diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..99f3a19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#ignore the runtime storage files
+.vscode/
+tasks.json
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/todo.py b/todo.py
index a72fa61..2ef3ec0 100644
--- a/todo.py
+++ b/todo.py
@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
+import json
+import os
+
 class TodoApp:
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, filename="tasks.json"):
+        self.filename = filename
         self.tasks = []
 
-    def add_task(self, task):
-        self.tasks.append({"task": task, "completed": False})
-        print(f"Task '{task}' added!")
+    # Add a new priority feature for tasks when adding them
+    def add_task(self, task, priority="Medium"):
+        self.tasks.append({
+        "task": task,
+        "priority": priority,
+        "completed": False
+        })
+        print(f"Task '{task}' added with priority '{priority}'!")
 
     def remove_task(self, task_index):
         try:
@@ -20,14 +29,20 @@ def mark_completed(self, task_index):
         except IndexError:
             print("Invalid task index.")
 
+    # Updated view to show priority and completion status
     def view_tasks(self):
         if not self.tasks:
             print("No tasks to show.")
         else:
             for idx, task in enumerate(self.tasks):
                 status = "Completed" if task["completed"] else "Not Completed"
-                print(f"{idx}. {task['task']} - {status}")
+                print(f"{idx}. {task['task']} - {task['priority']} - {status}")
 
+    def load_tasks(self):
+        if os.path.exists(self.filename):
+            with open(self.filename, "r") as f:
+                self.tasks = json.load(f)
+            print(f"Loaded {len(self.tasks)} task(s) from {self.filename}")
 
 def main():
     todo_app = TodoApp()
@@ -41,9 +56,11 @@ def main():
         print("5. Exit")
         choice = input("Choose an option: ")
 
+        # updated to handle priority when adding tasks
         if choice == '1':
             task = input("Enter task: ")
-            todo_app.add_task(task)
+            priority = input("Enter priority (High/Medium/Low): ").capitalize()
+            todo_app.add_task(task, priority)    
         elif choice == '2':
             todo_app.view_tasks()
             try:
@@ -61,6 +78,8 @@ def main():
         elif choice == '4':
             todo_app.view_tasks()
         elif choice == '5':
+            # Save on exit
+            todo_app.save_tasks()  
             print("Goodbye!")
             break
         else: