"))
             (is (str/includes? home "parser-panel"))
             (is (str/includes? home "__rpc__")))


Side B — contributor: tommy-mor
Side B — commit message:
[a888d56c] refactor: centralize path identity in slug-types

Move canonicalization and CanonicalItemUrl into types::paths with
GardenItemUrl, ForumThreadUrl, and TildeOntologyPath for JSON hrefs.
Server canonical_path and path_types re-export slug-types; RPC and
validation build hrefs via those types instead of string helpers.

Made-with: Cursor

Side B — unified diff (full patch):
diff --git a/server/src/api/helpers.rs b/server/src/api/helpers.rs
index 9b71491e9f9efc44a2a4beba09be8f64bd2ff2ee..03b3e77911ccd662bec8635345dafe2593cf242e 100644
--- a/server/src/api/helpers.rs
+++ b/server/src/api/helpers.rs
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ use axum::{
     Json,
 };
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
+use slug_types::paths::{CanonicalItemUrl, GardenItemUrl};
 use slug_types::*;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use crate::{
     canonical_path::canonicalize_item,
-    path_types::CanonicalItemUrl,
     ranking::connected_components_from_voted_pairs,
 };
 
@@ -30,64 +30,6 @@ pub fn now_ms() -> i64 {
     t.as_millis() as i64
 }
 
-/// Serialize a canonical item for JSON: absolute URLs stay as-is; bare paths get a `/` prefix.
-pub fn item_path_for_api(item: &str) -> String {
-    if item.starts_with("http://") || item.starts_with("https://") {
-        item.to_string()
-    } else {
-        format!("/{}", item)
-    }
-}
-
-/// Same as [`item_path_for_api`], but for private rooms ontology items are prefixed with
-/// `/r/{short}/{slug}` so the URL matches the web app (`/r/…/~/…` routes).
-pub fn item_path_for_api_in_room(item: &str, room_wire: &str) -> String {
-    let room = room_wire.trim();
-    if room.is_empty() || room == "public" {
-        return item_path_for_api(item);
-    }
-    let Some((short, slug)) = room.split_once('/') else {
-        return item_path_for_api(item);
-    };
-    if short.is_empty() || slug.is_empty() {
-        return item_path_for_api(item);
-    }
-    let Some(c) = CanonicalItemUrl::parse(item) else {
-        return item_path_for_api(item);
-    };
-    let root = CanonicalItemUrl::ontology_root();
-    let item_norm = c.as_str().trim_end_matches('/');
-    let root_norm = root.as_str().trim_end_matches('/');
-    if let Some(tail) = c.tilde_tail() {
-        return if tail.is_empty() {
-            format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/~")
-        } else {
-            format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/~/{}", tail)
-        };
-    }
-    if item_norm == root_norm {
-        return format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/~");
-    }
-    item_path_for_api(item)
-}
-
-/// Absolute thread URL for forum JSON (`/t/…` vs `/r/…/t/…`).
-pub fn forum_thread_web_url(room_wire: &str, thread_tag: &str) -> String {
-    let room = room_wire.trim();
-    let tag = thread_tag.trim().trim_start_matches('#');
-    if room.is_empty() || room == "public" {
-        format!("https://slug.social/t/{tag}")
-    } else if let Some((short, slug)) = room.split_once('/') {
-        if short.is_empty() || slug.is_empty() {
-            format!("https://slug.social/t/{tag}")
-        } else {
-            format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/t/{tag}")
-        }
-    } else {
-        format!("https://slug.social/t/{tag}")
-    }
-}
-
 /// Resolve an item path as a first-class canonical path.
 pub fn resolve_item(item: &str) -> Result<String, String> {
     let canonical = canonicalize_item(item);
@@ -109,14 +51,12 @@ pub fn parse_parent_specs(parent: Option<&String>) -> Vec<String> {
 }
 
 /// Apply offset+limit pagination to the flattened component rankings.
-/// Items are flattened in component order (largest component first), then unranked last.
-/// Returns (components, unranked_items) after the window.
 pub fn paginate_rankings(
     components: Vec<RankComponent>,
-    unranked_items: Vec<String>,
+    unranked_items: Vec<GardenItemUrl>,
     offset: usize,
     limit: Option<usize>,
-) -> (Vec<RankComponent>, Vec<String>) {
+) -> (Vec<RankComponent>, Vec<GardenItemUrl>) {
     let mut remaining_skip = offset;
     let mut remaining_take = limit.unwrap_or(usize::MAX);
     let mut out_components: Vec<RankComponent> = Vec::new();
@@ -141,7 +81,7 @@ pub fn paginate_rankings(
         });
     }
 
-    let out_unranked: Vec<String> = if remaining_take > 0 {
+    let out_unranked: Vec<GardenItemUrl> = if remaining_take > 0 {
         unranked_items
             .into_iter()
             .skip(remaining_skip)
@@ -183,11 +123,9 @@ pub fn is_pair_voted(group: &crate::reducer::GroupState, a: &str, b: &str) -> bo
     group.voted_pairs.contains(&(i, j))
 }
 
-/// Compute graph connectivity stats for a set of items within the ranking group.
 pub fn compute_connectivity_stats(group: &crate::reducer::GroupState, pool: &[String]) -> ConnectivityStats {
     let n = pool.len();
 
-    // Map pool items to global indices (items not yet in the group get no index)
     let global_idxs: Vec<Option<usize>> = pool
         .iter()
         .map(|it| {
@@ -197,7 +135,6 @@ pub fn compute_connectivity_stats(group: &crate::reducer::GroupState, pool: &[St
         .collect();
     let present: Vec<usize> = global_idxs.iter().filter_map(|x| *x).collect();
 
-    // Build local index mapping for items that exist in the ranking group
     let global_to_local: HashMap<usize, usize> = present
         .iter()
         .enumerate()
@@ -213,7 +150,6 @@ pub fn compute_connectivity_stats(group: &crate::reducer::GroupState, pool: &[St
         }),
     );
 
-    // Items not in the ranking group at all are also isolates
     let items_not_in_group = global_idxs.iter().filter(|x| x.is_none()).count();
 
     let num_components = comps.len() + isolates.len() + items_not_in_group;
@@ -237,52 +173,3 @@ pub fn vote_touches_path(a: &str, b: &str, parent_canon: &str) -> bool {
     let under = |item: &str| item == parent_canon || item.starts_with(&format!("{}/", parent_canon));
     under(a) || under(b)
 }
-
-#[cfg(test)]
-mod wire_url_tests {
-    use super::{forum_thread_web_url, item_path_for_api_in_room};
-
-    #[test]
-    fn public_room_unchanged() {
-        let u = "https://slug.social/~/a/b";
-        assert_eq!(item_path_for_api_in_room(u, "public"), u);
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn private_room_prefixes_ontology() {
-        assert_eq!(
-            item_path_for_api_in_room("https://slug.social/~/topic/x", "9ab12cd/my-room"),
-            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/~/topic/x"
-        );
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn private_room_ontology_root() {
-        assert_eq!(
-            item_path_for_api_in_room("https://slug.social/~", "9ab12cd/my-room"),
-            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/~"
-        );
-        assert_eq!(
-            item_path_for_api_in_room("https://slug.social/~/", "9ab12cd/my-room"),
-            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/~"
-        );
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn external_url_untouched_in_private_room() {
-        let u = "https://example.com/z";
-        assert_eq!(item_path_for_api_in_room(u, "9ab12cd/my-room"), u);
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn forum_web_public_vs_room() {
-        assert_eq!(
-            forum_thread_web_url("public", "debate"),
-            "https://slug.social/t/debate"
-        );
-        assert_eq!(
-            forum_thread_web_url("9ab12cd/my-room", "#debate"),
-            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/t/debate"
-        );
-    }
-}
diff --git a/server/src/api/mod.rs b/server/src/api/mod.rs
index 042aa248305f9362a3be78f9eea2a5abf6ba707a..cf22cb0129366c3aed031bc86f3197a4321cb806 100644
--- a/server/src/api/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/api/mod.rs
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ pub use auth::{
 
 pub use helpers::{
     api_error, compute_connectivity_stats, is_pair_voted, now_ms, paginate_rankings,
-    parse_parent_specs, pick_random_distinct, sha256_hex, resolve_item, vote_touches_path,
-    item_path_for_api,
+    parse_parent_specs, pick_random_distinct, resolve_item, sha256_hex, vote_touches_path,
 };
 
 pub use rpc::handle_rpc_batch;
diff --git a/server/src/api/rpc.rs b/server/src/api/rpc.rs
index 5b91f5836625eedbb1cd9423168046e3fb576c17..5f7d50188f1381267402f2e57e671234ef5db2fd 100644
--- a/server/src/api/rpc.rs
+++ b/server/src/api/rpc.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use axum::{
     Json,
 };
 use rand::seq::SliceRandom;
+use slug_types::paths::{ForumThreadUrl, GardenItemUrl, TildeOntologyPath};
 use slug_types::*;
 
 use crate::{
@@ -27,9 +28,8 @@ use crate::{
 
 use super::auth::verify_bearer_principal;
 use super::helpers::{
-    compute_connectivity_stats, forum_thread_web_url, is_pair_voted, item_path_for_api,
-    item_path_for_api_in_room, now_ms, paginate_rankings, parse_parent_specs, pick_random_distinct,
-    resolve_item, vote_touches_path,
+    compute_connectivity_stats, is_pair_voted, now_ms, paginate_rankings, parse_parent_specs,
+    pick_random_distinct, resolve_item, vote_touches_path,
 };
 use super::validate::{normalize_room_and_thread, validate_ingest_document};
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ fn compute_scope_rank_changes(
         };
         if changed {
             changes.push(RankChange {
-                item: item_path_for_api_in_room(&item, room_wire),
+                item: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item, room_wire),
                 before: b,
                 after: a,
             });
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ fn compute_scope_rank_changes(
         parent: if parent.is_empty() {
             "/".to_string()
         } else {
-            item_path_for_api_in_room(parent, room_wire)
+            GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(parent, room_wire).into_inner()
         },
         changes,
     })
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ fn build_rank_response_for_content(
                     .ranked
                     .into_iter()
                     .map(|r| RankRow {
-                        item: item_path_for_api_in_room(r.item.as_str(), room_wire),
+                        item: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&r.item, room_wire),
                         percent: if want_percent {
                             Some((r.score / max_score) * 100.0)
                         } else {
@@ -315,10 +315,10 @@ fn build_rank_response_for_content(
         })
         .collect();
 
-    let prefixed_unranked: Vec<String> = rankings
+    let prefixed_unranked: Vec<GardenItemUrl> = rankings
         .unranked_items
         .into_iter()
-        .map(|s| item_path_for_api_in_room(s.as_str(), room_wire))
+        .map(|s| GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&s, room_wire))
         .collect();
 
     let (components, unranked_items) = if offset > 0 || limit.is_some() {
@@ -537,13 +537,13 @@ async fn rpc_post(
         (
             "npx slugsocial public garden pair".to_string(),
             "npx slugsocial public garden rank".to_string(),
-            forum_thread_web_url("public", &thread_id),
+            ForumThreadUrl::from_room_tag("public", &thread_id),
         )
     } else {
         (
             format!("npx slugsocial private {room_key} garden pair"),
             format!("npx slugsocial private {room_key} garden rank"),
-            forum_thread_web_url(&room_key, &thread_id),
+            ForumThreadUrl::from_room_tag(&room_key, &thread_id),
         )
     };
 
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ async fn rpc_check(
                         .ranked
                         .into_iter()
                         .map(|r| RankRow {
-                            item: item_path_for_api_in_room(r.item.as_str(), &room_key),
+                            item: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&r.item, &room_key),
                             score: r.score,
                             percent: None,
                         })
@@ -672,12 +672,12 @@ async fn rpc_check(
                 })
                 .collect();
             CheckScopeRanking {
-                parent: item_path_for_api_in_room(parent.as_str(), &room_key),
+                parent: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(parent, &room_key).into_inner(),
                 components,
                 unranked_items: scoped
                     .unranked_items
                     .into_iter()
-                    .map(|it| item_path_for_api_in_room(it.as_str(), &room_key))
+                    .map(|it| GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&it, &room_key))
                     .collect(),
             }
         })
@@ -687,13 +687,13 @@ async fn rpc_check(
         vec![
             "npx slugsocial public forum post <TAG> --delegate <uuid:rig:model>".to_string(),
             "npx slugsocial public forum list".to_string(),
-            forum_thread_web_url("public", &thread_id),
+            ForumThreadUrl::from_room_tag("public", &thread_id).into_inner(),
         ]
     } else {
         vec![
             format!("npx slugsocial private {room_key} forum post <TAG> --delegate <uuid:rig:model>"),
             format!("npx slugsocial private {room_key} forum list"),
-            forum_thread_web_url(&room_key, &thread_id),
+            ForumThreadUrl::from_room_tag(&room_key, &thread_id).into_inner(),
         ]
     };
 
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ fn rpc_list_forum_threads(reduced: &ReducerState, room: &str) -> ThreadsResponse
         .map(|((_, tag), ts)| ThreadSummary {
             thread: format!("#{tag}"),
             last_activity_ts: ts.last_activity_ts,
-            web: forum_thread_web_url(room, tag),
+            web: ForumThreadUrl::from_room_tag(room, tag),
         })
         .collect();
     out.sort_by(|a, b| b.last_activity_ts.cmp(&a.last_activity_ts));
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ fn rpc_search(reduced: &ReducerState, q: &str, limit: usize, principal: Option<&
         }
         if score > 0 {
             scored_items.push((score, SearchItemHit {
-                path: item_path_for_api(item.as_str()),
+                path: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(item.as_str(), "public"),
                 body: content.item_bodies.get(item).map(|b| snippet_around(b, &words, 120)),
             }));
         }
@@ -1058,8 +1058,8 @@ async fn rpc_get_pair(state: &AppState, room: String, parent_path: String) -> Re
         .collect();
     let cs = compute_connectivity_stats(&content.ranking_group, &pool);
     Ok(RpcResult::Pair(PairResponse {
-        left: item_path_for_api_in_room(&left, &room),
-        right: item_path_for_api_in_room(&right, &room),
+        left: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&left, &room),
+        right: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&right, &room),
         left_body: lb,
         right_body: rb,
         threads: th,
@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                 if !content.items.contains(&item) {
                     line_err(
                         "item not found",
-                        Some(format!("{} does not exist", item_path_for_api_in_room(&item_str, &room))),
+                        Some(format!("{} does not exist", GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item_str, &room))),
                     )
                 } else {
                     const MAX_ITEM_BODY: usize = 10_000;
@@ -1160,7 +1160,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                         .map(|s| s.iter().cloned().collect())
                         .unwrap_or_default();
                     line_ok(RpcResult::GardenItem(ItemResponse {
-                        item: item_path_for_api_in_room(&item_str, &room),
+                        item: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item_str, &room),
                         body,
                         truncated,
                         body_len,
@@ -1554,7 +1554,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                     for r in items {
                         let pct = want_percent.then(|| ((r.score - bot) / range * 100.0).clamp(0.0, 100.0));
                         ranked.push(RankRow {
-                            item: item_path_for_api_in_room(r.item.as_str(), &room),
+                            item: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(r.item.as_str(), &room),
                             score: r.score,
                             percent: pct,
                         });
@@ -1574,7 +1574,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                 let page: Vec<RankRow> = ranked
                     .into_iter()
                     .chain(unranked.into_iter().map(|it| RankRow {
-                        item: item_path_for_api_in_room(&it, &room),
+                        item: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&it, &room),
                         score: 0.0,
                         percent: want_percent.then_some(0.0),
                     }))
@@ -1618,7 +1618,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                 if !content.items.contains(&item) {
                     line_err(
                         "item not found",
-                        Some(format!("{} does not exist", item_path_for_api_in_room(&item_str, &room))),
+                        Some(format!("{} does not exist", GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item_str, &room))),
                     )
                 } else {
                     let votes: Vec<VoteRow> = content
@@ -1629,8 +1629,8 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                                 .take(limit)
                                 .map(|v| VoteRow {
                                     ts: v.ts,
-                                    a: item_path_for_api_in_room(v.a.as_str(), &room),
-                                    b: item_path_for_api_in_room(v.b.as_str(), &room),
+                                    a: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&v.a, &room),
+                                    b: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&v.b, &room),
                                     ratio: format!("{}:{}", v.ratio_left, v.ratio_right),
                                     actor: Some(v.principal.clone()),
                                     body: v.body.clone(),
@@ -1640,7 +1640,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                         })
                         .unwrap_or_default();
                     line_ok(RpcResult::Matchup(MatchupResponse {
-                        item: item_path_for_api_in_room(&item_str, &room),
+                        item: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item_str, &room),
                         votes,
                     }))
                 }
@@ -1667,8 +1667,8 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                                     if a == item_str || b == item_str {
                                         Some(VoteRow {
                                             ts: e.ts,
-                                            a: item_path_for_api_in_room(&a, &room),
-                                            b: item_path_for_api_in_room(&b, &room),
+                                            a: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&a, &room),
+                                            b: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&b, &room),
                                             ratio: format!("{}:{}", ratio_left, ratio_right),
                                             actor: reduced.ingests_by_id.get(&e.post_id).map(|ing| ing.principal.clone()),
                                             body: explanation,
@@ -1704,7 +1704,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                     }
                 }).collect();
                 line_ok(RpcResult::RankHistory(RankHistoryResponse {
-                    item: item_path_for_api_in_room(&item_str, &room),
+                    item: GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item_str, &room),
                     history,
                 }))
                 }
@@ -1716,17 +1716,13 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                 } else {
                 let content = content_for_room(&reduced, &room);
                 let parents: HashSet<&str> = content.item_children.keys().map(|s| s.as_str()).collect();
-                let mut paths: Vec<String> = content
+                let mut paths: Vec<GardenItemUrl> = content
                     .items
                     .iter()
                     .filter(|p| !parents.contains(p.as_str()))
-                    .map(|p| p.as_str().to_string())
-                    .collect();
-                paths.sort();
-                let paths: Vec<String> = paths
-                    .into_iter()
-                    .map(|p| item_path_for_api_in_room(&p, &room))
+                    .map(|p| GardenItemUrl::from_stored(p, &room))
                     .collect();
+                paths.sort_by(|a, b| a.as_str().cmp(b.as_str()));
                 line_ok(RpcResult::Leaves(LeavesResponse { paths }))
                 }
             },
@@ -1743,24 +1739,13 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                         let mut v: Vec<PathSummary> = roots.iter()
                             .map(|path| {
                                 let children = content.item_children.get(path.as_str()).map(|s| s.len()).unwrap_or(0);
-                                let path_label = CanonicalItemUrl::parse(path.as_str())
-                                    .and_then(|c| {
-                                        c.tilde_tail().map(|t| {
-                                            if t.is_empty() {
-                                                "~/".to_string()
-                                            } else {
-                                                format!("~/{}", t)
-                                            }
-                                        })
-                                    })
-                                    .unwrap_or_else(|| path.to_string());
                                 PathSummary {
-                                    path: path_label,
+                                    path: TildeOntologyPath::from_stored(path),
                                     children,
-                                    web: item_path_for_api_in_room(path.as_str(), &room),
+                                    web: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(path, &room),
                                 }
                             }).collect();
-                        v.sort_by(|a, b| a.path.cmp(&b.path));
+                        v.sort_by(|a, b| a.path.as_str().cmp(b.path.as_str()));
                         v
                     })
                     .unwrap_or_default();
@@ -1790,8 +1775,8 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc_batch(
                     .take(limit)
                     .map(|v| VoteRow {
                         ts: v.ts,
-                        a: item_path_for_api_in_room(v.a.as_str(), &room),
-                        b: item_path_for_api_in_room(v.b.as_str(), &room),
+                        a: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&v.a, &room),
+                        b: GardenItemUrl::from_stored(&v.b, &room),
                         ratio: format!("{}:{}", v.ratio_left, v.ratio_right),
                         actor: Some(v.principal.clone()),
                         body: v.body.clone(),
diff --git a/server/src/api/validate.rs b/server/src/api/validate.rs
index 27150577982f52cbd6d11bb93654dc3d4cf75cc5..a51c783ee9785569b5a44c0b1572471fe00d174b 100644
--- a/server/src/api/validate.rs
+++ b/server/src/api/validate.rs
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ use crate::{
     path_types::CanonicalItemUrl,
     reducer::{ReducerState, ScopeId},
 };
+use slug_types::paths::GardenItemUrl;
 
-use super::helpers::{item_path_for_api, resolve_item};
+use super::helpers::resolve_item;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct ValidatedIngest {
@@ -22,6 +23,10 @@ pub fn validate_ingest_document(
     text: &str,
     scope: &ScopeId,
 ) -> Result<ValidatedIngest, (StatusCode, String, Option<String>)> {
+    let room_wire = match scope {
+        ScopeId::Public => "public",
+        ScopeId::Room(r) => r.as_str(),
+    };
     let public_content = reduced.public();
     let scoped_content = match scope {
         ScopeId::Public => None,
@@ -61,14 +66,14 @@ pub fn validate_ingest_document(
                 let Some(body_text) = body else {
                     return Err((
                         StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST,
-                        format!("item missing body: {}", item_path_for_api(&item)),
+                        format!("item missing body: {}", GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item, room_wire)),
                         Some("items must be declared with bodies, e.g. `~/path/item { ... }`".to_string()),
                     ));
                 };
                 if body_text.trim().is_empty() {
                     return Err((
                         StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST,
-                        format!("item body is empty: {}", item_path_for_api(&item)),
+                        format!("item body is empty: {}", GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(&item, room_wire)),
                         Some("write at least one sentence inside `{ ... }`".to_string()),
                     ));
                 }
@@ -101,7 +106,7 @@ pub fn validate_ingest_document(
                         let key = CanonicalItemUrl((*it).clone());
                         !defined_in_doc.contains(*it) && !item_exists(&key)
                     })
-                    .map(|it| item_path_for_api(it))
+                    .map(|it| GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(it, room_wire).into_inner())
                     .collect();
                 if !missing.is_empty() {
                     return Err((
@@ -119,7 +124,7 @@ pub fn validate_ingest_document(
                         let key = CanonicalItemUrl((*it).clone());
                         !defined_in_doc.contains(*it) && !body_exists(&key)
                     })
-                    .map(|it| item_path_for_api(it))
+                    .map(|it| GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(it, room_wire).into_inner())
                     .collect();
                 if !missing_body.is_empty() {
                     return Err((
diff --git a/server/src/canonical_path.rs b/server/src/canonical_path.rs
index 5c0febe883d8b3978a25896ed0d71df8509a8717..8a1998025121838b0867f8c5ddbd28aea41a23d2 100644
--- a/server/src/canonical_path.rs
+++ b/server/src/canonical_path.rs
@@ -1,92 +1,3 @@
-//! Normalization for thread tags and ontology item URLs (DSL ↔ stored canonical form).
-//! Not event types — see `events` and `path_types`.
+//! Re-exports — implementations live in `slug-types` (`paths` module).
 
-/// Thread / public tag: stored without leading `#`, lowercase.
-pub fn canonicalize_tag(input: &str) -> String {
-    input.trim().trim_start_matches('#').to_lowercase()
-}
-
-/// Ontology item reference → canonical absolute URL on the slug host.
-pub fn canonicalize_item(input: &str) -> String {
-    let s = input.trim();
-    if s.is_empty() {
-        return String::new();
-    }
-
-    if let Some(rest) = s.strip_prefix("https://") {
-        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
-        let host = host.trim().to_lowercase();
-        if tail.is_empty() {
-            return format!("https://{}", host);
-        } else {
-            return format!("https://{}/{}", host, tail);
-        }
-    }
-    if let Some(rest) = s.strip_prefix("http://") {
-        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
-        let host = host.trim().to_lowercase();
-        if tail.is_empty() {
-            return format!("http://{}", host);
-        } else {
-            return format!("http://{}/{}", host, tail);
-        }
-    }
-
-    let is_tilde = s.starts_with("~/");
-    let rest = s.strip_prefix("~/").or_else(|| s.strip_prefix("/")).unwrap_or(s);
-
-    let tail = rest
-        .split('/')
-        .filter_map(|seg| {
-            let t = seg.trim();
-            if t.is_empty() {
-                None
-            } else {
-                Some(t.to_lowercase())
-            }
-        })
-        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-        .join("/");
-
-    if is_tilde {
-        format!("https://slug.social/~/{}", tail)
-    } else if tail.is_empty() {
-        "https://slug.social".to_string()
-    } else {
-        format!("https://slug.social/{}", tail)
-    }
-}
-
-pub fn item_path_segments(input: &str) -> Vec<String> {
-    let canonical = canonicalize_item(input);
-    if canonical.is_empty() {
-        return vec![];
-    }
-
-    if let Some(rest) = canonical.strip_prefix("https://") {
-        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
-        let mut out = vec![format!("https://{}", host)];
-        out.extend(tail.split('/').filter(|s| !s.is_empty()).map(|s| s.to_string()));
-        return out;
-    }
-    if let Some(rest) = canonical.strip_prefix("http://") {
-        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
-        let mut out = vec![format!("http://{}", host)];
-        out.extend(tail.split('/').filter(|s| !s.is_empty()).map(|s| s.to_string()));
-        return out;
-    }
-
-    canonical
-        .split('/')
-        .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
-        .map(|s| s.to_string())
-        .collect()
-}
-
-pub fn item_parent_path(input: &str) -> Option<String> {
-    let segs = item_path_segments(input);
-    if segs.len() <= 1 {
-        return None;
-    }
-    Some(segs[..segs.len() - 1].join("/"))
-}
+pub use slug_types::paths::{canonicalize_item, canonicalize_tag, item_parent_path, item_path_segments};
diff --git a/server/src/html/forum.rs b/server/src/html/forum.rs
index ab7970feca47a4431ddc19dab2c8186180b78413..f789e347dc136f8ffd356f4492f0bd76cea04bf0 100644
--- a/server/src/html/forum.rs
+++ b/server/src/html/forum.rs
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ async fn thread_view_inner(
     let offset = q.offset.unwrap_or(0);
     let page_ids: Vec<String> = all_ids.into_iter().skip(offset).take(PAGE_SIZE).collect();
 
-    let (display_ingests, subtitle) = {
+    let (display_ingests, _subtitle) = {
         let reduced = state.reduced.read().await;
         let ingests = page_ids
             .iter()
diff --git a/server/src/path_types.rs b/server/src/path_types.rs
index cad58cac7da948f92d6ea2a5587d917ab21d57ea..4c8075bbd488f1b9a5eda9e03ced83f6238c6d5e 100644
--- a/server/src/path_types.rs
+++ b/server/src/path_types.rs
@@ -1,260 +1,3 @@
-//! Path representation types.
-//!
-//! The codebase currently treats item identifiers as strings in a few different
-//! encodings:
-//! - user/DSL input like `~/a/b`
-//! - canonical item URLs like `https://slug.social/~/a/b`
-//! - relative paths within a rooted tree view (e.g. `llms/openai` under a root)
-//!
-//! This module adds lightweight newtypes so code can be explicit about what it
-//! expects without changing core storage formats.
-//!
-//! **Storage vs wire:** [`CanonicalItemUrl`] values are shared across scopes
-//! (`https://slug.social/~/…`); which [`crate::reducer::ContentState`] they live in
-//! is determined by scope, not by embedding the room id in the string. For JSON/RPC
-//! and browser links in a private room, use [`crate::api::helpers::item_path_for_api_in_room`]
-//! so ontology items become `https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/~/…`.
+//! Re-exports — implementations live in `slug-types` (`paths` module).
 
-use std::borrow::Borrow;
-use std::fmt;
-
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-
-use crate::canonical_path::canonicalize_item;
-
-/// Canonical item identifier as produced by `canonical_path::canonicalize_item`.
-///
-/// In practice this is usually:
-/// - `https://slug.social/~/...` for ontology items, or
-/// - `https://...` / `http://...` for URL items.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-pub struct CanonicalItemUrl(pub String);
-
-impl CanonicalItemUrl {
-    pub fn parse(input: &str) -> Option<Self> {
-        let c = canonicalize_item(input);
-        if c.is_empty() {
-            None
-        } else {
-            Some(Self(c))
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
-        &self.0
-    }
-
-    /// Returns the `~/...` tail for ontology items (`https://slug.social/~/...`).
-    pub fn tilde_tail(&self) -> Option<&str> {
-        self.0.strip_prefix("https://slug.social/~/")
-    }
-
-    /// Returns the final non-empty `/`-separated segment of the path.
-    ///
-    /// `https://slug.social/~/a/b/c` → `"c"`
-    /// `https://slug.social/~/a`     → `"a"`
-    pub fn last_segment(&self) -> &str {
-        self.0
-            .rsplit('/')
-            .find(|s| !s.is_empty())
-            .unwrap_or(self.0.as_str())
-    }
-
-    /// The ontology root key as stored in `item_children`: `"https://slug.social/~"`.
-    /// Use this (not `parse("~/")`) when looking up top-level children.
-    pub fn ontology_root() -> Self {
-        Self("https://slug.social/~".to_string())
-    }
-
-    /// Returns the parent of this canonical item URL by stripping the last
-    /// path segment, or `None` if there is no parent (already at root).
-    ///
-    /// `https://slug.social/~/a/b/c` → `Some("https://slug.social/~/a/b")`
-    /// `https://slug.social/~/a`     → `Some("https://slug.social/~")`
-    /// `https://slug.social/~/`      → `None`  (tilde root)
-    pub fn parent(&self) -> Option<Self> {
-        // tilde_tail() is None for non-ontology URLs and "" for the root ~/
-        if self.tilde_tail().map(|t| t.is_empty()).unwrap_or(true) {
-            return None;
-        }
-        // Strip everything from the last '/' onwards.
-        let last_slash = self.0.rfind('/')?;
-        let parent_str = &self.0[..last_slash];
-        if parent_str.is_empty() {
-            None
-        } else {
-            Some(Self(parent_str.to_string()))
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Segments of an ontology path suitable for breadcrumb rendering.
-    /// Strips the `https://slug.social` prefix and returns the `~/…` parts.
-    ///
-    /// `https://slug.social/~/a/b` → `["~", "a", "b"]`
-    /// `https://slug.social/~/`    → `["~"]`
-    pub fn tilde_segments(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
-        match self.tilde_tail() {
-            Some(tail) if !tail.is_empty() => {
-                std::iter::once("~")
-                    .chain(tail.split('/').filter(|s| !s.is_empty()))
-                    .collect()
-            }
-            Some(_) => vec!["~"],
-            None => vec![],
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Display for CanonicalItemUrl {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        self.0.fmt(f)
-    }
-}
-
-/// Allow `HashMap<CanonicalItemUrl, _>` to be searched by `&str`.
-impl Borrow<str> for CanonicalItemUrl {
-    fn borrow(&self) -> &str {
-        &self.0
-    }
-}
-
-impl PartialEq<str> for CanonicalItemUrl {
-    fn eq(&self, other: &str) -> bool {
-        self.0 == other
-    }
-}
-
-impl PartialEq<&str> for CanonicalItemUrl {
-    fn eq(&self, other: &&str) -> bool {
-        self.0 == *other
-    }
-}
-
-impl PartialEq<String> for CanonicalItemUrl {
-    fn eq(&self, other: &String) -> bool {
-        &self.0 == other
-    }
-}
-
-/// A `~/...` input path (as used in the DSL and UX).
-///
-/// This is not canonicalized; it is a presentation/input form.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-pub struct TildePath(pub String);
-
-impl TildePath {
-    pub fn new(input: &str) -> Option<Self> {
-        let s = input.trim();
-        if s.starts_with("~/") && s.len() > 2 {
-            Some(Self(s.to_string()))
-        } else if s == "~/" {
-            Some(Self("~/".to_string()))
-        } else {
-            None
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
-        &self.0
-    }
-
-    pub fn canonicalize(&self) -> Option<CanonicalItemUrl> {
-        CanonicalItemUrl::parse(&self.0)
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Display for TildePath {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        self.0.fmt(f)
-    }
-}
-
-/// A path relative to a chosen root in a tree UI.
-///
-/// This is intended for compact state encodings (blobs). It must be joined to a
-/// root `CanonicalItemUrl` (typically an ontology root) to become a full item.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-pub struct RelativePath(pub String);
-
-impl RelativePath {
-    pub fn new(input: &str) -> Option<Self> {
-        let s = input.trim().trim_matches('/');
-        if s.is_empty() {
-            Some(Self(String::new()))
-        } else {
-            // Keep this permissive: the DSL parser is the main gatekeeper.
-            Some(Self(s.to_string()))
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
-        &self.0
-    }
-
-    /// Join this relative path under a canonical ontology root
-    /// (`https://slug.social/~/...`) to form a canonical item URL.
-    pub fn join_under_ontology_root(&self, root: &CanonicalItemUrl) -> Option<CanonicalItemUrl> {
-        let base = root.tilde_tail()?;
-        // base is the tail after https://slug.social/~/, e.g. "models" or "models/llms"
-        let joined = if base.is_empty() {
-            if self.0.is_empty() {
-                "~/".to_string()
-            } else {
-                format!("~/{}", self.0)
-            }
-        } else if self.0.is_empty() {
-            format!("~/{}", base)
-        } else {
-            format!("~/{}/{}", base.trim_end_matches('/'), self.0)
-        };
-        CanonicalItemUrl::parse(&joined)
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Display for RelativePath {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        self.0.fmt(f)
-    }
-}
-
-
-#[cfg(test)]
-mod tests {
-    use super::*;
-
-    #[test]
-    fn canonical_parent_deep() {
-        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/a/b/c").unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(c.parent().unwrap().as_str(), "https://slug.social/~/a/b");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn canonical_parent_one_level() {
-        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/a").unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(c.parent().unwrap().as_str(), "https://slug.social/~");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn canonical_parent_root_is_none() {
-        let root = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/").unwrap();
-        assert!(root.parent().is_none());
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn tilde_segments_deep() {
-        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/a/b").unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(c.tilde_segments(), vec!["~", "a", "b"]);
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn tilde_segments_root() {
-        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/").unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(c.tilde_segments(), vec!["~"]);
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn tilde_segments_non_ontology_is_empty() {
-        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("https://example.com/foo").unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(c.tilde_segments(), Vec::<&str>::new());
-    }
-}
+pub use slug_types::paths::{CanonicalItemUrl, RelativePath, TildePath};
diff --git a/types/src/lib.rs b/types/src/lib.rs
index c1cde3b783d03b02783385b5f07659fb112aae3e..5fc867bf2af84c2ca63fa1cdd03413110ad784a3 100644
--- a/types/src/lib.rs
+++ b/types/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
+pub mod paths;
 pub mod timeago;
 
+pub use paths::{
+    canonicalize_item, canonicalize_tag, item_parent_path, item_path_segments, CanonicalItemUrl,
+    ForumThreadUrl, GardenItemUrl, RelativePath, TildeOntologyPath, TildePath,
+};
+
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ApiError {
     pub ok: bool,
@@ -12,7 +18,7 @@ pub struct ApiError {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct RankRow {
-    pub item: String,
+    pub item: GardenItemUrl,
     pub score: f64,
     /// Normalized score as a percentage of the top item (0–100). Present when ?percent=true.
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
@@ -43,7 +49,7 @@ pub struct RankComponent {
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct RankResponse {
     pub components: Vec<RankComponent>,
-    pub unranked_items: Vec<String>,
+    pub unranked_items: Vec<GardenItemUrl>,
 }
 
 /// Graph connectivity stats for a scope, returned with pair suggestions.
@@ -63,8 +69,8 @@ pub struct ConnectivityStats {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct PairResponse {
-    pub left: String,
-    pub right: String,
+    pub left: GardenItemUrl,
+    pub right: GardenItemUrl,
     pub left_body: Option<String>,
     pub right_body: Option<String>,
     /// Thread tags that discuss either item (connective tissue to forum).
@@ -79,7 +85,7 @@ pub struct PairResponse {
 pub struct NextMoves {
     pub pair: String,
     pub rank: String,
-    pub web: String,
+    pub web: ForumThreadUrl,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -90,14 +96,14 @@ pub struct PathsResponse {
 /// Leaf items only (no children). For search / "full path list" — does not scale, works for now.
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct LeavesResponse {
-    pub paths: Vec<String>,
+    pub paths: Vec<GardenItemUrl>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct PathSummary {
-    pub path: String,
+    pub path: TildeOntologyPath,
     pub children: usize,
-    pub web: String,
+    pub web: GardenItemUrl,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -109,7 +115,7 @@ pub struct ThreadsResponse {
 pub struct ThreadSummary {
     pub thread: String,
     pub last_activity_ts: i64,
-    pub web: String,
+    pub web: ForumThreadUrl,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -178,7 +184,7 @@ pub struct IngestRow {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ItemResponse {
-    pub item: String,
+    pub item: GardenItemUrl,
     pub body: Option<String>,
     /// True when the body was truncated due to size. Fetch with `?full=true` for the complete body.
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "std::ops::Not::not")]
@@ -201,15 +207,15 @@ pub struct RecentVotesResponse {
 /// Vote history for one item (matchup: wins/losses + thread per vote).
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct MatchupResponse {
-    pub item: String,
+    pub item: GardenItemUrl,
     pub votes: Vec<VoteRow>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct VoteRow {
     pub ts: i64,
-    pub a: String,
-    pub b: String,
+    pub a: GardenItemUrl,
+    pub b: GardenItemUrl,
     pub ratio: String,
     /// Principal username when present (stored form, no `@`).
     pub actor: Option<String>,
@@ -510,7 +516,7 @@ pub struct RankPosition {
 /// How one item's rank changed after a vote.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct RankChange {
-    pub item: String,
+    pub item: GardenItemUrl,
     /// Position before the vote. None = was unranked (no voted connections in this scope).
     pub before: Option<RankPosition>,
     /// Position after the vote. None = became unranked (e.g. component split, unlikely).
@@ -544,7 +550,7 @@ pub struct CheckScopeRanking {
     /// Parent scope path (e.g. "/models" or "/" for root).
     pub parent: String,
     pub components: Vec<RankComponent>,
-    pub unranked_items: Vec<String>,
+    pub unranked_items: Vec<GardenItemUrl>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -567,7 +573,7 @@ pub struct SearchResponse {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct SearchItemHit {
-    pub path: String,
+    pub path: GardenItemUrl,
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub body: Option<String>,
 }
@@ -614,7 +620,7 @@ pub struct RankHistoryRow {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct RankHistoryResponse {
-    pub item: String,
+    pub item: GardenItemUrl,
     pub history: Vec<RankHistoryRow>,
 }
 
diff --git a/types/src/paths.rs b/types/src/paths.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2950a7502255927583fbacdfd2adb700f0b0c221
--- /dev/null
+++ b/types/src/paths.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,498 @@
+//! Canonical paths, storage ids, and JSON href newtypes. All normalization and
+//! room-aware URL rules for items live here.
+
+use std::borrow::Borrow;
+use std::fmt;
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Normalization (moved from server `canonical_path`)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Thread / public tag: stored without leading `#`, lowercase.
+pub fn canonicalize_tag(input: &str) -> String {
+    input.trim().trim_start_matches('#').to_lowercase()
+}
+
+/// Ontology item reference → canonical absolute URL on the slug host.
+pub fn canonicalize_item(input: &str) -> String {
+    let s = input.trim();
+    if s.is_empty() {
+        return String::new();
+    }
+
+    if let Some(rest) = s.strip_prefix("https://") {
+        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
+        let host = host.trim().to_lowercase();
+        if tail.is_empty() {
+            return format!("https://{}", host);
+        } else {
+            return format!("https://{}/{}", host, tail);
+        }
+    }
+    if let Some(rest) = s.strip_prefix("http://") {
+        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
+        let host = host.trim().to_lowercase();
+        if tail.is_empty() {
+            return format!("http://{}", host);
+        } else {
+            return format!("http://{}/{}", host, tail);
+        }
+    }
+
+    let is_tilde = s.starts_with("~/");
+    let rest = s.strip_prefix("~/").or_else(|| s.strip_prefix("/")).unwrap_or(s);
+
+    let tail = rest
+        .split('/')
+        .filter_map(|seg| {
+            let t = seg.trim();
+            if t.is_empty() {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some(t.to_lowercase())
+            }
+        })
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        .join("/");
+
+    if is_tilde {
+        format!("https://slug.social/~/{}", tail)
+    } else if tail.is_empty() {
+        "https://slug.social".to_string()
+    } else {
+        format!("https://slug.social/{}", tail)
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn item_path_segments(input: &str) -> Vec<String> {
+    let canonical = canonicalize_item(input);
+    if canonical.is_empty() {
+        return vec![];
+    }
+
+    if let Some(rest) = canonical.strip_prefix("https://") {
+        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
+        let mut out = vec![format!("https://{}", host)];
+        out.extend(tail.split('/').filter(|s| !s.is_empty()).map(|s| s.to_string()));
+        return out;
+    }
+    if let Some(rest) = canonical.strip_prefix("http://") {
+        let (host, tail) = rest.split_once('/').map_or((rest, ""), |(h, t)| (h, t));
+        let mut out = vec![format!("http://{}", host)];
+        out.extend(tail.split('/').filter(|s| !s.is_empty()).map(|s| s.to_string()));
+        return out;
+    }
+
+    canonical
+        .split('/')
+        .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+        .map(|s| s.to_string())
+        .collect()
+}
+
+pub fn item_parent_path(input: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    let segs = item_path_segments(input);
+    if segs.len() <= 1 {
+        return None;
+    }
+    Some(segs[..segs.len() - 1].join("/"))
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Storage + input path newtypes
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Canonical item identifier as produced by [`canonicalize_item`].
+///
+/// Shared across all scopes; room is not embedded. Usually
+/// `https://slug.social/~/…` or an external `http(s)://…` URL item.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct CanonicalItemUrl(pub String);
+
+impl CanonicalItemUrl {
+    pub fn parse(input: &str) -> Option<Self> {
+        let c = canonicalize_item(input);
+        if c.is_empty() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(Self(c))
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+
+    pub fn tilde_tail(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        self.0.strip_prefix("https://slug.social/~/")
+    }
+
+    pub fn last_segment(&self) -> &str {
+        self.0
+            .rsplit('/')
+            .find(|s| !s.is_empty())
+            .unwrap_or(self.0.as_str())
+    }
+
+    pub fn ontology_root() -> Self {
+        Self("https://slug.social/~".to_string())
+    }
+
+    pub fn parent(&self) -> Option<Self> {
+        if self.tilde_tail().map(|t| t.is_empty()).unwrap_or(true) {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let last_slash = self.0.rfind('/')?;
+        let parent_str = &self.0[..last_slash];
+        if parent_str.is_empty() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(Self(parent_str.to_string()))
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn tilde_segments(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
+        match self.tilde_tail() {
+            Some(tail) if !tail.is_empty() => {
+                std::iter::once("~")
+                    .chain(tail.split('/').filter(|s| !s.is_empty()))
+                    .collect()
+            }
+            Some(_) => vec!["~"],
+            None => vec![],
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// `~/…` list label for ontology items (paths index, CLI).
+    pub fn tilde_list_label(&self) -> TildeOntologyPath {
+        TildeOntologyPath::from_stored(self)
+    }
+
+    /// Absolute href for JSON/RPC and browsers for this stored id in `room`.
+    pub fn json_href(&self, room_wire: &str) -> GardenItemUrl {
+        GardenItemUrl::from_stored(self, room_wire)
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for CanonicalItemUrl {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Borrow<str> for CanonicalItemUrl {
+    fn borrow(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq<str> for CanonicalItemUrl {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &str) -> bool {
+        self.0 == other
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq<&str> for CanonicalItemUrl {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &&str) -> bool {
+        self.0 == *other
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq<String> for CanonicalItemUrl {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &String) -> bool {
+        &self.0 == other
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct TildePath(pub String);
+
+impl TildePath {
+    pub fn new(input: &str) -> Option<Self> {
+        let s = input.trim();
+        if s.starts_with("~/") && s.len() > 2 {
+            Some(Self(s.to_string()))
+        } else if s == "~/" {
+            Some(Self("~/".to_string()))
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+
+    pub fn canonicalize(&self) -> Option<CanonicalItemUrl> {
+        CanonicalItemUrl::parse(&self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for TildePath {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct RelativePath(pub String);
+
+impl RelativePath {
+    pub fn new(input: &str) -> Option<Self> {
+        let s = input.trim().trim_matches('/');
+        if s.is_empty() {
+            Some(Self(String::new()))
+        } else {
+            Some(Self(s.to_string()))
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+
+    pub fn join_under_ontology_root(&self, root: &CanonicalItemUrl) -> Option<CanonicalItemUrl> {
+        let base = root.tilde_tail()?;
+        let joined = if base.is_empty() {
+            if self.0.is_empty() {
+                "~/".to_string()
+            } else {
+                format!("~/{}", self.0)
+            }
+        } else if self.0.is_empty() {
+            format!("~/{}", base)
+        } else {
+            format!("~/{}/{}", base.trim_end_matches('/'), self.0)
+        };
+        CanonicalItemUrl::parse(&joined)
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for RelativePath {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Wire / JSON: correct-by-construction hrefs
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+fn api_path_or_url(item: &str) -> String {
+    if item.starts_with("http://") || item.starts_with("https://") {
+        item.to_string()
+    } else {
+        format!("/{}", item)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Ontology item as serialized in JSON (absolute URL or `/`-prefixed path).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(transparent)]
+pub struct GardenItemUrl(pub String);
+
+impl GardenItemUrl {
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+
+    pub fn into_inner(self) -> String {
+        self.0
+    }
+
+    /// Stored canonical id + RPC `room` field (`"public"` or `"short/slug"`).
+    pub fn from_stored(stored: &CanonicalItemUrl, room_wire: &str) -> Self {
+        Self(garden_href_string(stored.as_str(), room_wire))
+    }
+
+    /// Like [`Self::from_stored`] but accepts a string that may already be canonical.
+    pub fn from_storage_str(stored: &str, room_wire: &str) -> Self {
+        Self(garden_href_string(stored, room_wire))
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for GardenItemUrl {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+fn garden_href_string(item: &str, room_wire: &str) -> String {
+    let room = room_wire.trim();
+    if room.is_empty() || room == "public" {
+        return api_path_or_url(item);
+    }
+    let Some((short, slug)) = room.split_once('/') else {
+        return api_path_or_url(item);
+    };
+    if short.is_empty() || slug.is_empty() {
+        return api_path_or_url(item);
+    }
+    let Some(c) = CanonicalItemUrl::parse(item) else {
+        return api_path_or_url(item);
+    };
+    let root = CanonicalItemUrl::ontology_root();
+    let item_norm = c.as_str().trim_end_matches('/');
+    let root_norm = root.as_str().trim_end_matches('/');
+    if let Some(tail) = c.tilde_tail() {
+        return if tail.is_empty() {
+            format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/~")
+        } else {
+            format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/~/{}", tail)
+        };
+    }
+    if item_norm == root_norm {
+        return format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/~");
+    }
+    api_path_or_url(item)
+}
+
+/// Forum thread URL for JSON (`/t/…` or `/r/…/t/…` on slug.social).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(transparent)]
+pub struct ForumThreadUrl(pub String);
+
+impl ForumThreadUrl {
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+
+    pub fn into_inner(self) -> String {
+        self.0
+    }
+
+    pub fn from_room_tag(room_wire: &str, thread_tag: &str) -> Self {
+        let room = room_wire.trim();
+        let tag = thread_tag.trim().trim_start_matches('#');
+        Self(if room.is_empty() || room == "public" {
+            format!("https://slug.social/t/{tag}")
+        } else if let Some((short, slug)) = room.split_once('/') {
+            if short.is_empty() || slug.is_empty() {
+                format!("https://slug.social/t/{tag}")
+            } else {
+                format!("https://slug.social/r/{short}/{slug}/t/{tag}")
+            }
+        } else {
+            format!("https://slug.social/t/{tag}")
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for ForumThreadUrl {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+/// `~/a/b` style path for list UIs (paths index `path` field).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(transparent)]
+pub struct TildeOntologyPath(pub String);
+
+impl TildeOntologyPath {
+    pub fn from_stored(c: &CanonicalItemUrl) -> Self {
+        let s = match c.tilde_tail() {
+            Some(tail) if !tail.is_empty() => format!("~/{}", tail),
+            Some(_) => "~/".to_string(),
+            None => c.to_string(),
+        };
+        Self(s)
+    }
+
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for TildeOntologyPath {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn canonical_parent_deep() {
+        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/a/b/c").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(c.parent().unwrap().as_str(), "https://slug.social/~/a/b");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn canonical_parent_one_level() {
+        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/a").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(c.parent().unwrap().as_str(), "https://slug.social/~");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn canonical_parent_root_is_none() {
+        let root = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/").unwrap();
+        assert!(root.parent().is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tilde_segments_deep() {
+        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/a/b").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(c.tilde_segments(), vec!["~", "a", "b"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tilde_segments_root() {
+        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("~/").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(c.tilde_segments(), vec!["~"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tilde_segments_non_ontology_is_empty() {
+        let c = CanonicalItemUrl::parse("https://example.com/foo").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(c.tilde_segments(), Vec::<&str>::new());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn garden_public_passthrough_https() {
+        let u = "https://slug.social/~/a/b";
+        assert_eq!(GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(u, "public").as_str(), u);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn garden_private_room_prefixes_ontology() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str("https://slug.social/~/topic/x", "9ab12cd/my-room").as_str(),
+            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/~/topic/x"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn garden_private_room_ontology_root() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str("https://slug.social/~", "9ab12cd/my-room").as_str(),
+            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/~"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str("https://slug.social/~/", "9ab12cd/my-room").as_str(),
+            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/~"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn garden_external_url_untouched_in_private_room() {
+        let u = "https://example.com/z";
+        assert_eq!(GardenItemUrl::from_storage_str(u, "9ab12cd/my-room").as_str(), u);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn forum_web_public_vs_room() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            ForumThreadUrl::from_room_tag("public", "debate").as_str(),
+            "https://slug.social/t/debate"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ForumThreadUrl::from_room_tag("9ab12cd/my-room", "#debate").as_str(),
+            "https://slug.social/r/9ab12cd/my-room/t/debate"
+        );
+    }
+}