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

# Strict Mode

> Restrict agents to only answer from their connected knowledge bases.

# Strict Mode

Strict mode is a configuration option that constrains an agent to **only answer questions using information from its connected knowledge bases**. When enabled, the agent will not use its general training knowledge to fill in gaps.

## Why use strict mode

By default, agents can supplement knowledge base results with information from their underlying AI model's training data. This is useful for general-purpose assistants but can be problematic when:

* **Accuracy is critical** — You need answers grounded exclusively in your organization's documents
* **Compliance matters** — Responses must be traceable to approved sources
* **Domain specificity** — General AI knowledge could mislead users (e.g., legal or medical contexts)

## How it works

When strict mode is enabled:

1. The agent searches connected knowledge bases for every question
2. If relevant results are found, the agent responds using only that information
3. If **no relevant results are found**, the agent returns a **custom "no answer" message** instead of guessing

This ensures every answer is either sourced from your documents or clearly marked as unanswerable.

## Configuring strict mode

1. Navigate to **Agents** and edit the agent
2. Enable the **Strict Mode** toggle
3. Optionally, customize the **"no answer" message** — the response the agent gives when it can't find relevant information

**Default no-answer message:**

> I don't have enough information in my knowledge base to answer that question. Please try rephrasing your question or contact your administrator.

**Custom example:**

> I couldn't find information about that in our approved documents. For this type of question, please contact the Legal team directly at [legal@acme.com](mailto:legal@acme.com).

## When to use strict mode vs. standard

|                           | Strict mode                          | Standard mode                              |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| Answers only from KB      | Yes                                  | No (can supplement with general knowledge) |
| Handles unknown questions | Custom rejection message             | Best-effort answer                         |
| Best for                  | Compliance-critical, domain-specific | General-purpose assistants                 |
| Citation coverage         | 100% of answers are cited            | Most answers are cited                     |