diff --git a/web/standalone/src/components/VersionBadge.test.ts b/web/standalone/src/components/VersionBadge.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..803263d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/standalone/src/components/VersionBadge.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { shortBuildTag } from "./VersionBadge";
+
+describe("shortBuildTag (version badge display)", () => {
+  it("shortens a staging tag's full sha to 7 chars", () => {
+    expect(shortBuildTag("staging-75bb0d7e4f2a9c1b8d3e6f0a2b4c6d8e0f1a2b3c")).toBe(
+      "staging-75bb0d7",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("shortens a bare full sha", () => {
+    expect(shortBuildTag("75bb0d7e4f2a9c1b8d3e6f0a2b4c6d8e0f1a2b3c")).toBe("75bb0d7");
+  });
+
+  it("leaves release tags and dev untouched", () => {
+    expect(shortBuildTag("2.7.7")).toBe("2.7.7");
+    expect(shortBuildTag("dev")).toBe("dev");
+    // Short hex-ish fragments (< 12 chars) are not treated as hashes.
+    expect(shortBuildTag("demo-local")).toBe("demo-local");
+    expect(shortBuildTag("beta-abc123")).toBe("beta-abc123");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/standalone/src/components/VersionBadge.tsx b/web/standalone/src/components/VersionBadge.tsx
index d3d0ead..d2fb04c 100644
--- a/web/standalone/src/components/VersionBadge.tsx
+++ b/web/standalone/src/components/VersionBadge.tsx
@@ -10,8 +10,15 @@ import { APP_GIT_SHA, APP_TAG, LANDING_URL, REPO_URL } from "@/lib/config";
  * loaded editor. `fixed` keeps it viewport-anchored on every route; z-20 sits
  * under the editor's boot overlay (z-30) so it's hidden until the tool is up.
  */
+/** Display form of a build tag: any embedded full commit hash shortens to the
+ *  GitHub-style 7 chars ("staging-<40 hex>" → "staging-abc1234"); release tags
+ *  ("2.7.7") pass through untouched. Display only — links keep the full sha. */
+export function shortBuildTag(tag: string): string {
+  return tag.replace(/\b[0-9a-f]{12,40}\b/i, (h) => h.slice(0, 7));
+}
+
 export function VersionBadge() {
-  const tag = APP_TAG ?? "dev";
+  const tag = shortBuildTag(APP_TAG ?? "dev");
   const versionUrl = APP_GIT_SHA
     ? `${REPO_URL}/commit/${APP_GIT_SHA}`
     : APP_TAG