> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cogna8-io.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cogna8-io.gitbook.io/docs/core-concepts/audit-trail.md).

# Audit Trail

Cogna8 records governance events in an append-only audit trail so teams can inspect how the system moved from input to state to action outcome. This is one of the core reasons the product is useful beyond a memory layer - it preserves decision accountability.

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## What the Audit Trail Supports

The audit trail answers questions like: Why did this state change? Why was this action blocked? Which conflict was resolved and how? What policy rule caused the decision? What evidence was used at the time?

In operational AI, these are not edge cases. They are normal workflow questions.

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## What Gets Recorded

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="State Events" %}
Lifecycle transitions - creation, confirmation, supersession, expiry, and all status changes.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Conflict Events" %}
Detection, resolution choices, and their outcomes.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Gate Events" %}
Evaluations, decisions (allow/warn/block), and the structured reasons behind each.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Policy Events" %}
Policy changes and policy-related evaluation outcomes.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Cogna8 supports compliance-oriented and audit-friendly workflows through traceability.** The value is that it creates the evidentiary and operational structure teams need to govern actions and investigate outcomes.
{% endhint %}