# State Types

Cogna8 classifies every state item into a core type based on its operational role. Each type has distinct governance characteristics - how resistant it is to decay, how severely its conflicts are treated, and how it participates in action gating.

## Type Classification

The type system captures the full spectrum of information that AI agents rely on - from hard operational constraints to subjective observations. Types range from high-governance (information that can block actions) to advisory (information that informs but does not enforce).

{% hint style="info" %}
Each type has **subtypes** for finer classification, and each carries different default behaviors for decay resistance, conflict severity, and gate participation.
{% endhint %}

## How Types Affect Governance

| Behavior              | Higher Governance                              | Lower Governance                             |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Decay resistance**  | Types representing firm commitments and limits | Types representing opinions and assumptions  |
| **Conflict severity** | Types with operational consequences            | Types with advisory weight                   |
| **Action gating**     | Types commonly required by policies            | Types rarely referenced in gate requirements |

{% hint style="info" %}
The type system is designed to mirror how organizations naturally categorize information - from binding constraints to working assumptions - and enforce governance proportionally.
{% endhint %}


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