---
slug: "Decision"
name: "Decision"
type: "Data Structures"
layer: "Infrastructure"
ref: "Decision#b140"
sema_id: "sema:Decision#mh:SHA-256:b1407127acd4a39314fc24b418310e4b95e0347e4e22f376151ab765e2dfd2c7"
tags: ["Infrastructure","Data Structures"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json
url: https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/Decision/
related: ["Option","Select","Complexitytax","DecompositionGate","Defer","DocumentedOverride","EpistemicROI","Futureclaim","Gate","Hearshift","HeuristicSnap","HindsightBlock","IntentGap","MintWhenFriction","PatternDiscovery","Reasonbridge","Reasoncommons","RegretMinimization","Satisfice","SteelmanCheck","SunkCostIgnore","TradeOff","TriGate","Complexitytax#fb09","Futureclaim#a57c","Hearshift#4fcf","Reasonbridge#f8d2","Reasoncommons#0f52"]
---

# Decision

Irrevocable selection from a set of options

Layer: Infrastructure · Category: Data Structures

## Mechanism

The cognitive act of committing to a specific [Option](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Option.md) after weighing alternatives. It transforms a set of possibilities into a single committed trajectory using [Select](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Select.md). Unlike a simple filter, a Decision implies the resolution of ambiguity and the assumption of consequences.

## Invariants

- Selection: Must choose exactly one option from the available set.
- Irrevocability: Once made, the decision cannot be unmade without a new Decision process.

## Failure modes

—

## Data schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "description": "A committed choice — artifact recording which option was selected.",
  "required": [
    "option",
    "committed_at"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "option": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "committed_at": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date-time"
    },
    "rationale": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "reviewer": {
      "type": "string"
    }
  }
}
```

## Builds on

- [Option](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Option.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Select](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Select.md) (Infrastructure; References)

## Used by

- [Complexitytax](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Complexitytax.md) (Mind; References)
- [DecompositionGate](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/DecompositionGate.md) (Mind; Yields)
- [Defer](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Defer.md) (Mind; References)
- [DocumentedOverride](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/DocumentedOverride.md) (Society; Yields)
- [EpistemicROI](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/EpistemicROI.md) (Mind; References)
- [Futureclaim](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Futureclaim.md) (Society; References)
- [Gate](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Gate.md) (Infrastructure; Yields)
- [Hearshift](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Hearshift.md) (Society; References)
- [HeuristicSnap](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/HeuristicSnap.md) (Mind; References)
- [HindsightBlock](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/HindsightBlock.md) (Mind; References)
- [IntentGap](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/IntentGap.md) (Society; References)
- [MintWhenFriction](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/MintWhenFriction.md) (Mind; Yields)
- [PatternDiscovery](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/PatternDiscovery.md) (Mind; Yields)
- [Reasonbridge](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Reasonbridge.md) (Society; References)
- [Reasoncommons](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Reasoncommons.md) (Society; References)
- [RegretMinimization](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/RegretMinimization.md) (Mind; References)
- [Satisfice](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Satisfice.md) (Mind; References)
- [SteelmanCheck](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/SteelmanCheck.md) (Mind; References)
- [SunkCostIgnore](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/SunkCostIgnore.md) (Mind; References)
- [TradeOff](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/TradeOff.md) (Mind; References)
- [TriGate](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/TriGate.md) (Infrastructure; Yields)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:Decision#mh:SHA-256:b1407127acd4a39314fc24b418310e4b95e0347e4e22f376151ab765e2dfd2c7`
- Ref: `Decision#b140`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:Decision#mh:SHA-256:acfb3458cde8e55c378b2f51b44afc30687b58093f1777299f49caca475274a1`
  - `sema:Decision#mh:SHA-256:7fdfee9027fde0e699ed12cc286565c16ff262d50d55b0668da94dcdf0712a1f`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/Decision/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/#Decision)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decision.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json)