---
title: What is a quadrant?
question: what is a quadrant
area: quadrants
surface: desktop
audience: beginner
keywords: [quadrant, pane, panel, window, section, cell, tile, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, grid, four projects, parallel, workspace, split screen, what is a quadrant]
related: [whats-inside-a-quadrant, start-the-agent, the-built-in-browser]
updated: 2026-07-21
---

# What is a quadrant?

A quadrant is one self-contained project workspace inside codus. Each quadrant is pinned to a single folder on your Mac and holds everything you need for that one project: a [terminal where the coding agent runs](whats-inside-a-quadrant.md), an optional [test browser](the-built-in-browser.md), and a [side panel](whats-inside-a-quadrant.md) with your tasks and notes. codus fits up to four quadrants on screen at once in a 2x2 grid, labelled **Q1** to **Q4** (Q1 top-left, Q2 top-right, Q3 bottom-left, Q4 bottom-right). Each quadrant is completely independent: its own folder, its own agent, its own terminals. Nothing you do in one touches another.

## Q1 to Q4 is the position, not a name

The label in each top-left corner is the quadrant's slot on screen, not a fixed identity. Drag a label onto another quadrant to swap the two (you will see **Drag to swap with another quadrant**). Swapping only rearranges them on screen; each one keeps its own folder, agent, and terminals.

## A new quadrant is empty until you pin a folder

A fresh quadrant shows only a **📁 pin a worktree** button. Click it and pick your project folder. The terminal, browser, and other controls stay hidden until you do, because the quadrant does not yet know which project it belongs to.