---
stage: Plan
group: Product Planning
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
---

# Epics **(PREMIUM ALL)**

When [issues](../../project/issues/index.md) share a theme across projects and
milestones, you can manage them by using epics.

You can also create child epics and assign start and end dates, which creates
a visual roadmap for you to view progress.

Use epics:

- When your team is working on a large feature that involves multiple discussions
  in different issues in different projects in a [group](../index.md).
- To track when the work for the group of issues is targeted to begin and end.
- To discuss and collaborate on feature ideas and scope at a high level.

<div class="video-fallback">
  See the video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0EwYYUZppw">GitLab Epics - Setting up your Organization with GitLab</a>.
</div>
<figure class="video-container">
  <iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/c0EwYYUZppw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen> </iframe>
</figure>

## Relationships between epics and issues

The possible relationships between epics and issues are:

- An epic is the parent of one or more issues.
- An epic is the parent of one or more child epics. For details see [Multi-level child epics](manage_epics.md#multi-level-child-epics).

```mermaid
graph TD
    Parent_epic --> Issue1
    Parent_epic --> Child_epic
    Child_epic --> Issue2
```

Also, read more about possible [planning hierarchies](../planning_hierarchy/index.md).

### Child issues from different group hierarchies

> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/371081) in GitLab 15.5 [with a flag](../../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `epic_issues_from_different_hierarchies`. Disabled by default.
> - [Enabled on GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/373304) in GitLab 15.5.
> - Feature flag `epic_issues_from_different_hierarchies` removed in GitLab 15.6.

You can add issues from a different group hierarchy to an epic.
To do it, paste the issue URL when
[adding an existing issue](manage_epics.md#add-an-existing-issue-to-an-epic).

## Roadmap in epics **(ULTIMATE ALL)**

If your epic contains one or more [child epics](manage_epics.md#multi-level-child-epics) that
have a start or due date, a visual
[roadmap](../roadmap/index.md) of the child epics is listed under the parent epic.

![Child epics roadmap](img/epic_view_roadmap_v12_9.png)

## Related topics

- [Manage epics](manage_epics.md) and multi-level child epics.
- Link [related epics](linked_epics.md) based on a type of relationship.
- Create workflows with [epic boards](epic_boards.md).
- [Turn on notifications](../../profile/notifications.md) for about epic events.
- [Add an emoji reaction](../../emoji_reactions.md) to an epic or its comments.
- Collaborate on an epic by posting comments in a [thread](../../discussions/index.md).
- Use [health status](../../project/issues/managing_issues.md#health-status) to track your progress.

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