`operator`
==========

Spec: descriptive guidance, not a checkable rule.
It carries no forbidden and instead pair, and no `jig check` detector applies to it directly.
Section: Interface modes

**For:** internal tools, admin areas, back-office, data entry, monitoring.
**Reader:** expert, in the tool for hours, keyboard-driven, high repetition.
**Tiebreaker:** speed of repeated use over clarity of first use. Discoverability is worth sacrificing for throughput here, and nowhere else.

| Property | This mode selects |
| --- | --- |
| UI text | `--text-body` |
| Long-form text | `--text-prose` · `--leading-prose` |
| Heading ramp | `--text-h3` → `--text-h2` → `--text-h1` |
| Type ratio | 1.125 Major Second — the smallest of the three |
| Measure | `--measure-prose` (prose only; data columns are not prose) |
| Section rhythm | `--spacing-section` |
| Card padding | `--spacing-card` |
| Control height | `--size-control` — the shortest of the three (`--size-control-sm` in compact rows) |
| Table row height | `--size-row` (`--size-row-compact` in compact rows) |
| Radius | `--radius-control` (sm) · `--radius-surface` (sm) — both sm in this mode |
| Elevation | `--shadow-none`; overlays only, minimal |
| Motion | `--duration-base`; **no entrance animation of any kind** |
| Colour usage | Neutral-dominant. Colour is *exclusively* semantic. No decorative accent. |
| Imagery | None. Icons only. |
| Keyboard | Full keyboard operation mandatory. Shortcut reference required. |
| Numerals | Tabular figures mandatory on all numeric columns |

Resolved values: `02-tokens.md` — the option sets for type, spacing, radius and shadow, and "Sizes and motion, by mode" for control heights, row heights, durations and measure.

**Mode-specific rules**
- Density is the feature. More rows visible beats more comfortable rows.
- Every table supports: sort, filter, column visibility, and a stable row identity across refreshes.
- Bulk actions wherever a single action exists on more than ~20 rows.
- Destructive actions require typed confirmation, not a checkbox.
- Timestamps are absolute and precise, with relative time secondary. "3 hours ago" is unacceptable alone in an audit context.
- Never hide information behind hover in a tool used all day. Truncation must be resolvable by click or expand, not hover.
- Latency budget: any action a user repeats hourly responds in under 200ms or shows progress.