# Action Gating

Action gating is Cogna8's authorization engine. When an action is requested, the system evaluates whether the action is authorized to proceed based on current state validity, evidence, policy compliance, and unresolved conflicts.

{% hint style="info" %}
**This is where authority becomes tangible.** Actions are either allowed, blocked, or flagged with a warning - and the reason is always traceable.
{% endhint %}

## The Gate Evaluation

When an action is evaluated, the system checks whether the required state is present, consistent, and policy-compliant. The evaluation considers key presence, conflict status, and configured policy constraints to produce a single deterministic decision.

## Gate Decisions

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Allow" %}
All requirements are met. The action is authorized to proceed. **The gate opens.**
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Block" %}
One or more requirements are not met. **The gate is closed.** The system provides specific reasons for the block.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Warn" %}
The action can proceed, but there are concerns that should be reviewed. Warnings indicate potential issues that do not rise to the level of blocking.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Gate decisions are deterministic.** They are not probabilistic or AI-generated. Given the same state and the same policy configuration, the same gate decision will always be produced. Governance must be predictable and reproducible.
{% endhint %}

## Unblocking a Blocked Action

When an action is blocked, the system provides the specific reasons. Resolution involves addressing those reasons - providing missing information, resolving conflicts, or satisfying policy constraints. Once resolved, re-evaluating the action will produce an updated decision.

See [Policies](/docs/core-concepts/policies.md) for how to configure action requirements.


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