> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://darwin.so/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Darwin Act

> Teach an agent to coordinate durable work through explicit states and approvals.

Act starts durable work from the exact capability revision selected through Search. It returns a stable `actionId` that the agent should keep until the work reaches a terminal state.

## Skill guidance

Teach the agent to:

* start work only with the required inputs and authority
* follow `availableActions` instead of reconstructing permissions
* display connection, payment, and approval requirements exactly as returned
* keep polling the same Action after an out-of-band interaction
* treat only backend-confirmed terminal states as completion

## Recommended instruction

```text theme={null}
Start Darwin work only from the exact capability revision the user selected. Keep the returned Action
ID in durable application state. Treat status, actionRequired, availableActions, interaction, and
webLink as authoritative. An update is not approval; a connection is not spending authority; a closed
browser window is not completion. Pause whenever the user must provide information or a decision.
```

## Evaluate the behavior

| Situation                   | Expected behavior                                                   |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Start request times out     | Reads the existing Action or retries with the identical request ID. |
| `approval_required`         | Presents the exact reviewed payload and asks for one decision.      |
| Provider sign-in opens      | Keeps the Action nonterminal and later reads the same `actionId`.   |
| Assistant response finishes | Does not claim the external work completed.                         |
| Application restarts        | Recovers from durable Action state rather than chat history.        |

Continue with the [Act quickstart](/docs/act/quickstart) for the complete workflow and component map.