Approval gate
Also: approval gates
A point in an automated task where it must stop and wait for a person to say yes.
The fuller definition
An approval gate prevents a specified operation until an authorized person or policy has approved the concrete action.
- Prepared action
Exact details
- Gate
Check authorization
- Execution
Perform approved operation
A simplified relationship, not a screenshot or a complete design.
A concrete example
A system prepares an email but requires review of recipients and final text before sending.
The distinction that matters
A final approval cannot undo consequential actions already taken earlier in the workflow.
Related terms
Human in the loop
A design where a person reviews or approves what the AI does before it counts.
APIs & softwareAuthorization
Checking what someone who has logged in is allowed to do.
Agents & automationAgent harness
The code that runs an agent's tools. It can keep logs and limit what the agent may do.
Where it is taught
Prompts, skills, workflows, and agentsSource and further reading
Anthropic · Building effective agentsThe definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.