diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 767fa918a..d7d9560a3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import "./styles/cookieconsent.css";
 import "./index.css";
 import { RightRailProvider } from "./contexts/RightRailContext";
 import { ViewerProvider } from "./contexts/ViewerContext";
+import ToastPlayground from "./components/toast/ToastPlayground";
 
 // Import file ID debugging helpers (development only)
 import "./utils/fileIdSafety";
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ export default function App() {
                     <ViewerProvider>
                       <RightRailProvider>
                         <HomePage />
+                        {import.meta.env.DEV && <ToastPlayground />}
                       </RightRailProvider>
                     </ViewerProvider>
                   </SidebarProvider>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx
index f03404eac..5ba24b513 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import FileEditorThumbnail from './FileEditorThumbnail';
 import FilePickerModal from '../shared/FilePickerModal';
 import SkeletonLoader from '../shared/SkeletonLoader';
 import { FileId, StirlingFile } from '../../types/fileContext';
+import { alert } from '../toast';
 import { downloadBlob } from '../../utils/downloadUtils';
 
 
@@ -48,6 +49,14 @@ const FileEditor = ({
 
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  // Toast helpers
+  const showStatus = useCallback((message: string, type: 'neutral' | 'success' | 'warning' | 'error' = 'neutral') => {
+    alert({ alertType: type, title: message, expandable: false, durationMs: 4000 });
+  }, []);
+  const showError = useCallback((message: string) => {
+    alert({ alertType: 'error', title: 'Error', body: message, expandable: true });
+  }, []);
   const [selectionMode, setSelectionMode] = useState(toolMode);
 
   // Enable selection mode automatically in tool mode
@@ -157,18 +166,18 @@ const FileEditor = ({
 
       // Show any errors
       if (errors.length > 0) {
-        setError(errors.join('\n'));
+        showError(errors.join('\n'));
       }
 
       // Process all extracted files
       if (allExtractedFiles.length > 0) {
         // Add files to context (they will be processed automatically)
         await addFiles(allExtractedFiles);
-        setStatus(`Added ${allExtractedFiles.length} files`);
+        showStatus(`Added ${allExtractedFiles.length} files`, 'success');
       }
     } catch (err) {
       const errorMessage = err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to process files';
-      setError(errorMessage);
+      showError(errorMessage);
       console.error('File processing error:', err);
 
       // Reset extraction progress on error
@@ -206,7 +215,7 @@ const FileEditor = ({
       } else {
         // Check if we've hit the selection limit
         if (maxAllowed > 1 && currentSelectedIds.length >= maxAllowed) {
-          setStatus(`Maximum ${maxAllowed} files can be selected`);
+          showStatus(`Maximum ${maxAllowed} files can be selected`, 'warning');
           return;
         }
         newSelection = [...currentSelectedIds, contextFileId];
@@ -271,7 +280,7 @@ const FileEditor = ({
 
     // Update status
     const moveCount = filesToMove.length;
-    setStatus(`${moveCount > 1 ? `${moveCount} files` : 'File'} reordered`);
+    showStatus(`${moveCount > 1 ? `${moveCount} files` : 'File'} reordered`);
   }, [activeStirlingFileStubs, reorderFiles, setStatus]);
 
 
@@ -314,10 +323,10 @@ const FileEditor = ({
     try {
       // Use FileContext to handle loading stored files
       // The files are already in FileContext, just need to add them to active files
-      setStatus(`Loaded ${selectedFiles.length} files from storage`);
+      showStatus(`Loaded ${selectedFiles.length} files from storage`);
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Error loading files from storage:', err);
-      setError('Failed to load some files from storage');
+      showError('Failed to load some files from storage');
     }
   }, []);
 
@@ -408,7 +417,7 @@ const FileEditor = ({
                   onToggleFile={toggleFile}
                   onDeleteFile={handleDeleteFile}
                   onViewFile={handleViewFile}
-                  onSetStatus={setStatus}
+                  onSetStatus={showStatus}
                   onReorderFiles={handleReorderFiles}
                   onDownloadFile={handleDownloadFile}
                   toolMode={toolMode}
@@ -428,31 +437,7 @@ const FileEditor = ({
         onSelectFiles={handleLoadFromStorage}
       />
 
-      {status && (
-        <Portal>
-          <Notification
-            color="blue"
-            mt="md"
-            onClose={() => setStatus(null)}
-            style={{ position: 'fixed', bottom: 40, right: 80, zIndex: 10001 }}
-          >
-            {status}
-          </Notification>
-        </Portal>
-      )}
-
-      {error && (
-        <Portal>
-          <Notification
-            color="red"
-            mt="md"
-            onClose={() => setError(null)}
-            style={{ position: 'fixed', bottom: 80, right: 20, zIndex: 10001 }}
-          >
-            {error}
-          </Notification>
-        </Portal>
-      )}
+      
       </Box>
     </Dropzone>
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditorThumbnail.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditorThumbnail.tsx
index f28713c73..a933ddf1c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditorThumbnail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditorThumbnail.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import React, { useState, useCallback, useRef, useMemo, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { Text, ActionIcon, CheckboxIndicator } from '@mantine/core';
+import { alert } from '../toast';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import MoreVertIcon from '@mui/icons-material/MoreVert';
 import DownloadOutlinedIcon from '@mui/icons-material/DownloadOutlined';
@@ -263,10 +264,10 @@ const FileEditorThumbnail = ({
               if (actualFile) {
                 if (isPinned) {
                   unpinFile(actualFile);
-                  onSetStatus?.(`Unpinned ${file.name}`);
+                  alert({ alertType: 'neutral', title: `Unpinned ${file.name}`, expandable: false, durationMs: 3000 });
                 } else {
                   pinFile(actualFile);
-                  onSetStatus?.(`Pinned ${file.name}`);
+                  alert({ alertType: 'success', title: `Pinned ${file.name}`, expandable: false, durationMs: 3000 });
                 }
               }
               setShowActions(false);
@@ -278,7 +279,7 @@ const FileEditorThumbnail = ({
 
           <button
             className={styles.actionRow}
-            onClick={() => { onDownloadFile(file.id); setShowActions(false); }}
+            onClick={() => { onDownloadFile(file.id); alert({ alertType: 'success', title: `Downloading ${file.name}`, expandable: false, durationMs: 2500 }); setShowActions(false); }}
           >
             <DownloadOutlinedIcon fontSize="small" />
             <span>{t('download', 'Download')}</span>
@@ -290,7 +291,7 @@ const FileEditorThumbnail = ({
             className={`${styles.actionRow} ${styles.actionDanger}`}
             onClick={() => {
               onDeleteFile(file.id);
-              onSetStatus(`Deleted ${file.name}`);
+              alert({ alertType: 'neutral', title: `Deleted ${file.name}`, expandable: false, durationMs: 3500 });
               setShowActions(false);
             }}
           >
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/shared/RainbowThemeProvider.tsx b/frontend/src/components/shared/RainbowThemeProvider.tsx
index 21c46cf72..e452538fb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/shared/RainbowThemeProvider.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/shared/RainbowThemeProvider.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ import { MantineProvider } from '@mantine/core';
 import { useRainbowTheme } from '../../hooks/useRainbowTheme';
 import { mantineTheme } from '../../theme/mantineTheme';
 import rainbowStyles from '../../styles/rainbow.module.css';
+import { ToastProvider } from '../toast';
+import ToastRenderer from '../toast/ToastRenderer';
+import { ToastPortalBinder } from '../toast';
 
 interface RainbowThemeContextType {
   themeMode: 'light' | 'dark' | 'rainbow';
@@ -44,7 +47,11 @@ export function RainbowThemeProvider({ children }: RainbowThemeProviderProps) {
           className={rainbowTheme.isRainbowMode ? rainbowStyles.rainbowMode : ''}
           style={{ minHeight: '100vh' }}
         >
-          {children}
+          <ToastProvider>
+            <ToastPortalBinder />
+            {children}
+            <ToastRenderer />
+          </ToastProvider>
         </div>
       </MantineProvider>
     </RainbowThemeContext.Provider>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastContext.tsx b/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastContext.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..668c1df9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastContext.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import React, { createContext, useCallback, useContext, useMemo, useRef, useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { ToastApi, ToastInstance, ToastOptions } from './types';
+
+function normalizeProgress(value: number | undefined): number | undefined {
+  if (typeof value !== 'number' || Number.isNaN(value)) return undefined;
+  // Accept 0..1 as fraction or 0..100 as percent
+  if (value <= 1) return Math.max(0, Math.min(1, value)) * 100;
+  return Math.max(0, Math.min(100, value));
+}
+
+function generateId() {
+  return `toast_${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 9)}`;
+}
+
+type DefaultOpts = Required<Pick<ToastOptions, 'alertType' | 'title' | 'isPersistentPopup' | 'location' | 'durationMs'>> &
+  Partial<Omit<ToastOptions, 'id' | 'alertType' | 'title' | 'isPersistentPopup' | 'location' | 'durationMs'>>;
+
+const defaultOptions: DefaultOpts = {
+  alertType: 'neutral',
+  title: '',
+  isPersistentPopup: false,
+  location: 'bottom-right',
+  durationMs: 6000,
+};
+
+interface ToastContextShape extends ToastApi {
+  toasts: ToastInstance[];
+}
+
+const ToastContext = createContext<ToastContextShape | null>(null);
+
+export function useToast() {
+  const ctx = useContext(ToastContext);
+  if (!ctx) throw new Error('useToast must be used within ToastProvider');
+  return ctx;
+}
+
+export function ToastProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
+  const [toasts, setToasts] = useState<ToastInstance[]>([]);
+  const timers = useRef<Record<string, number>>({});
+
+  const scheduleAutoDismiss = useCallback((toast: ToastInstance) => {
+    if (toast.isPersistentPopup) return;
+    window.clearTimeout(timers.current[toast.id]);
+    timers.current[toast.id] = window.setTimeout(() => {
+      setToasts(prev => prev.filter(t => t.id !== toast.id));
+    }, toast.durationMs);
+  }, []);
+
+  const show = useCallback<ToastApi['show']>((options) => {
+    const id = options.id || generateId();
+    const merged: ToastInstance = {
+      ...defaultOptions,
+      ...options,
+      id,
+      progress: normalizeProgress(options.progressBarPercentage),
+      justCompleted: false,
+      expandable: options.expandable !== false,
+      isExpanded: options.expandable === false ? true : false,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+    } as ToastInstance;
+    setToasts(prev => {
+      const next = [...prev.filter(t => t.id !== id), merged];
+      return next;
+    });
+    scheduleAutoDismiss(merged);
+    return id;
+  }, [scheduleAutoDismiss]);
+
+  const update = useCallback<ToastApi['update']>((id, updates) => {
+    setToasts(prev => prev.map(t => {
+      if (t.id !== id) return t;
+      const progress = updates.progressBarPercentage !== undefined
+        ? normalizeProgress(updates.progressBarPercentage)
+        : t.progress;
+
+      const next: ToastInstance = {
+        ...t,
+        ...updates,
+        progress,
+      } as ToastInstance;
+
+      // Detect completion
+      if (typeof progress === 'number' && progress >= 100 && !t.justCompleted) {
+        // On completion: finalize type as success unless explicitly provided otherwise
+        next.justCompleted = false;
+        if (!updates.alertType) {
+          next.alertType = 'success';
+        }
+      }
+
+      return next;
+    }));
+  }, []);
+
+  const updateProgress = useCallback<ToastApi['updateProgress']>((id, progress) => {
+    update(id, { progressBarPercentage: progress });
+  }, [update]);
+
+  const dismiss = useCallback<ToastApi['dismiss']>((id) => {
+    setToasts(prev => prev.filter(t => t.id !== id));
+    window.clearTimeout(timers.current[id]);
+    delete timers.current[id];
+  }, []);
+
+  const dismissAll = useCallback<ToastApi['dismissAll']>(() => {
+    setToasts([]);
+    Object.values(timers.current).forEach(t => window.clearTimeout(t));
+    timers.current = {};
+  }, []);
+
+  const value = useMemo<ToastContextShape>(() => ({
+    toasts,
+    show,
+    update,
+    updateProgress,
+    dismiss,
+    dismissAll,
+  }), [toasts, show, update, updateProgress, dismiss, dismissAll]);
+
+  // Handle expand/collapse toggles from renderer without widening API
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handler = (e: Event) => {
+      const detail = (e as CustomEvent).detail as { id: string } | undefined;
+      if (!detail?.id) return;
+      setToasts(prev => prev.map(t => t.id === detail.id ? { ...t, isExpanded: !t.isExpanded } : t));
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('toast:toggle', handler as EventListener);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('toast:toggle', handler as EventListener);
+  }, []);
+
+  return (
+    <ToastContext.Provider value={value}>{children}</ToastContext.Provider>
+  );
+}
+
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastPlayground.tsx b/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastPlayground.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5d52fa7a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastPlayground.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { alert, updateToastProgress, updateToast, dismissToast, dismissAllToasts } from './index';
+
+function wait(ms: number) {
+  return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+}
+
+export default function ToastPlayground() {
+  const runProgress = async () => {
+    const id = alert({
+      alertType: 'neutral',
+      title: 'Downloading…',
+      body: 'Fetching data from server',
+      progressBarPercentage: 0,
+      isPersistentPopup: true,
+      location: 'bottom-right',
+    });
+    for (let p = 0; p <= 100; p += 10) {
+      updateToastProgress(id, p);
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+      await wait(250);
+    }
+    updateToast(id, { title: 'Download complete', body: 'File saved', isPersistentPopup: false, alertType: 'success' });
+    setTimeout(() => dismissToast(id), 2000);
+  };
+
+  const withButtons = () => {
+    alert({
+      alertType: 'warning',
+      title: 'Replace existing file?',
+      body: 'A file with the same name already exists.',
+      buttonText: 'Replace',
+      buttonCallback: () => alert({ alertType: 'success', title: 'Replaced', body: 'Your file has been replaced.' }),
+      isPersistentPopup: true,
+      location: 'top-right',
+    });
+  };
+
+  const withCustomIcon = () => {
+    alert({
+      alertType: 'neutral',
+      title: 'Custom icon',
+      body: 'This toast shows a custom SVG icon.',
+      icon: (
+        <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+          <circle cx="10" cy="10" r="9" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" />
+          <path d="M10 5v6" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" />
+          <circle cx="10" cy="14.5" r="1" fill="currentColor" />
+        </svg>
+      ),
+      isPersistentPopup: false,
+      location: 'top-left',
+    });
+  };
+
+  const differentLocations = () => {
+    (['top-left', 'top-right', 'bottom-left', 'bottom-right'] as const).forEach((loc) => {
+      alert({ alertType: 'neutral', title: `Toast @ ${loc}`, body: 'Location test', location: loc });
+    });
+  };
+
+  const success = () => alert({ alertType: 'success', title: 'Success', body: 'Operation completed.' });
+  const error = () => alert({ alertType: 'error', title: 'Error', body: 'Something went wrong.' });
+  const warning = () => alert({ alertType: 'warning', title: 'Warning', body: 'Please check your inputs.' });
+  const neutral = () => alert({ alertType: 'neutral', title: 'Information', body: 'Heads up!' });
+
+  const persistent = () => alert({ alertType: 'neutral', title: 'Persistent toast', body: 'Click × to close.', isPersistentPopup: true });
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      style={{
+        position: 'fixed',
+        left: 0,
+        right: 0,
+        bottom: 0,
+        zIndex: 1150,
+        background: 'linear-gradient(to top, rgba(0,0,0,0.08), transparent)',
+        padding: '12px 8px',
+        pointerEvents: 'auto',
+      }}
+    >
+      <div
+        style={{
+          display: 'flex',
+          gap: 8,
+          overflowX: 'auto',
+          padding: '8px',
+          borderRadius: 12,
+          background: 'var(--bg-surface)',
+          border: '1px solid var(--border-default)',
+        }}
+      >
+        <Button onClick={success}>Success</Button>
+        <Button onClick={error}>Error</Button>
+        <Button onClick={warning}>Warning</Button>
+        <Button onClick={neutral}>Neutral</Button>
+        <Divider />
+        <Button onClick={withButtons}>With button</Button>
+        <Button onClick={withCustomIcon}>Custom icon</Button>
+        <Button onClick={differentLocations}>All locations</Button>
+        <Button onClick={runProgress}>Progress demo</Button>
+        <Button onClick={persistent}>Persistent</Button>
+        <Divider />
+        <Button onClick={() => dismissAllToasts()}>Dismiss all</Button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function Button({ onClick, children }: { onClick: () => void; children: React.ReactNode }) {
+  return (
+    <button
+      onClick={onClick}
+      style={{
+        whiteSpace: 'nowrap',
+        padding: '8px 12px',
+        borderRadius: 10,
+        border: '1px solid var(--border-default)',
+        background: 'var(--bg-surface)',
+        color: 'var(--text-primary)',
+        fontWeight: 600,
+        cursor: 'pointer',
+      }}
+    >
+      {children}
+    </button>
+  );
+}
+
+function Divider() {
+  return <div style={{ width: 1, background: 'var(--border-default)' }} />;
+}
+
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastRenderer.tsx b/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastRenderer.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a525abcc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/toast/ToastRenderer.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { useToast } from './ToastContext';
+import { ToastInstance, ToastLocation } from './types';
+import { LocalIcon } from '../shared/LocalIcon';
+
+const locationToClass: Record<ToastLocation, React.CSSProperties> = {
+  'top-left': { top: 16, left: 16, flexDirection: 'column' },
+  'top-right': { top: 16, right: 16, flexDirection: 'column' },
+  'bottom-left': { bottom: 16, left: 16, flexDirection: 'column-reverse' },
+  'bottom-right': { bottom: 16, right: 16, flexDirection: 'column-reverse' },
+};
+
+function getColors(t: ToastInstance) {
+  switch (t.alertType) {
+    case 'success':
+      return { bg: 'var(--color-green-100)', border: 'var(--color-green-400)', text: 'var(--text-primary)', bar: 'var(--color-green-500)' };
+    case 'error':
+      return { bg: 'var(--color-red-100)', border: 'var(--color-red-400)', text: 'var(--text-primary)', bar: 'var(--color-red-500)' };
+    case 'warning':
+      return { bg: 'var(--color-yellow-100)', border: 'var(--color-yellow-400)', text: 'var(--text-primary)', bar: 'var(--color-yellow-500)' };
+    case 'neutral':
+    default:
+      return { bg: 'var(--bg-surface)', border: 'var(--border-default)', text: 'var(--text-primary)', bar: 'var(--color-gray-500)' };
+  }
+}
+
+function getDefaultIconName(t: ToastInstance): string {
+  switch (t.alertType) {
+    case 'success':
+      return 'check-circle-rounded';
+    case 'error':
+      return 'close-rounded';
+    case 'warning':
+      return 'warning-rounded';
+    case 'neutral':
+    default:
+      return 'info-rounded';
+  }
+}
+
+export default function ToastRenderer() {
+  const { toasts, dismiss } = useToast();
+
+  const grouped = toasts.reduce<Record<ToastLocation, ToastInstance[]>>((acc, t) => {
+    const key = t.location;
+    if (!acc[key]) acc[key] = [] as ToastInstance[];
+    acc[key].push(t);
+    return acc;
+  }, { 'top-left': [], 'top-right': [], 'bottom-left': [], 'bottom-right': [] });
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      {(Object.keys(grouped) as ToastLocation[]).map((loc) => (
+        <div key={loc} style={{ position: 'fixed', zIndex: 1200, display: 'flex', gap: 12, pointerEvents: 'none', ...locationToClass[loc] }}>
+          {grouped[loc].map(t => {
+            const colors = getColors(t);
+            return (
+              <div
+                key={t.id}
+                role="status"
+                style={{
+                  minWidth: 320,
+                  maxWidth: 560,
+                  background: t.alertType === 'neutral' ? 'var(--bg-surface)' : colors.bg,
+                  color: colors.text,
+                  border: `1px solid ${t.alertType === 'neutral' ? 'var(--border-default)' : colors.border}`,
+                  boxShadow: 'var(--shadow-lg)',
+                  borderRadius: 16,
+                  padding: 16,
+                  display: 'flex',
+                  flexDirection: 'column',
+                  gap: 8,
+                  pointerEvents: 'auto',
+                }}
+              >
+                {/* Top row: Icon + Title + Controls */}
+                <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: 12 }}>
+                  {/* Icon */}
+                  <div style={{ width: 24, height: 24, display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
+                    {t.icon ?? (
+                      <LocalIcon icon={`material-symbols:${getDefaultIconName(t)}`} width={20} height={20} style={{ color: colors.bar }} />
+                    )}
+                  </div>
+                  
+                  {/* Title */}
+                  <div style={{ fontWeight: 700, flex: 1 }}>{t.title}</div>
+                  
+                  {/* Controls */}
+                  <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 4, alignItems: 'center' }}>
+                    {t.expandable && (
+                      <button
+                        aria-label="Toggle details"
+                        onClick={() => {
+                          const evt = new CustomEvent('toast:toggle', { detail: { id: t.id } });
+                          window.dispatchEvent(evt);
+                        }}
+                        style={{
+                          width: 28,
+                          height: 28,
+                          borderRadius: 999,
+                          border: 'none',
+                          background: 'transparent',
+                          color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+                          cursor: 'pointer',
+                          display: 'flex',
+                          alignItems: 'center',
+                          justifyContent: 'center',
+                          transform: t.isExpanded ? 'rotate(180deg)' : 'rotate(0deg)',
+                          transition: 'transform 160ms ease',
+                        }}
+                      >
+                        <LocalIcon icon="material-symbols:expand-more-rounded" />
+                      </button>
+                    )}
+                    <button
+                      aria-label="Dismiss"
+                      onClick={() => dismiss(t.id)}
+                      style={{
+                        width: 28,
+                        height: 28,
+                        borderRadius: 999,
+                        border: 'none',
+                        background: 'transparent',
+                        color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+                        cursor: 'pointer',
+                        display: 'flex',
+                        alignItems: 'center',
+                        justifyContent: 'center',
+                      }}
+                    >
+                      <LocalIcon icon="material-symbols:close-rounded" width={20} height={20} />
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+                {(t.isExpanded || !t.expandable) && (
+                  <div
+                    style={{
+                      fontSize: 14,
+                      opacity: 0.9,
+                      marginTop: 8,
+                    }}
+                  >
+                  {t.body}
+                  {t.buttonText && t.buttonCallback && (
+                    <button
+                      onClick={t.buttonCallback}
+                      style={{
+                        marginTop: 12,
+                        padding: '8px 12px',
+                        borderRadius: 12,
+                        border: `1px solid ${colors.border}`,
+                        background: 'transparent',
+                        color: colors.text,
+                        fontWeight: 600,
+                      }}
+                    >
+                      {t.buttonText}
+                    </button>
+                  )}
+                  {typeof t.progress === 'number' && (
+                    <div style={{ marginTop: 12, height: 6, background: 'var(--bg-muted)', borderRadius: 999, overflow: 'hidden' }}>
+                      <div style={{ width: `${t.progress}%`, height: '100%', background: colors.bar, transition: 'width 160ms ease' }} />
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+                  </div>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            );
+          })}
+        </div>
+      ))}
+    </>
+  );
+}
+
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/toast/index.ts b/frontend/src/components/toast/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d0b1045f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/toast/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { ToastOptions } from './types';
+import { useToast, ToastProvider } from './ToastContext';
+import ToastRenderer from './ToastRenderer';
+
+export { useToast, ToastProvider, ToastRenderer };
+
+// Global imperative API via module singleton
+let _api: ReturnType<typeof createImperativeApi> | null = null;
+
+function createImperativeApi() {
+  const subscribers: Array<(fn: any) => void> = [];
+  let api: any = null;
+  return {
+    provide(instance: any) {
+      api = instance;
+      subscribers.splice(0).forEach(cb => cb(api));
+    },
+    get(): any | null { return api; },
+    onReady(cb: (api: any) => void) {
+      if (api) cb(api); else subscribers.push(cb);
+    }
+  };
+}
+
+if (!_api) _api = createImperativeApi();
+
+// Hook helper to wire context API back to singleton
+export function ToastPortalBinder() {
+  const ctx = useToast();
+  // Provide API once mounted
+  _api!.provide(ctx);
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function alert(options: ToastOptions) {
+  if (_api?.get()) {
+    return _api.get()!.show(options);
+  }
+  // Queue until provider mounts
+  let id = '';
+  _api?.onReady((api) => { id = api.show(options); });
+  return id;
+}
+
+export function updateToast(id: string, options: Partial<ToastOptions>) {
+  _api?.get()?.update(id, options);
+}
+
+export function updateToastProgress(id: string, progress: number) {
+  _api?.get()?.updateProgress(id, progress);
+}
+
+export function dismissToast(id: string) {
+  _api?.get()?.dismiss(id);
+}
+
+export function dismissAllToasts() {
+  _api?.get()?.dismissAll();
+}
+
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/toast/types.ts b/frontend/src/components/toast/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a3071e80f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/toast/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { ReactNode } from 'react';
+
+export type ToastLocation = 'top-left' | 'top-right' | 'bottom-left' | 'bottom-right';
+export type ToastAlertType = 'success' | 'error' | 'warning' | 'neutral';
+
+export interface ToastOptions {
+  alertType?: ToastAlertType;
+  title: string;
+  body?: ReactNode;
+  buttonText?: string;
+  buttonCallback?: () => void;
+  isPersistentPopup?: boolean;
+  location?: ToastLocation;
+  icon?: ReactNode;
+  /** number 0-1 as fraction or 0-100 as percent */
+  progressBarPercentage?: number;
+  /** milliseconds to auto-close if not persistent */
+  durationMs?: number;
+  /** optional id to control/update later */
+  id?: string;
+  /** If true, show chevron and collapse/expand animation. Defaults to true. */
+  expandable?: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface ToastInstance extends Omit<ToastOptions, 'id' | 'progressBarPercentage'> {
+  id: string;
+  alertType: ToastAlertType;
+  isPersistentPopup: boolean;
+  location: ToastLocation;
+  durationMs: number;
+  expandable: boolean;
+  isExpanded: boolean;
+  /** internal progress normalized 0..100 */
+  progress?: number;
+  /** if progress completed, briefly show check icon */
+  justCompleted: boolean;
+  createdAt: number;
+}
+
+export interface ToastApi {
+  show: (options: ToastOptions) => string;
+  update: (id: string, options: Partial<ToastOptions>) => void;
+  updateProgress: (id: string, progress: number) => void;
+  dismiss: (id: string) => void;
+  dismissAll: () => void;
+}
+
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolApiCalls.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolApiCalls.ts
index ae282ebaf..e71771573 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolApiCalls.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolApiCalls.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
-import axios, { CancelTokenSource } from 'axios';
+import axios, { CancelTokenSource } from '../../../services/http';
 import { processResponse, ResponseHandler } from '../../../utils/toolResponseProcessor';
 import type { ProcessingProgress } from './useToolState';
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolOperation.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolOperation.ts
index 7735dd1a4..896081fbc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolOperation.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolOperation.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useCallback, useRef, useEffect } from 'react';
-import axios from 'axios';
+import axios from '../../../services/http';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { useFileContext } from '../../../contexts/FileContext';
 import { useToolState, type ProcessingProgress } from './useToolState';
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/http.ts b/frontend/src/services/http.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd1812932
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/services/http.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import axios from 'axios';
+import { alert } from '../components/toast';
+
+function extractAxiosErrorMessage(error: any): string {
+  if (axios.isAxiosError(error)) {
+    const status = error.response?.status;
+    const statusText = error.response?.statusText || 'Request Error';
+    const body = ((): string => {
+      const data = error.response?.data as any;
+      if (!data) return '';
+      if (typeof data === 'string') return data;
+      if (data?.message) return data.message as string;
+      try { return JSON.stringify(data); } catch { return ''; }
+    })();
+    return `${status ?? ''} ${statusText}${body ? `: ${body}` : ''}`.trim();
+  }
+  try {
+    return (error?.message || String(error)) as string;
+  } catch {
+    return 'Unknown network error';
+  }
+}
+
+// Install Axios response error interceptor
+axios.interceptors.response.use(
+  (response) => response,
+  (error) => {
+    const msg = extractAxiosErrorMessage(error);
+    alert({
+      alertType: 'error',
+      title: 'Request failed',
+      body: msg,
+      expandable: true,
+      isPersistentPopup: false,
+    });
+    return Promise.reject(error);
+  }
+);
+
+export async function apiFetch(input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit): Promise<Response> {
+  const res = await fetch(input, { credentials: init?.credentials ?? 'include', ...init });
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    let detail = '';
+    try {
+      const ct = res.headers.get('content-type') || '';
+      if (ct.includes('application/json')) {
+        const data = await res.json();
+        detail = typeof data === 'string' ? data : (data?.message || JSON.stringify(data));
+      } else {
+        detail = await res.text();
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // ignore parse errors
+    }
+    alert({
+      alertType: 'error',
+      title: `Request failed (${res.status})`,
+      body: detail || res.statusText,
+      expandable: true,
+      isPersistentPopup: false,
+    });
+  }
+  return res;
+}
+
+export default axios;
+export type { CancelTokenSource } from 'axios';
+
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/theme.css b/frontend/src/styles/theme.css
index f5e5e91bf..4d416cf09 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/theme.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/theme.css
@@ -30,6 +30,30 @@
   --color-primary-800: #1e40af;
   --color-primary-900: #1e3a8a;
 
+  /* Success (green) */
+  --color-green-50: #f0fdf4;
+  --color-green-100: #dcfce7;
+  --color-green-200: #bbf7d0;
+  --color-green-300: #86efac;
+  --color-green-400: #4ade80;
+  --color-green-500: #22c55e;
+  --color-green-600: #16a34a;
+  --color-green-700: #15803d;
+  --color-green-800: #166534;
+  --color-green-900: #14532d;
+
+  /* Warning (yellow) */
+  --color-yellow-50: #fefce8;
+  --color-yellow-100: #fef9c3;
+  --color-yellow-200: #fef08a;
+  --color-yellow-300: #fde047;
+  --color-yellow-400: #facc15;
+  --color-yellow-500: #eab308;
+  --color-yellow-600: #ca8a04;
+  --color-yellow-700: #a16207;
+  --color-yellow-800: #854d0e;
+  --color-yellow-900: #713f12;
+
   --color-red-50: #fef2f2;
   --color-red-100: #fee2e2;
   --color-red-200: #fecaca;
@@ -241,6 +265,30 @@
   --color-gray-800: #e5e7eb;
   --color-gray-900: #f3f4f6;
 
+  /* Success (green) - dark */
+  --color-green-50: #052e16;
+  --color-green-100: #064e3b;
+  --color-green-200: #065f46;
+  --color-green-300: #047857;
+  --color-green-400: #059669;
+  --color-green-500: #22c55e;
+  --color-green-600: #16a34a;
+  --color-green-700: #4ade80;
+  --color-green-800: #86efac;
+  --color-green-900: #bbf7d0;
+
+  /* Warning (yellow) - dark */
+  --color-yellow-50: #451a03;
+  --color-yellow-100: #713f12;
+  --color-yellow-200: #854d0e;
+  --color-yellow-300: #a16207;
+  --color-yellow-400: #ca8a04;
+  --color-yellow-500: #eab308;
+  --color-yellow-600: #facc15;
+  --color-yellow-700: #fde047;
+  --color-yellow-800: #fef08a;
+  --color-yellow-900: #fef9c3;
+
   /* Dark theme semantic colors */
   --bg-surface: #2A2F36;
   --bg-raised: #1F2329;
diff --git a/frontend/src/theme/mantineTheme.ts b/frontend/src/theme/mantineTheme.ts
index b91bbe83a..0e43db9a4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/theme/mantineTheme.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/theme/mantineTheme.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,32 @@ const primary: MantineColorsTuple = [
   'var(--color-primary-900)',
 ];
 
+const green: MantineColorsTuple = [
+  'var(--color-green-50)',
+  'var(--color-green-100)',
+  'var(--color-green-200)',
+  'var(--color-green-300)',
+  'var(--color-green-400)',
+  'var(--color-green-500)',
+  'var(--color-green-600)',
+  'var(--color-green-700)',
+  'var(--color-green-800)',
+  'var(--color-green-900)',
+];
+
+const yellow: MantineColorsTuple = [
+  'var(--color-yellow-50)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-100)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-200)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-300)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-400)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-500)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-600)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-700)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-800)',
+  'var(--color-yellow-900)',
+];
+
 const gray: MantineColorsTuple = [
   'var(--color-gray-50)',
   'var(--color-gray-100)',
@@ -34,6 +60,8 @@ export const mantineTheme = createTheme({
   // Color palette
   colors: {
     primary,
+    green,
+    yellow,
     gray,
   },
 
diff --git a/frontend/tailwind.config.js b/frontend/tailwind.config.js
index 42d04d16d..405c2bbc1 100644
--- a/frontend/tailwind.config.js
+++ b/frontend/tailwind.config.js
@@ -22,6 +22,42 @@ module.exports = {
           800: 'rgb(var(--gray-800) / <alpha-value>)',
           900: 'rgb(var(--gray-900) / <alpha-value>)',
         },
+        green: {
+          50: 'var(--color-green-50)',
+          100: 'var(--color-green-100)',
+          200: 'var(--color-green-200)',
+          300: 'var(--color-green-300)',
+          400: 'var(--color-green-400)',
+          500: 'var(--color-green-500)',
+          600: 'var(--color-green-600)',
+          700: 'var(--color-green-700)',
+          800: 'var(--color-green-800)',
+          900: 'var(--color-green-900)',
+        },
+        yellow: {
+          50: 'var(--color-yellow-50)',
+          100: 'var(--color-yellow-100)',
+          200: 'var(--color-yellow-200)',
+          300: 'var(--color-yellow-300)',
+          400: 'var(--color-yellow-400)',
+          500: 'var(--color-yellow-500)',
+          600: 'var(--color-yellow-600)',
+          700: 'var(--color-yellow-700)',
+          800: 'var(--color-yellow-800)',
+          900: 'var(--color-yellow-900)',
+        },
+        red: {
+          50: 'var(--color-red-50)',
+          100: 'var(--color-red-100)',
+          200: 'var(--color-red-200)',
+          300: 'var(--color-red-300)',
+          400: 'var(--color-red-400)',
+          500: 'var(--color-red-500)',
+          600: 'var(--color-red-600)',
+          700: 'var(--color-red-700)',
+          800: 'var(--color-red-800)',
+          900: 'var(--color-red-900)',
+        },
         // Custom semantic colors for app-specific usage
         surface: 'rgb(var(--surface) / <alpha-value>)',
         background: 'rgb(var(--background) / <alpha-value>)',