diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 29a1a5d..9300d9e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ It gives you:
 - a generated excerpt when an article declares no description
 - display-ready date formatting
 - slug-based article lookup, newest first
+- optional `status` frontmatter (`current`, `archive`, or `draft`; missing or unknown values default to `current`)
+- drafts hidden outside the `local` environment unless you say otherwise
 
 It deliberately stops there: routes, controllers, Livewire components, and views
 stay in your application.
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ return [
     'article_filename' => 'page.md',
     'excerpt_length' => 220,
     'date_format' => 'M j, Y',
+    'show_drafts' => env('MARKDOWN_BLOG_SHOW_DRAFTS'),
 ];
 ```
 
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@ return [
 | `article_filename` | Only files with this exact name are treated as articles. |
 | `excerpt_length` | Truncation length for the excerpt generated when `description` is absent. An ellipsis is appended, so the result runs a few characters longer. |
 | `date_format` | PHP date format applied to `formatted_date`. |
+| `show_drafts` | Visibility of `status: draft` articles. `null` (default) shows them only when the application environment is `local`; `true` or `false` forces them on or off in every environment. |
 
 ## Article structure
 
@@ -80,6 +84,7 @@ description: "Infinite scrolling is a popular feature for content-heavy pages."
 author: "Rick Mwamodo"
 date: "2024-01-17"
 slug: "infinite-scroll-with-laravel-and-livewire"
+status: archive
 ---
 
 Article body goes here.
@@ -98,6 +103,7 @@ value — you get an empty string, not the fallback.
 | `description` | An excerpt built from the body: markdown rendered, tags stripped, whitespace collapsed, truncated to `excerpt_length`. |
 | `author` | An empty string. |
 | `date` | An empty string, and `formatted_date` is then `null`. |
+| `status` | `current`. Recognized values are `current`, `archive`, and `draft` (case-insensitive). Anything else, including a blank `status:`, is treated as `current` for backward compatibility. Start new posts as `status: draft` so they stay hidden until you publish them. |
 
 ### Frontmatter syntax
 
@@ -127,6 +133,10 @@ list, for example) in your own code.
 use apxcde\MarkdownBlog\Facades\MarkdownBlog;
 
 $articles = MarkdownBlog::all();
+$current = MarkdownBlog::current();
+$archived = MarkdownBlog::archived();
+$drafts = MarkdownBlog::drafts();
+$listed = MarkdownBlog::listed();
 $article = MarkdownBlog::findBySlug('infinite-scroll-with-laravel-and-livewire');
 ```
 
@@ -138,6 +148,10 @@ use apxcde\MarkdownBlog\MarkdownBlog;
 $blog = app(MarkdownBlog::class);
 
 $articles = $blog->all();
+$current = $blog->current();
+$archived = $blog->archived();
+$drafts = $blog->drafts();
+$listed = $blog->listed();
 $article = $blog->findBySlug('infinite-scroll-with-laravel-and-livewire');
 $repository = $blog->repository();
 ```
@@ -159,7 +173,8 @@ $article = $repository->findBySlug('infinite-scroll-with-laravel-and-livewire');
 use apxcde\MarkdownBlog\Facades\MarkdownBlog;
 
 Route::get('/blog', fn () => view('blog.index', [
-    'articles' => MarkdownBlog::all(),
+    'articles' => MarkdownBlog::listed(),
+    'archived' => MarkdownBlog::archived(),
 ]));
 
 Route::get('/blog/{slug}', function (string $slug) {
@@ -173,14 +188,45 @@ Route::get('/blog/{slug}', function (string $slug) {
 
 ### `all(): Illuminate\Support\Collection`
 
-Returns every article as an array, sorted by `date` descending — newest first.
-Articles with no date, or with a date Carbon cannot parse, sort last. If
-`articles_path` does not exist, you get an empty collection.
+Returns every **visible** article as an array, sorted by `date` descending —
+newest first. Articles with no date, or with a date Carbon cannot parse, sort
+last. If `articles_path` does not exist, you get an empty collection. `all()`
+does not hide archived articles; use `current()`, `archived()`, or `listed()`
+when a consumer wants a subset.
+
+Drafts (`status: draft`) are included only while drafts are visible. By default
+that means the application environment is `local`; set the `show_drafts` config
+key to `true` or `false` to override that in any environment. `findBySlug()`
+uses the same gate, so a hidden draft's slug resolves to `null`.
+
+Each repository instance walks `articles_path` once and reuses the result for
+every call, so `listed()` followed by `archived()` costs a single directory
+scan. Resolve a fresh instance to pick up files added since.
+
+### `current(): Illuminate\Support\Collection`
+
+Returns articles whose normalized `status` is `current`, still newest first.
+Drafts are never included.
+
+### `archived(): Illuminate\Support\Collection`
+
+Returns articles whose normalized `status` is `archive`, still newest first.
+
+### `drafts(): Illuminate\Support\Collection`
+
+Returns articles whose normalized `status` is `draft`, newest first, while
+drafts are visible. Otherwise an empty collection.
+
+### `listed(): Illuminate\Support\Collection`
+
+Returns the public listing: `current` posts, plus drafts while they are
+visible, still newest first. Archived posts are omitted.
 
 ### `findBySlug(string $slug): ?array`
 
-Returns the matching article, or `null`. The argument is run through
+Returns the matching **visible** article, or `null`. The argument is run through
 `Str::slug()` first, so `Infinite Scroll` and `infinite-scroll` both match.
+Draft slugs resolve only while drafts are visible.
 
 ## Returned article shape
 
@@ -192,6 +238,7 @@ Returns the matching article, or `null`. The argument is run through
     'author' => 'Rick Mwamodo',
     'date' => '2024-01-17',
     'formatted_date' => 'Jan 17, 2024',
+    'status' => 'archive',
     'content' => 'Article body goes here.',
 ]
 ```
diff --git a/config/markdown-blog.php b/config/markdown-blog.php
index f0b049f..c1c65ee 100644
--- a/config/markdown-blog.php
+++ b/config/markdown-blog.php
@@ -5,4 +5,11 @@
     'article_filename' => 'page.md',
     'excerpt_length' => 220,
     'date_format' => 'M j, Y',
+
+    /*
+     * Visibility of articles whose frontmatter declares `status: draft`.
+     * null (default) shows drafts only when the application environment is
+     * "local"; true or false forces them on or off in every environment.
+     */
+    'show_drafts' => env('MARKDOWN_BLOG_SHOW_DRAFTS'),
 ];
diff --git a/src/ArticleRepository.php b/src/ArticleRepository.php
index 1e372d7..aefaf61 100644
--- a/src/ArticleRepository.php
+++ b/src/ArticleRepository.php
@@ -11,26 +11,46 @@
 
 class ArticleRepository
 {
+    private ?Collection $scanned = null;
+
     public function __construct(
         private readonly FrontmatterParser $frontmatterParser,
         private readonly string $articlesPath,
         private readonly string $articleFilename = 'page.md',
         private readonly int $excerptLength = 220,
         private readonly string $dateFormat = 'M j, Y',
+        private readonly bool $showDrafts = false,
     ) {}
 
     public function all(): Collection
     {
-        if (! File::isDirectory($this->articlesPath)) {
-            return collect();
+        $articles = $this->scan();
+
+        if ($this->showDrafts) {
+            return $articles->values();
         }
 
-        return collect(File::allFiles($this->articlesPath))
-            ->filter(fn ($file) => $file->getFilename() === $this->articleFilename)
-            ->map(fn ($file) => $this->hydrate($file->getPathname()))
-            ->filter()
-            ->sort(fn (array $left, array $right) => $this->compareArticleDates($left, $right))
-            ->values();
+        return $articles->where('status', '!=', 'draft')->values();
+    }
+
+    public function current(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->all()->where('status', 'current')->values();
+    }
+
+    public function archived(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->all()->where('status', 'archive')->values();
+    }
+
+    public function drafts(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->all()->where('status', 'draft')->values();
+    }
+
+    public function listed(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->all()->where('status', '!=', 'archive')->values();
     }
 
     public function findBySlug(string $slug): ?array
@@ -60,6 +80,7 @@ private function hydrate(string $path): ?array
             'author' => $this->asString($frontmatter['author'] ?? ''),
             'date' => $date,
             'formatted_date' => $this->formatDate($date),
+            'status' => $this->normalizeStatus($this->asString($frontmatter['status'] ?? '')),
             'content' => $content,
         ];
     }
@@ -103,6 +124,36 @@ private function sortableDateValue(string $date): int
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Walk the articles directory once per repository instance.
+     */
+    private function scan(): Collection
+    {
+        if ($this->scanned !== null) {
+            return $this->scanned;
+        }
+
+        if (! File::isDirectory($this->articlesPath)) {
+            return $this->scanned = collect();
+        }
+
+        return $this->scanned = collect(File::allFiles($this->articlesPath))
+            ->filter(fn ($file) => $file->getFilename() === $this->articleFilename)
+            ->map(fn ($file) => $this->hydrate($file->getPathname()))
+            ->filter()
+            ->sort(fn (array $left, array $right) => $this->compareArticleDates($left, $right))
+            ->values();
+    }
+
+    private function normalizeStatus(string $status): string
+    {
+        return match (strtolower(trim($status))) {
+            'archive' => 'archive',
+            'draft' => 'draft',
+            default => 'current',
+        };
+    }
+
     private function asString(mixed $value): string
     {
         if ($value instanceof \DateTimeInterface) {
diff --git a/src/Facades/MarkdownBlog.php b/src/Facades/MarkdownBlog.php
index 53db3e5..c0a60a2 100644
--- a/src/Facades/MarkdownBlog.php
+++ b/src/Facades/MarkdownBlog.php
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
  * @see \apxcde\MarkdownBlog\MarkdownBlog
  *
  * @method static \Illuminate\Support\Collection all()
+ * @method static \Illuminate\Support\Collection current()
+ * @method static \Illuminate\Support\Collection archived()
+ * @method static \Illuminate\Support\Collection drafts()
+ * @method static \Illuminate\Support\Collection listed()
  * @method static array|null findBySlug(string $slug)
  * @method static \apxcde\MarkdownBlog\ArticleRepository repository()
  */
diff --git a/src/MarkdownBlog.php b/src/MarkdownBlog.php
index dd21f49..1b24d54 100755
--- a/src/MarkdownBlog.php
+++ b/src/MarkdownBlog.php
@@ -15,6 +15,26 @@ public function all(): Collection
         return $this->articleRepository->all();
     }
 
+    public function current(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->articleRepository->current();
+    }
+
+    public function archived(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->articleRepository->archived();
+    }
+
+    public function drafts(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->articleRepository->drafts();
+    }
+
+    public function listed(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->articleRepository->listed();
+    }
+
     public function findBySlug(string $slug): ?array
     {
         return $this->articleRepository->findBySlug($slug);
diff --git a/src/MarkdownBlogServiceProvider.php b/src/MarkdownBlogServiceProvider.php
index a0817cb..aef591e 100644
--- a/src/MarkdownBlogServiceProvider.php
+++ b/src/MarkdownBlogServiceProvider.php
@@ -20,12 +20,17 @@ public function packageRegistered(): void
         $this->app->singleton(FrontmatterParser::class);
 
         $this->app->bind(ArticleRepository::class, function ($app): ArticleRepository {
+            $showDrafts = $app['config']->get('markdown-blog.show_drafts');
+
             return new ArticleRepository(
                 frontmatterParser: $app->make(FrontmatterParser::class),
                 articlesPath: (string) $app['config']->get('markdown-blog.articles_path', resource_path('markdown/articles')),
                 articleFilename: (string) $app['config']->get('markdown-blog.article_filename', 'page.md'),
                 excerptLength: (int) $app['config']->get('markdown-blog.excerpt_length', 220),
                 dateFormat: (string) $app['config']->get('markdown-blog.date_format', 'M j, Y'),
+                showDrafts: $showDrafts === null
+                    ? $app->environment('local')
+                    : filter_var($showDrafts, FILTER_VALIDATE_BOOLEAN),
             );
         });
 
diff --git a/tests/ArticleRepositoryTest.php b/tests/ArticleRepositoryTest.php
index c68c2af..17ac066 100644
--- a/tests/ArticleRepositoryTest.php
+++ b/tests/ArticleRepositoryTest.php
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\File;
+use Illuminate\Support\Str;
 use apxcde\MarkdownBlog\ArticleRepository;
 use apxcde\MarkdownBlog\MarkdownBlog;
 
@@ -11,20 +13,129 @@
     $articles = app(ArticleRepository::class)->all();
 
     expect($articles->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe([
+        'archived-post',
         'custom-newest',
         'human-date',
         'no-description',
         'older-post',
+        'unknown-status',
     ])->and($articles->first())->toMatchArray([
-        'slug' => 'custom-newest',
-        'title' => 'Newest Article',
-        'description' => 'Newest description.',
+        'slug' => 'archived-post',
+        'title' => 'Archived Article',
+        'description' => 'Archived description.',
         'author' => 'Rick Mwamodo',
-        'date' => '2024-01-17',
-        'formatted_date' => 'Jan 17, 2024',
+        'date' => '2024-02-01',
+        'formatted_date' => 'Feb 1, 2024',
+        'status' => 'archive',
     ]);
 });
 
+it('defaults missing or unknown status to current and lists current before archive filters', function () {
+    $repository = app(ArticleRepository::class);
+
+    expect($repository->current()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe([
+        'custom-newest',
+        'human-date',
+        'no-description',
+        'older-post',
+        'unknown-status',
+    ])->and($repository->archived()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe([
+        'archived-post',
+    ])->and($repository->listed()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe([
+        'custom-newest',
+        'human-date',
+        'no-description',
+        'older-post',
+        'unknown-status',
+    ])->and($repository->findBySlug('no-description')['status'])->toBe('current')
+        ->and($repository->findBySlug('unknown-status')['status'])->toBe('current')
+        ->and($repository->findBySlug('archived-post')['status'])->toBe('archive')
+        ->and($repository->findBySlug('draft-post'))->toBeNull()
+        ->and($repository->drafts())->toHaveCount(0)
+        ->and($repository->all()->pluck('slug')->all())->not->toContain('draft-post');
+});
+
+it('exposes current and archived collections through the package service', function () {
+    $blog = app(MarkdownBlog::class);
+
+    expect($blog->current()->pluck('status')->unique()->all())->toBe(['current'])
+        ->and($blog->archived()->pluck('status')->unique()->all())->toBe(['archive'])
+        ->and($blog->drafts())->toHaveCount(0);
+});
+
+it('exposes drafts only when the application environment is local', function () {
+    $this->app['env'] = 'local';
+
+    $blog = app(MarkdownBlog::class);
+
+    expect($blog->drafts()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe(['draft-post'])
+        ->and($blog->all()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe([
+            'draft-post',
+            'archived-post',
+            'custom-newest',
+            'human-date',
+            'no-description',
+            'older-post',
+            'unknown-status',
+        ])->and($blog->listed()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe([
+            'draft-post',
+            'custom-newest',
+            'human-date',
+            'no-description',
+            'older-post',
+            'unknown-status',
+        ])->and($blog->current()->pluck('slug')->all())->not->toContain('draft-post')
+        ->and($blog->archived()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe(['archived-post'])
+        ->and($blog->findBySlug('draft-post'))->toMatchArray([
+            'slug' => 'draft-post',
+            'status' => 'draft',
+            'title' => 'Draft Article',
+        ]);
+});
+
+it('shows drafts in any environment when show_drafts is true', function () {
+    config()->set('markdown-blog.show_drafts', true);
+
+    $repository = app(ArticleRepository::class);
+
+    expect(app()->environment())->not->toBe('local')
+        ->and($repository->drafts()->pluck('slug')->all())->toBe(['draft-post'])
+        ->and($repository->listed()->first()['slug'])->toBe('draft-post')
+        ->and($repository->current()->pluck('slug')->all())->not->toContain('draft-post')
+        ->and($repository->findBySlug('draft-post'))->not->toBeNull();
+});
+
+it('hides drafts in the local environment when show_drafts is false', function () {
+    $this->app['env'] = 'local';
+    config()->set('markdown-blog.show_drafts', false);
+
+    $repository = app(ArticleRepository::class);
+
+    expect($repository->drafts())->toHaveCount(0)
+        ->and($repository->all()->pluck('slug')->all())->not->toContain('draft-post')
+        ->and($repository->findBySlug('draft-post'))->toBeNull();
+});
+
+it('scans the articles directory once per repository instance', function () {
+    $path = sys_get_temp_dir().'/markdown-blog-'.Str::random(8);
+    File::copyDirectory(__DIR__.'/Fixtures/articles', $path);
+    config()->set('markdown-blog.articles_path', $path);
+
+    try {
+        $repository = app(ArticleRepository::class);
+        $before = $repository->all()->count();
+
+        File::ensureDirectoryExists($path.'/late-post');
+        File::put($path.'/late-post/page.md', "---\ntitle: Late Post\ndate: 2024-05-01\n---\n\nLate body.");
+
+        expect($repository->all())->toHaveCount($before)
+            ->and($repository->findBySlug('late-post'))->toBeNull()
+            ->and(app(ArticleRepository::class)->all())->toHaveCount($before + 1);
+    } finally {
+        File::deleteDirectory($path);
+    }
+});
+
 it('sorts Carbon-parseable non-iso dates correctly', function () {
     $articles = app(ArticleRepository::class)->all()->keyBy('slug');
 
diff --git a/tests/Fixtures/articles/archived-post/page.md b/tests/Fixtures/articles/archived-post/page.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..391293a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Fixtures/articles/archived-post/page.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+title: "Archived Article"
+description: "Archived description."
+author: "Rick Mwamodo"
+date: "2024-02-01"
+status: archive
+---
+
+This is an archived article body.
diff --git a/tests/Fixtures/articles/draft-post/page.md b/tests/Fixtures/articles/draft-post/page.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9910638
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Fixtures/articles/draft-post/page.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+title: "Draft Article"
+description: "Draft description."
+author: "Rick Mwamodo"
+date: "2024-03-01"
+status: draft
+---
+
+This is a draft article body.
diff --git a/tests/Fixtures/articles/unknown-status/page.md b/tests/Fixtures/articles/unknown-status/page.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c491963
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Fixtures/articles/unknown-status/page.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+title: "Unknown Status Article"
+description: "Unknown status description."
+author: "Rick Mwamodo"
+date: "2023-01-01"
+status: preview
+---
+
+This article declares an unrecognized status and should be treated as current.