> 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/policies.md).

# Policies

Policies are the configurable rules that tell Cogna8 what state an action needs before it can proceed.

## What a Policy Contains

A policy defines: which action type it applies to, what state must be present and in what condition, any additional constraints or requirements, and how violations should be handled (block vs warn).

## Default Policies

{% hint style="info" %}
Cogna8 ships with a default policy: **no silent overwrite**. Existing confirmed state cannot be replaced without explicit conflict resolution. This policy is always active and cannot be disabled.
{% endhint %}

## Creating Custom Policies

Custom policies are created through the [Policy Management](https://github.com/Cogna8/docs/blob/main/settings/policy-management.md) settings. Each policy defines a specific action type and its requirements. Policies are declarative and deterministic - the same state always produces the same evaluation result.