diff --git a/backend/routers/targets.py b/backend/routers/targets.py
index 2c0b25d..f7cb951 100644
--- a/backend/routers/targets.py
+++ b/backend/routers/targets.py
@@ -1,24 +1,48 @@
-"""Targets router (spec §3.4)."""
+"""Targets router (spec §3.4). Thin handlers — business logic in services/targets.py."""
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
-from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from database import get_db
-from models import Target
-from schemas import TargetRead
+from schemas import TargetCreate, TargetRead, TargetUpdate
+from services import targets as svc
 
 router = APIRouter(prefix="/api/targets", tags=["targets"])
 
 
 @router.get("", response_model=list[TargetRead])
 def list_targets(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
-    return db.scalars(select(Target).order_by(Target.start_date)).all()
+    return svc.list_targets(db)
 
 
 @router.get("/current", response_model=TargetRead)
 def current_target(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
-    target = db.scalar(select(Target).where(Target.end_date.is_(None)))
+    target = svc.get_current_target(db)
     if target is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="No active target")
     return target
+
+
+@router.post("", response_model=TargetRead, status_code=201)
+def create_target(data: TargetCreate, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """Create a new target. Auto-closes the previous active target."""
+    try:
+        return svc.create_target(db, data)
+    except ValueError as e:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=422, detail=str(e))
+
+
+@router.put("/{target_id}", response_model=TargetRead)
+def update_target(target_id: int, data: TargetUpdate, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """Update a target's values and/or date range.
+    The single-active-target invariant is preserved."""
+    try:
+        result = svc.update_target(db, target_id, data)
+    except ValueError as e:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=422, detail=str(e))
+    except svc.ActiveTargetConflictError as e:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail=str(e))
+
+    if result is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Target not found")
+    return result
diff --git a/backend/schemas.py b/backend/schemas.py
index e786a65..7bf595d 100644
--- a/backend/schemas.py
+++ b/backend/schemas.py
@@ -117,6 +117,36 @@ class LogEntryRead(BaseModel):
 # ── Targets ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
+class TargetCreate(BaseModel):
+    """Schema for POST /api/targets. end_date is auto-managed by the service."""
+
+    start_date: date  # client-supplied YYYY-MM-DD (spec §8.1 rule 8)
+    calories: int = Field(gt=0)
+    protein_g: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
+    carbs_g: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
+    fat_g: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
+
+
+class TargetUpdate(BaseModel):
+    """Schema for PUT /api/targets/{id}. All fields optional — only supplied
+    fields are updated. Setting end_date to null will reactivate a historical
+    target only if no other active target exists."""
+
+    start_date: date | None = None
+    end_date: date | None = None
+    calories: int | None = Field(default=None, gt=0)
+    protein_g: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
+    carbs_g: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
+    fat_g: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
+
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def _check_date_range(self):
+        if self.start_date is not None and self.end_date is not None:
+            if self.end_date <= self.start_date:
+                raise ValueError("end_date must be after start_date")
+        return self
+
+
 class TargetRead(BaseModel):
     model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
 
diff --git a/backend/services/targets.py b/backend/services/targets.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42b8850
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/services/targets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+"""Targets service layer — business logic + DB access (spec §8.1 rules 2–3, 6).
+
+Auto-close semantics:
+- When a new target is created, the previous active target's end_date is set
+  to the new target's start_date (same day).
+- Historical lookup uses an EXCLUSIVE end_date: a target covers dates where
+  start_date <= date AND (end_date IS NULL OR end_date > date).
+  This forms half-open intervals [start_date, end_date), so there is never
+  overlap or ambiguity about which target applies on a boundary date.
+
+ORM objects never leave this module; functions return Pydantic schemas.
+"""
+
+from datetime import date
+
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+
+from models import Target
+from schemas import TargetCreate, TargetRead, TargetUpdate
+
+
+# ── CRUD ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def list_targets(db: Session) -> list[TargetRead]:
+    """List all targets ordered by start_date."""
+    targets = db.scalars(select(Target).order_by(Target.start_date)).all()
+    return [TargetRead.model_validate(t) for t in targets]
+
+
+def get_current_target(db: Session) -> TargetRead | None:
+    """Return the active target (end_date IS NULL), or None."""
+    target = db.scalar(select(Target).where(Target.end_date.is_(None)))
+    if target is None:
+        return None
+    return TargetRead.model_validate(target)
+
+
+def create_target(db: Session, data: TargetCreate) -> TargetRead:
+    """Create a new target. Auto-closes the previous active target by setting
+    its end_date to the new target's start_date. Runs in a single transaction
+    so there is never a window with zero or two active targets (§2.4, §8.1 rule 6).
+
+    Raises ValueError if the auto-close would cause the previous target's
+    end_date to be <= its start_date (e.g. backdating a target before the
+    current one started).
+    """
+    new_start = data.start_date
+
+    # Find the currently active target and auto-close it
+    current_active = db.scalar(
+        select(Target).where(Target.end_date.is_(None))
+    )
+    if current_active is not None:
+        if new_start <= current_active.start_date:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"New target start_date ({new_start}) is not after the current "
+                f"active target's start_date ({current_active.start_date}). "
+                f"Cannot auto-close without creating an invalid date range."
+            )
+        current_active.end_date = new_start
+
+    target = Target(
+        start_date=data.start_date,
+        end_date=None,
+        calories=data.calories,
+        protein_g=data.protein_g,
+        carbs_g=data.carbs_g,
+        fat_g=data.fat_g,
+    )
+    db.add(target)
+    db.commit()
+    db.refresh(target)
+    return TargetRead.model_validate(target)
+
+
+def update_target(db: Session, target_id: int, data: TargetUpdate) -> TargetRead | None:
+    """Update a target's values and/or date range. The single-active-target
+    invariant is preserved: setting end_date to null when another active
+    target already exists is rejected.
+
+    Returns None if the target is not found.
+    Raises ValueError for date-range validation failures.
+    Raises ActiveTargetConflictError if the update would create two active targets.
+    """
+    target = db.get(Target, target_id)
+    if target is None:
+        return None
+
+    update_data = data.model_dump(exclude_unset=True)
+
+    # Validate the resulting date range if either date field is being changed
+    new_start = update_data.get("start_date", target.start_date)
+    new_end = update_data.get("end_date", target.end_date)  # None means "not being updated"
+
+    # If end_date key is present in update_data, use that value (could be None explicitly)
+    if "end_date" in update_data:
+        new_end = update_data["end_date"]
+    else:
+        new_end = target.end_date
+
+    # Validate end_date > start_date when both are set
+    if new_end is not None and new_end <= new_start:
+        raise ValueError("end_date must be after start_date")
+
+    # Check single-active-target invariant: if setting end_date to NULL,
+    # there must not already be another active target
+    if "end_date" in update_data and update_data["end_date"] is None:
+        if target.end_date is not None:  # target is currently NOT active
+            other_active = db.scalar(
+                select(Target).where(
+                    Target.end_date.is_(None),
+                    Target.id != target_id,
+                )
+            )
+            if other_active is not None:
+                raise ActiveTargetConflictError(other_active.id)
+
+    # If changing start_date on the active target, ensure it doesn't break
+    # the invariant with respect to the previously-closed target.
+    # (The previously-closed target's end_date references the OLD start_date;
+    # changing start_date on the active one doesn't retroactively fix that.
+    # This is fine — historical targets may have end_date values that don't
+    # align perfectly after edits. The half-open interval lookup still works.)
+
+    for field, value in update_data.items():
+        setattr(target, field, value)
+
+    db.commit()
+    db.refresh(target)
+    return TargetRead.model_validate(target)
+
+
+# ── Historical lookup ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def get_target_for_date(db: Session, lookup_date: date) -> TargetRead | None:
+    """Return the target whose date range contains the given date.
+
+    Uses half-open intervals [start_date, end_date): a target covers dates
+    where start_date <= date AND (end_date IS NULL OR end_date > date).
+
+    Returns None if no target covers the given date.
+    Exposed for TICKET-004 (day summary endpoint).
+    """
+    target = db.scalar(
+        select(Target)
+        .where(
+            Target.start_date <= lookup_date,
+            (Target.end_date.is_(None)) | (Target.end_date > lookup_date),
+        )
+        .order_by(Target.start_date.desc())
+        .limit(1)
+    )
+    if target is None:
+        return None
+    return TargetRead.model_validate(target)
+
+
+# ── Errors ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class ActiveTargetConflictError(Exception):
+    """Raised when an operation would create two active targets."""
+    def __init__(self, existing_active_id: int):
+        super().__init__(
+            f"There is already an active target (id={existing_active_id}). "
+            f"Close it first before activating another."
+        )
+        self.existing_active_id = existing_active_id
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_targets.py b/backend/tests/test_targets.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87381f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_targets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,512 @@
+"""Targets CRUD tests — TICKET-002 (spec §2.4, §3.4, §8.1 rules 2–3, 11).
+
+Auto-close semantics (documented in services/targets.py):
+- When a new target is created, the previous active target's end_date is set
+  to the new target's start_date (same day).
+- Historical lookup uses an EXCLUSIVE end_date: a target covers dates where
+  start_date <= date AND (end_date IS NULL OR end_date > date).
+  This makes intervals half-open [start_date, end_date), so there is never
+  overlap or ambiguity.
+
+Tests share a session-scoped DB. Each test cleans up after itself by closing
+any active targets it leaves behind, so subsequent tests start with a clean
+slate (no active target). Tests that need a fully empty targets table use
+direct DB access to delete all rows.
+"""
+
+from datetime import date
+
+
+# ── Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def create_target(client, **overrides) -> dict:
+    """Create a target via POST and return the response JSON."""
+    payload = {
+        "start_date": "2025-01-01",
+        "calories": 2000,
+        "protein_g": 150.0,
+        "carbs_g": 200.0,
+        "fat_g": 65.0,
+    }
+    payload.update(overrides)
+    resp = client.post("/api/targets", json=payload)
+    return resp
+
+
+def assert_422(resp):
+    assert resp.status_code == 422, f"expected 422, got {resp.status_code}: {resp.text}"
+
+
+def close_active_target(client):
+    """Close the active target (if any) by giving it an end_date.
+    Uses a date far in the future so it always passes date validation."""
+    current = client.get("/api/targets/current")
+    if current.status_code == 200:
+        tid = current.json()["id"]
+        client.put(f"/api/targets/{tid}", json={"end_date": "2099-12-31"})
+
+
+# ── Create + current round-trip ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_create_and_read_current(client):
+    """POST creates a target (201), GET /current returns it."""
+    try:
+        resp = create_target(client)
+        assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+        data = resp.json()
+
+        assert data["start_date"] == "2025-01-01"
+        assert data["end_date"] is None
+        assert data["calories"] == 2000
+        assert data["protein_g"] == 150.0
+        assert data["carbs_g"] == 200.0
+        assert data["fat_g"] == 65.0
+        assert "id" in data
+
+        # GET /current should return the same target
+        resp2 = client.get("/api/targets/current")
+        assert resp2.status_code == 200
+        assert resp2.json() == data
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_current_404_when_none(client):
+    """GET /current returns 404 when no active target exists."""
+    close_active_target(client)  # Ensure clean state
+    resp = client.get("/api/targets/current")
+    assert resp.status_code == 404
+
+
+# ── Auto-close of previous target ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_auto_close_previous_target(client):
+    """Creating a second target auto-closes the first: its end_date is set
+    to the new target's start_date, and /current returns the new one."""
+    try:
+        # Create first target (active)
+        resp1 = create_target(client, start_date="2025-01-01", calories=2000)
+        assert resp1.status_code == 201
+        id1 = resp1.json()["id"]
+        assert resp1.json()["end_date"] is None
+
+        # Create second target with later start_date
+        resp2 = create_target(client, start_date="2025-06-01", calories=2200)
+        assert resp2.status_code == 201
+        id2 = resp2.json()["id"]
+        assert resp2.json()["end_date"] is None
+
+        # First target should now have an end_date equal to the second's start_date
+        resp_get = client.get("/api/targets")
+        all_targets = resp_get.json()
+        t1 = next(t for t in all_targets if t["id"] == id1)
+        assert t1["end_date"] == "2025-06-01"
+
+        # /current should return the second target
+        current = client.get("/api/targets/current").json()
+        assert current["id"] == id2
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_auto_close_with_earlier_start_date(client):
+    """If the new target's start_date is BEFORE the existing active target's
+    start_date, the operation is rejected (422) because it would create an
+    invalid date range on the auto-closed target."""
+    try:
+        # Create first target (active starting 2025-06-01)
+        create_target(client, start_date="2025-06-01", calories=2000)
+
+        # Try to create a target with start_date before the active one's start_date
+        resp = create_target(client, start_date="2025-01-01", calories=1800)
+        # This would set the existing target's end_date to 2025-01-01,
+        # which is before its start_date of 2025-06-01 → rejected
+        assert_422(resp)
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_only_one_active_after_create(client):
+    """After creating 3 targets sequentially, exactly one has end_date IS NULL."""
+    try:
+        for i, start in enumerate(["2025-01-01", "2025-04-01", "2025-07-01"]):
+            resp = create_target(client, start_date=start, calories=2000 + i * 100)
+            assert resp.status_code == 201, f"iteration {i}: {resp.text}"
+
+        all_targets = client.get("/api/targets").json()
+        active = [t for t in all_targets if t["end_date"] is None]
+        assert len(active) == 1
+        assert active[0]["start_date"] == "2025-07-01"
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+# ── List targets ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_list_targets_ordered_by_start_date(client):
+    """GET /api/targets returns all targets ordered by start_date."""
+    try:
+        # Use unique calorie values to identify our targets
+        base_cal = 9000  # Distinct from other tests
+        dates = ["2025-03-01", "2025-01-01", "2025-02-01"]
+        for d in dates:
+            create_target(client, start_date=d, calories=base_cal)
+            base_cal += 1
+
+        resp = client.get("/api/targets")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        results = resp.json()
+
+        # Verify ALL targets are ordered by start_date
+        for i in range(len(results) - 1):
+            assert results[i]["start_date"] <= results[i + 1]["start_date"], (
+                f"out of order at index {i}: "
+                f"{results[i]['start_date']} > {results[i+1]['start_date']}"
+            )
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_list_targets_returns_list(client):
+    """GET /api/targets returns a list (may be empty or populated)."""
+    resp = client.get("/api/targets")
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    assert isinstance(resp.json(), list)
+
+
+# ── Update target ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_update_target_values(client):
+    """PUT updates calorie/macro values on a target."""
+    try:
+        resp = create_target(client, calories=2000, protein_g=100.0)
+        assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+        tid = resp.json()["id"]
+
+        resp = client.put(
+            f"/api/targets/{tid}",
+            json={"calories": 2500, "protein_g": 120.0, "carbs_g": 250.0, "fat_g": 70.0},
+        )
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        data = resp.json()
+        assert data["calories"] == 2500
+        assert data["protein_g"] == 120.0
+        assert data["carbs_g"] == 250.0
+        assert data["fat_g"] == 70.0
+        # unchanged
+        assert data["start_date"] == "2025-01-01"
+        assert data["end_date"] is None
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_update_target_date_range(client):
+    """PUT updates end_date on a target, closing it."""
+    try:
+        resp = create_target(client, start_date="2025-01-01", calories=2000)
+        assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+        tid = resp.json()["id"]
+
+        # Close this target by giving it an end_date
+        resp = client.put(
+            f"/api/targets/{tid}",
+            json={"end_date": "2025-06-01"},
+        )
+        assert resp.status_code == 200, resp.text
+        assert resp.json()["end_date"] == "2025-06-01"
+
+        # Now there's no active target
+        assert client.get("/api/targets/current").status_code == 404
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_update_end_date_null_when_another_active(client):
+    """Setting end_date to null on a historical target when another target
+    is already active is rejected (409)."""
+    try:
+        # Create two targets: t1 closed, t2 active
+        resp1 = create_target(client, start_date="2025-01-01", calories=2000)
+        assert resp1.status_code == 201, resp1.text
+        id1 = resp1.json()["id"]
+
+        resp2 = create_target(client, start_date="2025-06-01", calories=2200)
+        assert resp2.status_code == 201, resp2.text
+        id2 = resp2.json()["id"]
+
+        # t1 was auto-closed, t2 is active. Try to set t1.end_date = null
+        resp = client.put(f"/api/targets/{id1}", json={"end_date": None})
+        assert resp.status_code == 409
+        assert "already an active target" in resp.json()["detail"].lower()
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_update_does_not_break_invariant(client):
+    """Updating a historical target's unrelated fields doesn't affect
+    the active target."""
+    try:
+        # Create two targets
+        resp1 = create_target(client, start_date="2025-01-01", calories=2000)
+        assert resp1.status_code == 201, resp1.text
+        id1 = resp1.json()["id"]
+
+        create_target(client, start_date="2025-06-01", calories=2200)
+
+        # Update t1's calories — should work, active target unchanged
+        resp = client.put(f"/api/targets/{id1}", json={"calories": 2100})
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+        # Active target is still the second one
+        current = client.get("/api/targets/current").json()
+        assert current["start_date"] == "2025-06-01"
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_update_partial(client):
+    """PUT with partial data only changes supplied fields."""
+    try:
+        resp = create_target(client, calories=2000, protein_g=100.0, carbs_g=200.0)
+        assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+        tid = resp.json()["id"]
+
+        resp = client.put(f"/api/targets/{tid}", json={"calories": 1800})
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        data = resp.json()
+        assert data["calories"] == 1800
+        assert data["protein_g"] == 100.0  # unchanged
+        assert data["carbs_g"] == 200.0  # unchanged
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_update_404(client):
+    resp = client.put("/api/targets/99999", json={"calories": 2000})
+    assert resp.status_code == 404
+
+
+# ── Validation failures (§8.1 rule 11) ───────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_calories_not_positive(client):
+    resp = create_target(client, calories=0)
+    assert_422(resp)
+    resp = create_target(client, calories=-100)
+    assert_422(resp)
+
+
+def test_calories_must_be_integer(client):
+    """Calories must be a positive integer, not a string."""
+    resp = create_target(client, calories="not-a-number")
+    assert_422(resp)
+
+
+def test_macros_non_negative(client):
+    for field in ("protein_g", "carbs_g", "fat_g"):
+        resp = create_target(client, **{field: -1.0})
+        assert_422(resp)
+    # zero is allowed for all macros
+    resp = create_target(client, protein_g=0.0, carbs_g=0.0, fat_g=0.0)
+    assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+    close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_bad_start_date_format(client):
+    resp = create_target(client, start_date="01-01-2025")
+    assert_422(resp)
+    resp = create_target(client, start_date="not-a-date")
+    assert_422(resp)
+
+
+def test_end_date_before_start_date_on_create(client):
+    """TargetCreate has no end_date field — it's auto-managed."""
+    pass  # end_date is not in TargetCreate
+
+
+def test_end_date_must_be_after_start_date_on_update(client):
+    """PUT with end_date <= start_date should fail validation."""
+    try:
+        resp = create_target(client, start_date="2025-06-01", calories=2000)
+        assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+        tid = resp.json()["id"]
+
+        # end_date = start_date → invalid
+        resp = client.put(f"/api/targets/{tid}", json={"end_date": "2025-06-01"})
+        assert_422(resp)
+
+        # end_date < start_date → invalid
+        resp = client.put(f"/api/targets/{tid}", json={"end_date": "2025-05-01"})
+        assert_422(resp)
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_start_date_must_be_before_end_date_on_update(client):
+    """When both start_date and end_date are updated, end_date must still
+    be after start_date."""
+    try:
+        create_target(client, start_date="2025-06-01", calories=2000)
+
+        # Create a second target to auto-close the first
+        resp = create_target(client, start_date="2025-07-01", calories=2200)
+        assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+        tid = resp.json()["id"]
+
+        # Try to set start_date after end_date
+        resp = client.put(
+            f"/api/targets/{tid}",
+            json={"start_date": "2025-08-01", "end_date": "2025-07-01"},
+        )
+        assert_422(resp)
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_missing_start_date(client):
+    resp = client.post("/api/targets", json={"calories": 2000})
+    assert_422(resp)
+
+
+def test_missing_calories(client):
+    resp = client.post("/api/targets", json={"start_date": "2025-01-01"})
+    assert_422(resp)
+
+
+# ── Historical lookup by date (service function) ─────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_get_target_for_date_returns_correct_target(client):
+    """Verify that sequencing three targets produces correct half-open
+    date ranges."""
+    try:
+        # Use unique calorie values to avoid collisions
+        cals = [8001, 8002, 8003]
+        create_target(client, start_date="2025-01-01", calories=cals[0])
+        create_target(client, start_date="2025-04-01", calories=cals[1])
+        create_target(client, start_date="2025-07-01", calories=cals[2])
+
+        all_targets = client.get("/api/targets").json()
+        our_targets = sorted(
+            [t for t in all_targets if t["calories"] in cals],
+            key=lambda t: t["start_date"],
+        )
+
+        assert len(our_targets) == 3
+
+        # t1: [2025-01-01, 2025-04-01)
+        assert our_targets[0]["start_date"] == "2025-01-01"
+        assert our_targets[0]["end_date"] == "2025-04-01"
+
+        # t2: [2025-04-01, 2025-07-01)
+        assert our_targets[1]["start_date"] == "2025-04-01"
+        assert our_targets[1]["end_date"] == "2025-07-01"
+
+        # t3: [2025-07-01, ∞)
+        assert our_targets[2]["start_date"] == "2025-07-01"
+        assert our_targets[2]["end_date"] is None
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)
+
+
+def test_get_target_for_date_service_direct():
+    """Test the service function directly with explicit date ranges.
+    This validates the half-open interval logic before TICKET-004 needs it.
+
+    Uses direct DB access for a fully controlled setup — no API dependency.
+    """
+    from services.targets import get_target_for_date
+    from database import SessionLocal
+    from models import Target
+    from sqlalchemy import delete as sa_delete
+
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        # Clean slate
+        db.execute(sa_delete(Target))
+        db.commit()
+
+        # Create targets with explicit date ranges (half-open)
+        t1 = Target(start_date=date(2025, 1, 1), end_date=date(2025, 4, 1), calories=2000)
+        t2 = Target(start_date=date(2025, 4, 1), end_date=date(2025, 7, 1), calories=2200)
+        t3 = Target(start_date=date(2025, 7, 1), end_date=None, calories=2500)
+        db.add_all([t1, t2, t3])
+        db.commit()
+
+        # Test boundary dates
+        # Jan 1 → t1
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2025, 1, 1))
+        assert target is not None and target.id == t1.id
+
+        # Mar 31 → t1 (day before t2 starts, t1 still covers it)
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2025, 3, 31))
+        assert target is not None and target.id == t1.id
+
+        # Apr 1 → t2 (t2's start_date, exclusive end of t1)
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2025, 4, 1))
+        assert target is not None and target.id == t2.id
+
+        # Jun 30 → t2
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2025, 6, 30))
+        assert target is not None and target.id == t2.id
+
+        # Jul 1 → t3 (active)
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2025, 7, 1))
+        assert target is not None and target.id == t3.id
+
+        # Dec 31, 2030 → t3 (still active)
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2030, 12, 31))
+        assert target is not None and target.id == t3.id
+
+        # Date before first target → None
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2024, 12, 31))
+        assert target is None
+
+        # Clean up
+        db.execute(sa_delete(Target))
+        db.commit()
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
+
+def test_get_target_for_date_none_when_no_targets():
+    """get_target_for_date returns None when no targets exist."""
+    from services.targets import get_target_for_date
+    from database import SessionLocal
+    from models import Target
+    from sqlalchemy import delete as sa_delete
+
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        db.execute(sa_delete(Target))
+        db.commit()
+
+        target = get_target_for_date(db, date(2025, 6, 15))
+        assert target is None
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
+
+# ── Macros nullable on create ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_create_target_without_macros(client):
+    """Creating a target with only calories (no macros) should work."""
+    try:
+        resp = client.post(
+            "/api/targets",
+            json={"start_date": "2025-01-01", "calories": 2000},
+        )
+        assert resp.status_code == 201, resp.text
+        data = resp.json()
+        assert data["calories"] == 2000
+        assert data["protein_g"] is None
+        assert data["carbs_g"] is None
+        assert data["fat_g"] is None
+    finally:
+        close_active_target(client)