---
title: documentation-index-member-stale
description: Reports an Index Section entry for a member that is no longer relevant.
---

[← All Rules](/rules/)

## What it does

Reports an entry that targets a document or direct child directory path not owned by the current index tree.

## Why it matters

The Index Section should describe the current direct members rather than removed or unrelated paths.

## Examples

Assume `docs/old.md` has been removed.

### Non-passing

```md title="AGENTS.md"
# Source Of Truth Map

- [Old](docs/old.md) — Load for the retired workflow.
```

### Passing

```md title="AGENTS.md"
# Source Of Truth Map

- [Guide](docs/guide.md) — Load for the current workflow.
```

## When it applies

This Rule belongs to the configurable `documentation-indexes` group and runs for enabled Index Policies. Arbitrary unrelated links are not classified as stale inventory members.

## References

See [Presswork Configuration](/configuration/#indexes) for Index Sections and [`src/check/evaluate-index.ts`](https://github.com/evilkiwi/presswork/blob/main/src/check/evaluate-index.ts) for stale-target classification.