# Verbs (/build/concepts/verbs)



Every verb has a full conjugation:

```
qualify
  ├── qualify()      → execute (imperative)
  ├── qualifying()   → BEFORE hook (gerund)
  ├── qualified()    → AFTER hook (past tense)
  └── qualifiedBy    → audit (reverse)
```

CRUD Is Default [#crud-is-default]

Every Noun gets `create`, `update`, `delete` with full conjugation:

```typescript
import { Contact } from '@headlessly/crm'

Contact.creating(contact => { /* validate */ })
await Contact.create({ name: 'Alice', stage: 'Lead' })
Contact.created(contact => { /* react */ })
```

Custom Verbs [#custom-verbs]

Declared as properties on the Noun:

```typescript
export const Contact = Noun('Contact', {
  qualify: 'Qualified',
  capture: 'Captured',
})
```

BEFORE Hooks [#before-hooks]

Validate or reject before an action executes:

```typescript
import { Contact } from '@headlessly/crm'

Contact.qualifying(contact => {
  if (!contact.email) throw new Error('Cannot qualify without email')
  return contact
})
```

AFTER Hooks [#after-hooks]

React to what happened:

```typescript
import { Contact, Deal } from '@headlessly/crm'

Contact.qualified((contact, $) => {
  $.Issue.create({
    type: 'Task',
    subject: `Follow up with ${contact.name}`,
    contact: contact.$id,
    source: 'crm',
  })
})

Deal.closed((deal, $) => {
  $.Subscription.create({ plan: 'pro', contact: deal.contact })
  $.Contact.update(deal.contact, { stage: 'Customer' })
})
```

Same Verb, All Interfaces [#same-verb-all-interfaces]

```typescript title="SDK"
import { Contact } from '@headlessly/crm'

await Contact.qualify({ id: 'contact_uLoSfycy' })
```

```ts title="headless.ly/mcp#do"
await $.Contact.qualify({ id: 'contact_uLoSfycy' })
```

```bash title="CLI"
headlessly do Contact.qualify contact_uLoSfycy
```

```bash title="REST"
POST /~my-startup/Contact/contact_uLoSfycy/qualify
```

Code-as-Data [#code-as-data]

Handlers are serialized via `fn.toString()` and stored in the tenant's database. They execute inside the Durable Object — no separate infrastructure.

| Mode         | Latency | Use Case                     |
| ------------ | ------- | ---------------------------- |
| Code-as-data | \~0ms   | Default — runs inside the DO |
| WebSocket    | \~10ms  | Real-time streaming          |
| Webhook      | \~100ms | External integrations        |