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Constraint Systems

Define boundaries and rules that govern agent behavior through hard and soft constraints

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What Are Constraint Systems?

Constraint systems define the boundaries within which AI agents must operate. They specify what agents must do, must not do, and should prefer when making decisions.

🚫 Hard Constraints

Non-negotiable rules that agent MUST follow. Violations result in immediate blocking or termination. No exceptions.

Examples: Budget limits, security boundaries, time deadlines

⭐ Soft Constraints

Preferences and guidelines that agent SHOULD follow but may violate if necessary. Trade-offs allowed.

Examples: Cost preferences, quality goals, latency targets

Interactive: Explore Constraint Types

Click on constraints below to understand the difference between hard and soft constraints:

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Why Constraints Matter

Constraints prevent agents from behaving dangerously or wastefully. Hard constraints enforce critical safety boundaries (budget, permissions, time), while soft constraints guide optimization choices (cost vs quality, speed vs thoroughness). Together they create predictable, safe, and efficient agent behavior.