diff --git a/crates/wip-tui/README.md b/crates/wip-tui/README.md
index 2629456..8a1cb7c 100644
--- a/crates/wip-tui/README.md
+++ b/crates/wip-tui/README.md
@@ -64,6 +64,38 @@ enter `contents` as RFC 4648 base64—for example, `dXBkYXRlZA==` for
 `updated`—then review the target Entry, interface reference, operation, and value
 on the confirmation screen before pressing Enter again.
 
+## Scoped reference formatting
+
+`wip_tui::reference::{format_interface_reference, format_qualified_operation}`
+provides labels for the existing UI from `InterfaceReference` and a separate
+operation name, following `4.2-text-view.md` reference notation (`6086f3c`).
+
+```rust
+use wip_protocol::InterfaceReference;
+use wip_tui::reference::{format_interface_reference, format_qualified_operation};
+
+let reference = InterfaceReference { scope: "/github".into(), name: "issue#read".into() };
+assert_eq!(format_interface_reference(&reference)?, "/github::\"issue#read\"");
+assert_eq!(format_qualified_operation(&reference, "read#raw")?,
+           "/github::\"issue#read\"#\"read#raw\"");
+# Ok::<(), wip_protocol::ValidationError>(())
+```
+
+Both return `Result<String, ValidationError>` and reject invalid reference shape,
+including relative/omitted scope. Root is explicit `/`. Non-simple components use
+JSON string quoting with additional DEL/C1, Unicode line/paragraph separator and
+bidi-control escapes. Input values are borrowed and never normalized, case-folded,
+URL-encoded or split on delimiters. Ref, validators and `scope_ref` do not enter
+these labels. The output has no extra outer signature string quoting.
+
+Keep selection, cache and calls keyed by structured references and operation
+names, never display text. No parser, scope inference, identity reconstruction,
+Object/Interface signature renderer or new crate is introduced. Membership,
+ancestry, authorization and freshness remain runtime concerns. Screen integration
+is follow-up T-23; the current bounded screen/value/diagnostic rendering is
+unchanged. At integration, apply existing UI layout bounds to display labels
+without feeding shortened labels back into identity or calls.
+
 ## Keyboard bindings
 
 All required actions are keyboard-accessible.
diff --git a/crates/wip-tui/src/lib.rs b/crates/wip-tui/src/lib.rs
index 5823ce2..800df1e 100644
--- a/crates/wip-tui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/wip-tui/src/lib.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 pub mod app;
 pub mod config;
 pub mod editor;
+pub mod reference;
 pub mod render;
 pub mod runtime;
 pub mod terminal;
diff --git a/crates/wip-tui/src/reference.rs b/crates/wip-tui/src/reference.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9068d4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/wip-tui/src/reference.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+//! Scoped Interface/Operation labels for the existing TUI.
+//!
+//! Follows the reference notation and safety escapes in WIP `4.2-text-view.md`.
+//! These are display labels, not wire values, cache keys or call targets. Keep
+//! [`InterfaceReference`] and operation names structured for selection and calls;
+//! do not split or reparse labels. No Object/Interface signature renderer or
+//! shorthand input parser is provided. Screen integration and bounded layout
+//! remain separate from formatting.
+//!
+//! Scope is always explicit and canonical absolute. Adapters accepting omitted
+//! scope must resolve it with an explicit context at their input boundary, never
+//! default to root, infer from a target path or search ancestors. Membership,
+//! ancestry and authorization are separate checks, not claims made by a label.
+
+use std::fmt::Write as _;
+use wip_protocol::{InterfaceReference, ValidationError};
+
+/// Formats a complete `scope::interface` label from structured values.
+///
+/// Validates reference shape (including canonical absolute scope), then quotes
+/// components as needed. There is no outer signature JSON string layer. The
+/// exact input is preserved without normalization, case conversion or URL
+/// encoding. Ref, validators and `scope_ref` are not inputs and cannot leak into
+/// the label. This does not validate membership, freshness or authorization.
+///
+/// ```
+/// use wip_protocol::InterfaceReference;
+/// use wip_tui::reference::format_interface_reference;
+/// let reference = InterfaceReference {
+///     scope: "/github::archive".into(), name: "issue#read".into(),
+/// };
+/// assert_eq!(format_interface_reference(&reference)?,
+///     "\"/github::archive\"::\"issue#read\"");
+/// # Ok::<(), wip_protocol::ValidationError>(())
+/// ```
+pub fn format_interface_reference(
+    reference: &InterfaceReference,
+) -> Result<String, ValidationError> {
+    reference.validate()?;
+    Ok(format!(
+        "{}::{}",
+        component(&reference.scope, true),
+        component(&reference.name, false)
+    ))
+}
+
+/// Formats a complete `scope::interface#operation` display designation.
+///
+/// Operation remains a separate exact Unicode name, not an input expression.
+/// Delimiters inside it are quoted rather than split. This checks reference
+/// shape, not operation existence, and adds no operation-name restrictions to
+/// the Protocol. The output is plain text, without ANSI or Markdown; the UI
+/// remains responsible for bounded screen layout, not identity reconstruction.
+///
+/// ```
+/// use wip_protocol::InterfaceReference;
+/// use wip_tui::reference::format_qualified_operation;
+/// let reference = InterfaceReference { scope: "/".into(), name: "issue.read".into() };
+/// assert_eq!(format_qualified_operation(&reference, "read#raw")?,
+///     "/::issue.read#\"read#raw\"");
+/// # Ok::<(), wip_protocol::ValidationError>(())
+/// ```
+pub fn format_qualified_operation(
+    reference: &InterfaceReference,
+    operation: &str,
+) -> Result<String, ValidationError> {
+    let mut output = format_interface_reference(reference)?;
+    output.push('#');
+    output.push_str(&component(operation, false));
+    Ok(output)
+}
+
+fn component(value: &str, scope: bool) -> String {
+    if !value.is_empty()
+        && value
+            .bytes()
+            .all(|b| b.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || b"_.-".contains(&b) || (scope && b == b'/'))
+    {
+        return value.to_owned();
+    }
+    let mut output = String::from("\"");
+    for ch in value.chars() {
+        match ch {
+            '\\' => output.push_str("\\\\"),
+            '"' => output.push_str("\\\""),
+            '\u{08}' => output.push_str("\\b"),
+            '\u{0c}' => output.push_str("\\f"),
+            '\n' => output.push_str("\\n"),
+            '\r' => output.push_str("\\r"),
+            '\t' => output.push_str("\\t"),
+            '\u{00}'..='\u{1f}'
+            | '\u{7f}'..='\u{9f}'
+            | '\u{2028}'
+            | '\u{2029}'
+            | '\u{061c}'
+            | '\u{200e}'..='\u{200f}'
+            | '\u{202a}'..='\u{202e}'
+            | '\u{2066}'..='\u{2069}' => {
+                // String's fmt::Write implementation is infallible.
+                write!(output, "\\u{:04x}", ch as u32).expect("String write");
+            }
+            _ => output.push(ch),
+        }
+    }
+    output.push('"');
+    output
+}
diff --git a/crates/wip-tui/tests/references.rs b/crates/wip-tui/tests/references.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7003ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/wip-tui/tests/references.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+use wip_protocol::{InterfaceReference, InterfaceTarget};
+use wip_tui::reference::{format_interface_reference, format_qualified_operation};
+
+fn reference(scope: &str, name: &str) -> InterfaceReference {
+    InterfaceReference {
+        scope: scope.into(),
+        name: name.into(),
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn specification_reference_examples() {
+    for (scope, name, operation, expected) in [
+        ("/github", "issue.read", "read", "/github::issue.read#read"),
+        ("/", "issue.read", "read", "/::issue.read#read"),
+        (
+            "/github::archive",
+            "issue.read",
+            "read",
+            "\"/github::archive\"::issue.read#read",
+        ),
+        (
+            "/github",
+            "issue#read",
+            "read",
+            "/github::\"issue#read\"#read",
+        ),
+        (
+            "/github",
+            "issue.read",
+            "read#raw",
+            "/github::issue.read#\"read#raw\"",
+        ),
+        (
+            "/開発",
+            "課題.read",
+            "read",
+            "\"/開発\"::\"課題.read\"#read",
+        ),
+    ] {
+        let input = reference(scope, name);
+        input.validate().unwrap();
+        let before = input.clone();
+        assert_eq!(
+            format_qualified_operation(&input, operation).unwrap(),
+            expected
+        );
+        assert_eq!(input, before);
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn root_self_and_same_name_different_scope_stay_distinct() {
+    let root = reference("/", "read");
+    let parent = reference("/a", "read");
+    let self_scope = reference("/a/b", "read");
+    let labels: Vec<_> = [&root, &parent, &self_scope]
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|input| {
+            input.validate_for_path("/a/b").unwrap();
+            format_interface_reference(input).unwrap()
+        })
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(labels, ["/::read", "/a::read", "/a/b::read"]);
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_qualified_operation(&self_scope, "read").unwrap(),
+        "/a/b::read#read"
+    );
+    assert_ne!(root, self_scope);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn components_not_declaration_identifiers_or_signatures() {
+    // Reference components follow their own ASCII rules, not identifier/keyword
+    // backtick quoting or the outer JSON string quoting used by full signatures.
+    let input = reference("/a-b/c_d.1", "1-name.entry");
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_interface_reference(&input).unwrap(),
+        "/a-b/c_d.1::1-name.entry"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_qualified_operation(&input, "operation").unwrap(),
+        "/a-b/c_d.1::1-name.entry#operation"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_qualified_operation(&input, "a/b").unwrap(),
+        "/a-b/c_d.1::1-name.entry#\"a/b\""
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_qualified_operation(&input, "").unwrap(),
+        "/a-b/c_d.1::1-name.entry#\"\""
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_interface_reference(&reference("/", "name`tick")).unwrap(),
+        "/::\"name`tick\""
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn delimiters_quote_backslash_whitespace_and_newline_are_component_data() {
+    let input = reference("/a::b#c\"\\\n", "x::y#z\"\\\n");
+    let before = input.clone();
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_interface_reference(&input).unwrap(),
+        "\"/a::b#c\\\"\\\\\\n\"::\"x::y#z\\\"\\\\\\n\""
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_qualified_operation(&input, "read::raw# \"\\\n\t").unwrap(),
+        "\"/a::b#c\\\"\\\\\\n\"::\"x::y#z\\\"\\\\\\n\"#\"read::raw# \\\"\\\\\\n\\t\""
+    );
+    assert_eq!(input, before);
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_interface_reference(&reference("/space here", "  name  ")).unwrap(),
+        "\"/space here\"::\"  name  \""
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn every_required_safety_escape_in_each_component() {
+    let controls = (0..=0x1f)
+        .chain(0x7f..=0x9f)
+        .chain([0x061c, 0x200e, 0x200f, 0x2028, 0x2029])
+        .chain(0x202a..=0x202e)
+        .chain(0x2066..=0x2069);
+    for code in controls {
+        let ch = char::from_u32(code).unwrap();
+        let escape = match code {
+            8 => "\\b".into(),
+            9 => "\\t".into(),
+            10 => "\\n".into(),
+            12 => "\\f".into(),
+            13 => "\\r".into(),
+            _ => format!("\\u{code:04x}"),
+        };
+        let input = reference(&format!("/a{ch}z"), &format!("n{ch}z"));
+        let operation = format!("o{ch}z");
+        let before = (input.clone(), operation.clone());
+        let label = format_qualified_operation(&input, &operation).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            label,
+            format!("\"/a{escape}z\"::\"n{escape}z\"#\"o{escape}z\""),
+            "U+{code:04X}"
+        );
+        assert!(!label.contains(ch), "raw U+{code:04X} leaked");
+        assert_eq!((input, operation), before);
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unicode_remains_exact_no_normalization_case_folding_or_url_encoding() {
+    for name in ["é", "e\u{301}", "課題", "λ😀", "%23"] {
+        let input = reference(&format!("/{name}"), name);
+        assert_eq!(
+            format_qualified_operation(&input, name).unwrap(),
+            format!("\"/{name}\"::\"{name}\"#\"{name}\"")
+        );
+    }
+    assert_ne!(
+        format_interface_reference(&reference("/", "é")).unwrap(),
+        format_interface_reference(&reference("/", "e\u{301}")).unwrap()
+    );
+    assert_ne!(
+        format_interface_reference(&reference("/", "Read")).unwrap(),
+        format_interface_reference(&reference("/", "read")).unwrap()
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rejects_invalid_shape_instead_of_inferring_scope() {
+    for scope in [
+        "",
+        "github",
+        "../github",
+        "/a/../b",
+        "/a/./b",
+        "/a//b",
+        "/a/",
+    ] {
+        let input = reference(scope, "read");
+        assert_eq!(
+            format_interface_reference(&input).unwrap_err(),
+            input.validate().unwrap_err()
+        );
+        assert!(format_qualified_operation(&input, "read").is_err());
+    }
+    assert!(format_interface_reference(&reference("/", "")).is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn runtime_metadata_and_call_identity_stay_separate_from_display() {
+    let mut target = InterfaceTarget {
+        reference: reference("/a", "read#raw"),
+        scope_ref: Some("secret-scope-ref".into()),
+        validator: Some(vec![27, 255]),
+    };
+    let before = target.clone();
+    let label = format_qualified_operation(&target.reference, "run").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(label, "/a::\"read#raw\"#run");
+    assert_eq!(target, before);
+    target.scope_ref = None;
+    target.validator = None;
+    assert_eq!(
+        format_qualified_operation(&target.reference, "run").unwrap(),
+        label
+    );
+    // Selection/call keys are still exact protocol pairs; labels are disposable.
+    let mut selected = std::collections::BTreeMap::new();
+    selected.insert(target.reference.clone(), "run");
+    assert_eq!(selected.get(&before.reference), Some(&"run"));
+    assert!(!selected.contains_key(&reference("/", "read#raw")));
+}