# Learn about content stages

Learn how content stages work in the Hygraph app

## Default stages

Hygraph has two default stages, `DRAFT` and `PUBLISHED`. `DRAFT` allows people to add and edit content without affecting published content. When the content is ready to be pushed, it is added to the `PUBLISHED` stage.

**Warning:**

Some projects may have custom content stages depending on plan and configuration.

You can see the stage of a content entry on **Stages** column of the form in the content editor:

![Content stages](https://hygraph.com/images/docs/editor-guides/other-features/stages-column.png)

Note that the `PUBLISHED` stage tag is sometimes green and sometimes blue.

- `Green` means that the contents of the entry are the same as the contents currently published.
- `Blue` means that the published content is outdated, that is, that the contents of the entry are a newer version than what is currently published.

Clicking on `Publish` will update the version currently live so that the contents are the same as the entry.

![Publish button](https://hygraph.com/images/docs/editor-guides/other-features/publish-outdated-content.png)

Note that if you make any changes to the content entry, this button will say `Save & Publish` instead.

Check out our [Update content](https://hygraph.com/docs/editor-guides/content/update-content) document to learn more.

## Content staging

Content staging is a useful tool that allows Editors to compare versions of content in different stages. Remember that content might be in the blue `PUBLISHED` stage, meaning it is [outdated](https://hygraph.com/docs/editor-guides/content/update-content#outdated-content) - the version online is different from the version in your content editor.

To compare versions:

[Video: Compare content versions](https://eu-central-1-shared-euc1-02.graphassets.com/AvHQ3RDvFSousA8iwElOKz/xtOSTlnRh2jC9mhxf2nZ)

1. Navigate to the entry you want to compare in the content editor, and access its contents by clicking on the pencil icon.
2. Find the `Stages` section on the sidebar.
3. Click on the dropdown menu to display the options, and click on `Compare with current draft`.

You will get a side by side view of both entries. The live (currently published) version displays on the right of the screen, while your `DRAFT` or outdated version displays on the left.

**Tip:**

This feature can be particularly helpful when using [Custom Roles](https://hygraph.com/docs/editor-guides/basic-navigation/roles-permissions#custom-roles) to create more sophisticated workflows for the team.

For example, if a team member should only be able to create `DRAFT` content but not move it directly to the `PUBLISHED` stage, this is possible with Custom Roles.