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

# Study smarter with spaced repetition flashcard decks

> Create flashcard decks, study with the SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm, and track retention rates until you fully master your material.

Clamly flashcards use the SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm. It schedules each card individually based on your past performance, so you review the ones that need work and skip the ones you've already locked in.

## Creating a deck

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Flashcards">
    Navigate to **Flashcards** in the sidebar and click **New Deck**. Give the deck a name and an optional description.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Cards">
    Click **Add Card**. Fill in the **Front** (the prompt or question) and the **Back** (the answer or definition). Repeat for every card you want to include.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Your Deck">
    Click **Save Deck** when you've finished adding cards.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Keep each card focused on a single fact or concept. Cards that try to cover too much are harder to rate honestly, which throws off the spaced repetition schedule.
</Tip>

## Studying a deck

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a Review Session">
    Open a deck and click **Study Now**. Clamly loads the cards that are due for review today based on your previous ratings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review Each Card">
    You'll see the front of a card first. Think of the answer, then click **Reveal** to flip it and check yourself.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rate Your Recall">
    After seeing the answer, rate how well you remembered it, from "Didn't know it" to "Perfect recall." Your rating tells the algorithm when to show you that card again.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish the Session">
    Work through all due cards. Clamly shows a session summary when you're done.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How SM-2 works

Clamly uses the **SM-2 (SuperMemo 2)** algorithm to schedule every card individually based on your personal performance history.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Cards You Know Well" icon="trending-up">
    When you consistently rate a card with high confidence, SM-2 extends the interval, from days to weeks to months. You won't waste time on things you already know.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cards You Struggle With" icon="rotate">
    A low confidence rating resets or shortens the interval, bringing the card back sooner. Difficult material gets more repetition until it sticks.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ease Factor" icon="adjustments">
    Each card carries a hidden ease factor that adjusts over time. Repeated difficulty lowers it; repeated success raises it, making future scheduling smarter.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Due Cards" icon="calendar-check">
    Clamly shows you exactly how many cards are due in each deck. Staying on top of your due count is the key habit for spaced repetition to work.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  You only need to study the cards that are due. Reviewing ahead of schedule doesn't improve retention and can confuse the algorithm. Trust the schedule.
</Note>

## Tracking your progress

<Accordion title="Due Cards">
  The number of cards scheduled for review today. This is your daily study target. Keeping this count at zero each day is the most reliable path to long-term retention.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Retention Rate">
  The percentage of reviews where you rated your recall as correct. A healthy retention rate sits around 85-90%. If yours is lower, consider simplifying your cards or breaking complex ones into smaller pieces.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Mastered Cards">
  Cards with a long review interval and a high ease factor are marked as **Mastered**. A mastered card will still appear occasionally to keep the memory fresh, but far less often than new or difficult cards.
</Accordion>

## Mastering a deck

A deck is considered mastered when all of its cards reach the Mastered status. Clamly displays a visual indicator on the deck when you hit this milestone. Even after mastering a deck, continue reviewing occasionally. The algorithm will remind you with low-frequency check-ins.

## What's next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quizzes" icon="help-circle" href="/study-tools/quizzes">
    Test your recall with manual or AI-generated quiz questions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Focus Timer" icon="clock" href="/study-tools/focus-timer">
    Run a Pomodoro session while you work through your flashcard decks.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>