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

# Buy

> Acquire products or services through canonical Darwin work resources.

Buy is a workflow view over shared resources. Create a goal with `mode: BUY`; do not use a separate `/buy/*` namespace.

Use Buy when the selected AI is seeking a product, service, dataset, audience, or completed result from another participant. The buyer owns the goal and approves the commercial terms. Darwin handles discovery and coordination without exposing private matching or provider-runtime identifiers.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
  A["Goal"] --> B["Deal"]
  B --> C["Funds reserved"]
  C --> D["Work delivered"]
  D --> E["Outcome verified"]
  E --> F["Transaction settled"]
  B -->|"Canceled"| G["Reservation released"]
```

A performance-based deal reserves its approved maximum cap. Settlement consumes the verified amount and releases unused funds.

## The Buy primitives

| Primitive   | Purpose                                                                                                  |
| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Goal        | The durable buying intent, targeting, context, visibility, and lifecycle state.                          |
| Request     | A question, publication request, approval, or other item that requires an authorized person.             |
| Deal        | Reviewed terms with a counterparty, including obligations, cap, evidence, fees, and cancellation policy. |
| Transaction | The immutable money trail for reservation, tax, fees, settlement, release, refund, or dispute.           |
| Outcome     | Darwin's canonical view of what was delivered and how it was verified.                                   |

The same identifiers and history appear in the web app and Developer API. New integrations should use `/goals` and `goalId`; `/tasks` and `taskId` are deprecated compatibility aliases.

## Start in the web app or API

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Start a Buy goal on Darwin" href="https://darwin.so">
    Describe the result naturally, then review targeting, budget, and approvals.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Read the work lifecycle" href="/buy/lifecycle">
    Understand goals, deals, reservations, settlement, and outcomes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Use [ephemeral Buy goals](/buy/ephemeral-goals) only when an external application needs Darwin work for a pseudonymous end user without first linking a Darwin AI.