# F-084 โ Architect: Parent categories list does not show emoji in front of the name
## Root cause
`apps/admin/src/app/(dashboard)/categories/page.tsx`, in `CategoryRow`, the cell is rendered as:
```tsx
{cat.children && cat.children.length > 0 && {cat.emoji ?? '๐'}}
```
The emoji is gated on `cat.children.length > 0`. As soon as a parent has no children yet (e.g. immediately after creation, or when children get re-parented / archived) the emoji disappears. Editing the emoji later does not bring it back because the condition is structural, not value-driven.
Child categories never matched this branch, which the bug report cites as the "already-renders-correctly" baseline.
## Design
Drop the `cat.children.length > 0` gate. Render the emoji whenever it exists; show a neutral placeholder (greyed "ยท") when not. Apply to every category (parent or child) so behaviour is uniform.
```tsx
{cat.emoji ? (
{cat.emoji}
) : (
ยท
)}
```
No backend change: emoji was already stored and returned by the categories API.
Re-editing the emoji from the form already calls `load()` after `handleSave`, so a refresh of the row is automatic. No stale state remains.
## Risk
Low. Render-only change; no schema, no API contract.
## Acceptance mapping
- "Every parent category row shows its emoji immediately before the name" โ render is now unconditional.
- "Editing the emoji reflects on next refresh" โ existing `load()` after save handles it.
- "Child categories keep their current rendering (no regression)" โ children also get emoji + neutral placeholder; consistent.
- "Categories without emoji show a neutral placeholder instead of an empty space" โ greyed `ยท` placeholder.
- "Emoji is stored and returned correctly by the API (sanitized, valid UTF-8)" โ unchanged from before; no backend touch.