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

# Contact lifecycle

> How contacts move through import, engagement, and suppression

Contacts in Nudgen move through a simple lifecycle from import to active sending, and sometimes to unsubscribed or suppressed. Understanding this helps you keep lists clean and stay within limits.

## From import to active

When you **import** contacts (CSV or add one-by-one), they are validated, encrypted, and stored. Duplicates in the same workspace are merged. New contacts are **active** and can be selected as campaign recipients.

## Receiving campaigns

**Active** contacts are eligible for campaigns. When you choose an audience (all contacts, by tags, or manual), the app counts only active, non-suppressed contacts and shows a reach estimate. Sends, opens, clicks, bounces, and unsubscribes are recorded and drive both analytics and status changes.

## Status changes

* **Unsubscribed** — Recipient used the unsubscribe link (or was marked unsubscribed manually). They are excluded from future campaign sends.
* **Suppressed / Bounced** — The delivery provider reported a bounce or added the address to a suppression list. We sync with that list and exclude these contacts from future sends to protect deliverability.

## Updates and removal

You can **update** contacts (name, tags) in the UI or by re-uploading a CSV with the same email. **Deleting** a contact removes them from the workspace; they no longer count toward your contact limit and cannot receive campaigns.

## Summary

| State                | Can receive campaigns? | Counts toward limit? |
| -------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- |
| Active               | Yes                    | Yes                  |
| Unsubscribed         | No                     | Yes\*                |
| Suppressed / Bounced | No                     | Yes\*                |

\*Unsubscribed and suppressed contacts still count toward your plan’s contact limit; you can delete them to free space.

For step-by-step lifecycle details, see [Contact lifecycle (Contacts)](/en/contacts/lifecycle). For encryption and masking, see [Contacts overview](/en/contacts/overview).