diff --git a/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/detail-card.tsx b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/detail-card.tsx
index 4602f626..0bb57fe5 100644
--- a/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/detail-card.tsx
+++ b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/detail-card.tsx
@@ -14,12 +14,15 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 import React from "react";
+import type { CollectorComponentType } from "./type-stripe-colors";
+import { TypeStripe } from "./type-stripe";
 
 interface DetailCardProps {
   children: React.ReactNode;
   className?: string;
   withGrid?: boolean;
   withHoverEffect?: boolean;
+  typeStripe?: CollectorComponentType;
 }
 
 export function DetailCard({
@@ -27,6 +30,7 @@ export function DetailCard({
   className = "",
   withGrid = false,
   withHoverEffect = false,
+  typeStripe,
 }: DetailCardProps) {
   const patternId = React.useId().replace(/:/g, "-");
 
@@ -38,6 +42,12 @@ export function DetailCard({
           : ""
       } ${className}`}
     >
+      {typeStripe && (
+        <TypeStripe
+          type={typeStripe}
+          className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-y-0 left-0 w-1"
+        />
+      )}
       {withGrid && (
         <div className="absolute inset-0 opacity-10">
           <svg className="h-full w-full" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
diff --git a/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe-colors.ts b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe-colors.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..48486e4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe-colors.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * TypeStripe color map — shared between the standalone `<TypeStripe>`
+ * primitive and the `typeStripe` slot on `<DetailCard>`. Lives in its own
+ * file so React Fast Refresh stays happy (`react-refresh/only-export-components`
+ * disallows constants alongside component exports).
+ */
+
+import type { CollectorComponent } from "@/types/collector";
+
+export type CollectorComponentType = CollectorComponent["type"];
+
+export const TYPE_STRIPE_COLORS: Record<CollectorComponentType, string> = {
+  receiver: "hsl(200 85% 45%)",
+  processor: "hsl(270 70% 55%)",
+  exporter: "hsl(38 95% 52%)",
+  connector: "hsl(330 75% 50%)",
+  extension: "hsl(165 70% 40%)",
+};
diff --git a/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe.test.tsx b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f640d59a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import { render } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import { type CollectorComponentType, TYPE_STRIPE_COLORS } from "./type-stripe-colors";
+import { TypeStripe } from "./type-stripe";
+
+const types: CollectorComponentType[] = [
+  "receiver",
+  "processor",
+  "exporter",
+  "connector",
+  "extension",
+];
+
+describe("TypeStripe", () => {
+  it.each(types)("renders an aria-hidden element with type=%s and the matching color", (type) => {
+    const { container } = render(<TypeStripe type={type} />);
+    const el = container.querySelector(".type-stripe");
+    expect(el).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(el).toHaveAttribute("data-type", type);
+    expect(el).toHaveAttribute("aria-hidden");
+    expect(el).toHaveStyle({ backgroundColor: TYPE_STRIPE_COLORS[type] });
+  });
+
+  it("exports a stable color for each of the five canonical types", () => {
+    expect(Object.keys(TYPE_STRIPE_COLORS).sort()).toEqual(types.slice().sort());
+    for (const c of Object.values(TYPE_STRIPE_COLORS)) {
+      expect(c).toMatch(/^hsl\(/);
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe.tsx b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6a674066
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ecosystem-explorer/src/components/ui/type-stripe.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * TypeStripe — 4px left-edge color stripe used to flag the OTel-collector
+ * component type at the leading edge of cards, list rows, and detail headers.
+ *
+ * Five canonical types: receiver / processor / exporter / connector /
+ * extension. Color mapping lives in `./type-stripe-colors.ts` (split out so
+ * React Fast Refresh stays happy).
+ *
+ * Two consumers:
+ *   1. As a slot inside `<DetailCard typeStripe="...">` — DetailCard mounts
+ *      `<TypeStripe>` with its own positioning className, so the stripe
+ *      rendering stays in one place.
+ *   2. As a standalone `<TypeStripe type="..." />` for list rows that don't
+ *      use DetailCard (e.g. compact list view in Phase 4).
+ */
+
+import { type CollectorComponentType, TYPE_STRIPE_COLORS } from "./type-stripe-colors";
+
+export interface TypeStripeProps {
+  type: CollectorComponentType;
+  className?: string;
+}
+
+export function TypeStripe({ type, className }: TypeStripeProps) {
+  return (
+    <span
+      aria-hidden
+      className={className ? `type-stripe ${className}` : "type-stripe"}
+      data-type={type}
+      style={{ backgroundColor: TYPE_STRIPE_COLORS[type] }}
+    />
+  );
+}