> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.zerve.ai/zerve-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.zerve.ai/zerve-docs/agents-in-the-workspace/evolve-mode/when-the-agent-needs-input.md).

# When the agent needs input

Choose whether Evolve Mode waits for your answers or carries on by itself.

Sometimes Evolve Mode needs something from you: an answer to a question, a choice between approaches or approval to go ahead. You choose how it behaves when that happens.

## Options

| Option                                 | What the agent does                                                                                                  |
| -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Ask, then continue after 5 minutes** | Asks you, and if you haven't answered within five minutes, carries on using its best judgement. This is the default. |
| **Always wait**                        | Asks you and waits for your answer, however long it takes                                                            |
| **Use best judgement**                 | Doesn't wait. It decides for itself, and questions are skipped.                                                      |

Set this in the Evolve Mode settings in the agent composer.

## When it always waits

Some things always wait for you, whatever the setting:

* **When it needs a credential**, such as an API key it doesn't have
* **Before an action that can't be undone**, such as deleting data

## Choosing an option

| If you…                                                                 | Choose                                 |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Want to be consulted but don't want work to stall while you're away     | **Ask, then continue after 5 minutes** |
| Need to approve every important choice                                  | **Always wait**                        |
| Are running something you've done before, and trust the agent to decide | **Use best judgement**                 |

## Answering

When the agent asks a question, you'll see it in the conversation. Answer it there. You can also send other messages while the agent is working; they're queued and handled in order.


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# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.zerve.ai/zerve-docs/agents-in-the-workspace/evolve-mode/when-the-agent-needs-input.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.