---
title: documentation-index-document-missing
description: Reports a required Index Document that does not exist.
---

[← All Rules](/rules/)

## What it does

Reports an absent configured root Index Document or an absent `README.md` required for a relevant descendant Documentation Directory.

## Why it matters

Without the document, the directory has no Index Section to inventory its direct members.

## Examples

### Non-passing

```text title="Repository tree"
AGENTS.md              # configured root Index Document
docs/
└── api/
    └── intro.md       # docs/api/README.md is absent
```

### Passing

```text title="Repository tree"
AGENTS.md
docs/
└── api/
    ├── README.md
    └── intro.md
```

## When it applies

This Rule belongs to the configurable `documentation-indexes` group and runs for enabled Index Policies. A missing root index can instead be resolved by disabling that directory's policy.

## References

See [Presswork Configuration](/configuration/#indexes) for Index Documents and [`src/check/evaluate-index.ts`](https://github.com/evilkiwi/presswork/blob/main/src/check/evaluate-index.ts) for missing-document handling.