diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9f6b6f2..1324261 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ This section tracks work landing on `dev` toward **v0.2.0** (next minor; pre-1.0
 
 - **`BridgeOpTest` wire-format contract.** Locks the four enum case values (`upsert` / `delete` / `replace` / `event`) against accidental rename — QML clients hardcode the strings, so a `value` change is a wire-protocol break and the test fails the build before it ships.
 
+### Documentation
+
+- **`docs/native-dialogs.md`.** Documents the framework boundary §12 already implied: native UI affordances (file pickers, confirmations, system notifications) live on the QML side via `Qt.labs.platform`, not in PHP. Includes copy-pasteable examples of `FileDialog`, `MessageDialog`, `SystemTrayIcon`, and the trigger-vs-effect split for server-pushed-event-driven dialogs.
+
 ## [0.1.2] — 2026-05-03
 
 Bugfix release. Bundles the v0.1.1 follow-up that surfaced during the v0.1.2 cycle (bundled-mode supervisor cleanly SIGTERMs its child on host exit) with three non-breaking fixes from a post-v0.1.1 architecture audit.
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index 9d07dd3..2b716e3 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ Developer documentation for [php-qml](../README.md). Design rationale and roadma
 - **[Makers](makers.md)** — `make:bridge:resource`, `make:bridge:command`, `make:bridge:window`.
 - **[Dev workflow](dev-workflow.md)** — hot reload (PHP + QML), dev console (`Ctrl+\``), editor configs, `bridge:doctor`.
 - **[Linux packaging](packaging-linux.md)** — `make appimage`, AppImageUpdate, performance budgets.
+- **[Native dialogs](native-dialogs.md)** — file pickers, confirmations, system notifications: where they live (QML, not PHP) and how to use the platform-native components Qt already ships.
 
 ## Reference
 
diff --git a/docs/native-dialogs.md b/docs/native-dialogs.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd8573e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/native-dialogs.md
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+# Native dialogs and notifications
+
+> **The rule:** native UI affordances — file pickers, message boxes, system notifications, tray icons — live on the **QML side**, not in PHP. PLAN.md §12 ([Native dialogs row](../PLAN.md#12-open-questions-and-risks)) treats this as a framework boundary, not an open question.
+
+## Why this boundary
+
+The Qt host owns the window, the input loop, and the platform integration. Anything that needs to talk to the OS's native chrome (a save-file dialog drawn by `kdialog` / `NSSavePanel` / `IFileSaveDialog`, a notification routed through `org.freedesktop.Notifications` / `NSUserNotificationCenter` / `ToastNotification`) is reachable from Qt and unreachable from PHP. PHP can produce data and decide *what* should happen; QML decides *how to surface it natively*.
+
+Trying to dispatch a "show me a save-file dialog" from a Symfony controller means either polling the Qt side over HTTP (slow, ugly) or shipping a second Qt↔PHP transport just for UI side-effects (unnecessary). Don't.
+
+## File pickers
+
+Use [`Qt.labs.platform.FileDialog`](https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/qml-qt-labs-platform-filedialog.html) — it draws the platform-native dialog, not Qt's fallback rendering.
+
+```qml
+import QtQuick
+import QtQuick.Controls
+import Qt.labs.platform as Platform
+
+Button {
+    text: "Open document…"
+    onClicked: openDialog.open()
+
+    Platform.FileDialog {
+        id: openDialog
+        title: "Open document"
+        nameFilters: ["JSON files (*.json)", "All files (*)"]
+        fileMode: Platform.FileDialog.OpenFile
+        onAccepted: console.log("user picked:", currentFile)
+    }
+}
+```
+
+Save-file is the same component with `fileMode: Platform.FileDialog.SaveFile`. Multi-select uses `OpenFiles` and `currentFiles` (plural).
+
+The dialog returns a `file://` URL — convert it for filesystem use with the standard QML idiom `Qt.url.toLocalFile(currentFile)` or pass the URL straight to `QFile` / `QNetworkAccessManager` if upload-as-URL fits.
+
+## Confirmations / message boxes
+
+Use [`Qt.labs.platform.MessageDialog`](https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/qml-qt-labs-platform-messagedialog.html). Same idiom — declarative component, `open()` to show, signal handlers to react.
+
+```qml
+Platform.MessageDialog {
+    id: confirmDelete
+    title: "Delete todo?"
+    text: `“${todo.title}” will be removed permanently.`
+    buttons: Platform.MessageDialog.Yes | Platform.MessageDialog.Cancel
+    onAccepted: todoModel.removeRow(index)
+}
+```
+
+For a non-modal toast-style "Saved!" feel, use Qt Quick Controls' `ToolTip.show(text, timeoutMs)` rather than a MessageDialog — that's a *banner*, not a confirmation, and shouldn't grab focus.
+
+## Notifications
+
+For "X has finished" / "you have a new Y" *system tray* notifications, use [`Qt.labs.platform.SystemTrayIcon`](https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/qml-qt-labs-platform-systemtrayicon.html) with `showMessage(title, body, icon, msecs)`:
+
+```qml
+Platform.SystemTrayIcon {
+    id: tray
+    visible: true
+    icon.source: "qrc:/icons/app.png"
+
+    Connections {
+        target: ImportJobs
+        function onCompleted(job) {
+            tray.showMessage("Import finished", `${job.rowCount} rows`)
+        }
+    }
+}
+```
+
+Caveats:
+
+- Cross-platform but **routed through the tray**. Users who hide the tray won't see the notification on Linux (the [XDG Notifications portal](https://flatpak.github.io/xdg-desktop-portal/) is the long-term fix; planned for a later release).
+- macOS: notifications go to the Notification Center even if the tray isn't visible — works without caveat.
+- Windows: same, via the action center.
+
+Richer notifications (action buttons, replies, persistent banners) need platform-specific code per OS and aren't in scope for v0.x. If your app needs them sooner, drop a `QtPlatformNotification` wrapper next to `BackendConnection` and surface it as a QML singleton — happy to merge.
+
+## Folder pickers
+
+Same `FileDialog` component, `fileMode: Platform.FileDialog.OpenDirectory`. The native dialog hides files automatically.
+
+## Standard paths
+
+Don't hard-code `~/Downloads` or `%USERPROFILE%`. Use [`Qt.labs.platform.StandardPaths`](https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/qml-qt-labs-platform-standardpaths.html):
+
+```qml
+Platform.FileDialog {
+    folder: Platform.StandardPaths.writableLocation(Platform.StandardPaths.DocumentsLocation)
+}
+```
+
+These resolve to the OS-correct location (`XDG_DOCUMENTS_DIR`, `~/Documents`, the Documents knownfolder, etc.) and stay correct under user policy / corporate config.
+
+## Anti-patterns
+
+- **Don't** `POST /api/show-dialog`. The PHP side has no hook into the user's window manager.
+- **Don't** open a `QDialog` from a Doctrine listener. Doctrine listeners run inside the FrankenPHP child process; even if they could reach Qt, they'd block the worker.
+- **Don't** roll a custom QML "FileDialog" using `Window` + `ListView` to browse the filesystem. It looks wrong on every OS, can't access OS-restricted paths (sandboxed downloads, Photos, etc.), and reinvents what Qt already ships.
+
+## When to publish a Mercure event vs open a dialog directly
+
+- **User initiates an action that needs confirmation** (delete, overwrite) → open the dialog from the QML handler that fired the action; the action only proceeds on `onAccepted`.
+- **Server-side event the user should be told about** (background job done, push notification) → publish a Mercure event on `app://event/<name>`; QML's `MercureClient` listener fires the dialog or `tray.showMessage`.
+
+The split keeps the *trigger* close to the user's intent and the *side-effect* declarative on the QML side.
+
+## See also
+
+- [QML API reference — `BackendConnection`, `MercureClient`](qml-api.md) — for handling server-pushed events that drive notifications.
+- [Update semantics](update-semantics.md) — for the `commandFailed` / `commandTimedOut` signals that often want toast or dialog feedback.