> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mutfaaq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Availability and stock

> Choose when items appear and quickly manage temporary stockouts.

Mutfaaq provides separate controls for long-term visibility, recurring availability, and temporary stockouts. Choosing the right control keeps the customer menu accurate without deleting your work.

## Choose the right control

| Situation                                     | Control to use                                                           | Customer experience                                                                       |
| --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| You no longer want to display an item for now | Turn off **Visible to guests** for a product or **Active** for an option | The item is completely hidden.                                                            |
| An item is temporarily sold out               | Turn off **In stock**                                                    | The item remains visible and is marked sold out. An option cannot be selected.            |
| An item is offered on recurring days or hours | Enable **Limit availability**                                            | Outside its schedule, the item is either unavailable or hidden, depending on your choice. |

<Tip>
  Use stock for unexpected, temporary shortages. Use availability for a predictable weekly schedule. Turn visibility off when you want to remove an item from the customer experience until you decide to bring it back.
</Tip>

## Manage temporary stockouts quickly

Use the **Out of stock** page when you need to update products or options during daily operations.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Out of stock">
    In the sidebar, open **Manage menu**, then select **Out of stock**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Mark an item as sold out">
    Select **Mark as out of stock**, search for an available product or option, then confirm your choice.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restore an item">
    Find the product or option in the out-of-stock list, then select **Mark as in stock**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The number beside **Out of stock** in the sidebar shows how many items in the selected menu are currently sold out.

<Note>
  Stock changes to the active menu are reflected on the customer menu immediately.
</Note>

## Share stock between a product and an option

An option can use its own independent stock or share the stock of a product in the same menu.

For example, link the **Extra fries** option to the **Fries** product. Marking Fries as out of stock also marks Extra fries as out of stock everywhere it is used.

When an option’s stock is managed by a product, you cannot update the option directly. Update the linked product’s stock instead.

## Schedule recurring availability

Products and entire categories can follow a weekly schedule based on the restaurant’s timezone.

You can select:

* one or more days of the week;
* an optional start and end time;
* whether the item stays visible as unavailable or becomes hidden outside the schedule.

An overnight period belongs to the day on which it starts. For example, a Friday schedule from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM ends on Saturday morning.

<Warning>
  Availability schedules repeat weekly and do not support exceptions for a specific date. For a one-off change, update the item manually and remember to restore it afterward.
</Warning>

## Understand which state takes priority

* An inactive product or option is always hidden, regardless of its stock.
* An out-of-stock item remains visible unless another visibility or availability rule hides it.
* A category hidden by its availability schedule also hides all products it contains.
* A category with no publicly visible products is automatically hidden.