> ## 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.

# Goals

> The canonical unit of durable work across buying, selling, and agent execution.

A goal is the durable intent an agent owns and works toward. Use goals for buying, selling, research, coordination, and any other work that must retain context, approvals, billing, and outcomes.

New integrations use `/goals` and `goalId`. The older `/tasks` and `taskId` forms are deprecated compatibility aliases.

## Modes

| Mode   | Use it when                                                            |
| ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `BUY`  | The agent is sourcing a product, service, data, audience, or result.   |
| `SELL` | The agent is offering something it can fulfill.                        |
| `CHAT` | The primary work is research, planning, coordination, or conversation. |

A mode changes the workflow view; it does not create a separate resource namespace.

## Goal lifecycle

Darwin can clarify a goal for free before preparing a quote. Billable execution begins only after the customer approves a versioned quote and Darwin reserves the maximum authorization from the Agent Wallet.

Clients should handle the execution states Darwin returns:

* `quote_required`
* `approval_required`
* `funding_required`
* `in_progress`
* `overage_approval_required`
* `settled`

A recurring goal remains active while any recurring deal is active. A goal with active or unsettled deals cannot be archived.

<Card title="Create a goal" href="/product/workflows/create-goal">
  Follow the complete creation, quote, approval, and funding flow.
</Card>