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Direction is a value attached to every assertion which determines whether inference involving the assertion is done when an assertion is added to the KB, or done in response to a query being asked. There are three possible values for direction: :forward (inference triggered by the addition of a new assertion), :backward (inference done in response to a query), and :code (HL module performs reasoning, assertion not used in regular inference). Most tools that add new assertions to Cyc use the following defaults: GAFs have direction :forward and rules have direction :backward.