feat(canvas): hide contexts into a collapsed group

Add a "Hide context" action to each context's three-dot / right-click menu in
the Contexts explorer, mirroring "Star context". Hidden contexts drop out of the
starred and main lists and collapse into a "Hidden" group at the bottom of the
sidebar (collapsed by default).

Hidden state persists per-user via desktop file-system shortcuts (a distinct
"hidden-folder" shortcut type), reusing the shared shortcuts query so stars and
hides don't double-fetch.

Generated-By: PostHog Code
Task-Id: 4c16844c-acc9-4124-909d-f07335710a91

Author: mayteio

packages/shared/src/analytics-events.ts

@@ -863,6 +863,8 @@ export type ChannelActionType =
   | "delete"
   | "star"
   | "unstar"
+  | "hide"
+  | "unhide"
   | "edit_context_open"
   | "new_task_open"
   | "new_task_suggestion"
@@ -966,6 +968,7 @@ export interface ChannelsSpaceViewedProperties {
   /** Total channels visible when the space mounts. */
   channel_count: number;
   starred_count: number;
+  hidden_count: number;
 }
 
 // Subscription / billing events

packages/ui/src/features/canvas/components/ChannelsList.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import {
+  CaretDownIcon,
+  CaretRightIcon,
   ChartBarIcon,
   DotsThreeIcon,
+  EyeIcon,
+  EyeSlashIcon,
   FileTextIcon,
   LinkIcon,
   LockSimpleIcon,
@@ -40,6 +44,10 @@ import { ANALYTICS_EVENTS } from "@posthog/shared/analytics-events";
 import { CreateChannelModal } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/components/CreateChannelModal";
 import { RenameChannelModal } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/components/RenameChannelModal";
 import { trackAndCreateCanvas } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/createCanvasAnalytics";
+import {
+  useChannelHides,
+  useChannelHideToggle,
+} from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/hooks/useChannelHides";
 import {
   useChannelStars,
   useChannelStarToggle,
@@ -76,9 +84,10 @@ type ChannelActionItem = {
   separatorBefore?: boolean;
 };
 
-// The channel actions (star, copy link, rename, delete) plus the rename-modal
-// state they drive. Single source of truth so the dropdown and context menus
-// stay in lockstep — add an action here and both surfaces pick it up.
+// The channel actions (star, hide, copy link, rename, delete) plus the
+// rename-modal state they drive. Single source of truth so the dropdown and
+// context menus stay in lockstep — add an action here and both surfaces pick
+// it up.
 function useChannelActions(channel: Channel): {
   actions: ChannelActionItem[];
   renameOpen: boolean;
@@ -96,6 +105,8 @@ function useChannelActions(channel: Channel): {
   const pathname = useRouterState({ select: (s) => s.location.pathname });
   const { deleteChannel, isDeleting } = useChannelMutations();
   const { isStarred, toggleStar, removeStar } = useChannelStarToggle(channel);
+  const { isHidden, toggleHidden, removeHidden } =
+    useChannelHideToggle(channel);
 
   // Runs the actual delete once confirmed. Returns whether it succeeded so the
   // dialog can stay open (and show the toast) on failure.
@@ -120,6 +131,7 @@ function useChannelActions(channel: Channel): {
 
       await deleteChannel(channel.id);
       removeStar();
+      removeHidden();
       track(ANALYTICS_EVENTS.CHANNEL_ACTION, {
         action_type: "delete",
         surface: "sidebar",
@@ -159,6 +171,19 @@ function useChannelActions(channel: Channel): {
         toggleStar();
       },
     },
+    {
+      key: "hide",
+      label: isHidden ? "Unhide context" : "Hide context",
+      icon: isHidden ? <EyeIcon size={14} /> : <EyeSlashIcon size={14} />,
+      onSelect: () => {
+        track(ANALYTICS_EVENTS.CHANNEL_ACTION, {
+          action_type: isHidden ? "unhide" : "hide",
+          surface: "sidebar",
+          channel_id: channel.id,
+        });
+        toggleHidden();
+      },
+    },
     {
       key: "copy-link",
       label: "Copy link",
@@ -532,17 +557,26 @@ function PersonalChannelRow() {
 
 // The channel list — the Channels space sidebar body. The private "#me"
 // channel is pinned at the top; starred channels surface in their own section
-// so the ones you use most stay in reach; the rest sit under a "Channels"
-// label with the "New" channel button.
+// so the ones you use most stay in reach; the rest sit under a "Contexts"
+// label with the "New" channel button; channels the user has hidden collapse
+// into a "Hidden" group at the bottom.
 export function ChannelsList() {
   const { channels: allChannels, isLoading } = useChannels();
   const { starredRefToShortcutId } = useChannelStars();
+  const { hiddenRefToShortcutId } = useChannelHides();
   const [modalOpen, setModalOpen] = useState(false);
+  // The "Hidden" group is collapsed by default — hidden channels are ones the
+  // user chose to get out of the way.
+  const [hiddenExpanded, setHiddenExpanded] = useState(false);
 
   // The "me" folder renders as the pinned personal row, not a shared channel.
   const channels = allChannels.filter((c) => c.name !== PERSONAL_CHANNEL_NAME);
-  const starred = channels.filter((c) => starredRefToShortcutId.has(c.path));
-  const others = channels.filter((c) => !starredRefToShortcutId.has(c.path));
+  // Hiding wins over starring: a hidden channel leaves both the starred and
+  // main lists and only surfaces under the collapsed "Hidden" group.
+  const hidden = channels.filter((c) => hiddenRefToShortcutId.has(c.path));
+  const visible = channels.filter((c) => !hiddenRefToShortcutId.has(c.path));
+  const starred = visible.filter((c) => starredRefToShortcutId.has(c.path));
+  const others = visible.filter((c) => !starredRefToShortcutId.has(c.path));
 
   // Fire CHANNELS_SPACE_VIEWED once per space mount, after channels first load
   // (so the counts are accurate). The sidebar stays mounted while navigating
@@ -554,8 +588,9 @@ export function ChannelsList() {
     track(ANALYTICS_EVENTS.CHANNELS_SPACE_VIEWED, {
       channel_count: channels.length,
       starred_count: starred.length,
+      hidden_count: hidden.length,
     });
-  }, [isLoading, channels.length, starred.length]);
+  }, [isLoading, channels.length, starred.length, hidden.length]);
 
   return (
     // One shared provider groups every row tooltip so that once one shows,
@@ -608,6 +643,36 @@ export function ChannelsList() {
             <ChannelSection key={channel.id} channel={channel} />
           ))}
         </div>
+
+        {hidden.length > 0 && (
+          <Box className="mt-3">
+            <MenuLabel className="uppercase">
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                aria-expanded={hiddenExpanded}
+                onClick={() => setHiddenExpanded((open) => !open)}
+                className="flex w-full items-center gap-2"
+              >
+                {hiddenExpanded ? (
+                  <CaretDownIcon size={14} className="text-gray-9" />
+                ) : (
+                  <CaretRightIcon size={14} className="text-gray-9" />
+                )}
+                <EyeSlashIcon size={14} className="text-gray-9" />
+                Hidden
+                <span className="ml-0.5 text-gray-9">{hidden.length}</span>
+              </button>
+            </MenuLabel>
+          </Box>
+        )}
+
+        {hidden.length > 0 && hiddenExpanded && (
+          <div className="pl-2">
+            {hidden.map((channel) => (
+              <ChannelSection key={channel.id} channel={channel} />
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        )}
       </Flex>
 
       <CreateChannelModal open={modalOpen} onOpenChange={setModalOpen} />

packages/ui/src/features/canvas/hooks/useChannelHides.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import type { Schemas } from "@posthog/api-client";
+import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { act, renderHook, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+const mockClient = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  getDesktopFileSystemShortcuts: vi.fn(),
+  createDesktopFileSystemShortcut: vi.fn(),
+  deleteDesktopFileSystemShortcut: vi.fn(),
+}));
+vi.mock("@posthog/ui/features/auth/authClient", () => ({
+  useOptionalAuthenticatedClient: () => mockClient,
+}));
+vi.mock("@posthog/ui/primitives/toast", () => ({
+  toast: { error: vi.fn(), success: vi.fn() },
+}));
+
+import { useChannelHides, useChannelHideToggle } from "./useChannelHides";
+import type { Channel } from "./useChannels";
+
+function shortcut(
+  id: string,
+  type: string,
+  ref: string | null,
+): Schemas.FileSystemShortcut {
+  return {
+    id,
+    path: ref?.replace(/^\/+/, "") ?? "x",
+    type,
+    ref,
+    created_at: "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
+  };
+}
+
+function channel(id: string, name: string, path: string): Channel {
+  return { id, name, path };
+}
+
+let queryClient: QueryClient;
+function wrapper({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+  return (
+    <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>{children}</QueryClientProvider>
+  );
+}
+
+describe("useChannelHides", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    queryClient = new QueryClient({
+      defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("maps hidden-folder shortcuts by ref, ignoring stars and ref-less rows", async () => {
+    mockClient.getDesktopFileSystemShortcuts.mockResolvedValue([
+      shortcut("s1", "hidden-folder", "/alpha"),
+      shortcut("s2", "folder", "/beta"), // a star, not a hide
+      shortcut("s3", "hidden-folder", null), // no ref to link
+    ]);
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useChannelHides(), { wrapper });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.isLoading).toBe(false));
+
+    expect([...result.current.hiddenRefToShortcutId.entries()]).toEqual([
+      ["/alpha", "s1"],
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("hides an unhidden channel via its raw path, updating the cache immediately", async () => {
+    mockClient.getDesktopFileSystemShortcuts.mockResolvedValue([]);
+
+    const hides = renderHook(() => useChannelHides(), { wrapper });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(hides.result.current.isLoading).toBe(false));
+
+    const created = shortcut("s1", "hidden-folder", "/alpha");
+    mockClient.createDesktopFileSystemShortcut.mockResolvedValue(created);
+    // Hang the refetch so only the optimistic cache write is exercised.
+    mockClient.getDesktopFileSystemShortcuts.mockReturnValue(
+      new Promise(() => {}),
+    );
+
+    const toggle = renderHook(
+      () => useChannelHideToggle(channel("1", "alpha", "/alpha")),
+      { wrapper },
+    );
+    expect(toggle.result.current.isHidden).toBe(false);
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      toggle.result.current.toggleHidden();
+    });
+
+    expect(mockClient.createDesktopFileSystemShortcut).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      path: "alpha",
+      type: "hidden-folder",
+      ref: "/alpha",
+    });
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(hides.result.current.hiddenRefToShortcutId.get("/alpha")).toBe(
+        "s1",
+      ),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("unhides a hidden channel by deleting its shortcut id", async () => {
+    mockClient.getDesktopFileSystemShortcuts.mockResolvedValue([
+      shortcut("s1", "hidden-folder", "/alpha"),
+    ]);
+
+    const hides = renderHook(() => useChannelHides(), { wrapper });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(hides.result.current.isLoading).toBe(false));
+
+    mockClient.deleteDesktopFileSystemShortcut.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    mockClient.getDesktopFileSystemShortcuts.mockReturnValue(
+      new Promise(() => {}),
+    );
+
+    const toggle = renderHook(
+      () => useChannelHideToggle(channel("1", "alpha", "/alpha")),
+      { wrapper },
+    );
+    expect(toggle.result.current.isHidden).toBe(true);
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      toggle.result.current.toggleHidden();
+    });
+
+    expect(mockClient.deleteDesktopFileSystemShortcut).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "s1",
+    );
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(hides.result.current.hiddenRefToShortcutId.has("/alpha")).toBe(
+        false,
+      ),
+    );
+  });
+});