Capturing is the first of the fundamental steps of the GTD methodology. It is the habit of writing down or recording —getting out of your head— into one place anything that’s grabbing your attention (an idea, a memory, a new task or need, contact info, an appointment, etc.).

You should try to capture everything the instant it comes to mind. It’s supposed to get done quickly, without overthinking, so you can carry on with what you were doing without disruption.

This is the crucial first step to achieve a state of calmed control. It is a way to free your mind, and the goal is that the amorphous stuff you haven’t yet defined don’t generate mental noise or stress while you’re doing other tasks.

In the web app, the Capture option is always available in the top menu bar (you can also access it with CTRL‑1):

In addition to capturing stuff from the application itself, you can do it via email, through external tools like Evernote, or even from your smartphone.

Everything you capture goes into your Inbox, which you can view via the Lists option under the Organize menu.

There is an exception. If you capture something and assign it a date (using the in-line command :day), the item will go directly into the Calendar instead of your Inbox.

A bar shows your most-used tags and contacts so you don’t have to type them. Click one so it’s inserted into the entry.

Although you can capture more information — notes, files, and checklists — you should not do it unless you have that information at hand at the moment of capturing. Capture quickly, then fill in details later during the clarifying stage.

When you’re at your computer, it’s best to keep the app open so you can capture new items quickly and easily.