---
title: "Flashing context"
canonical: https://workspace.socra.com/docs/cortex/concepts/flashing-context
updated: 2026-10-13
---

# Flashing context

A flash retrieves one requested Module and the knowledge it depends on as one agent-readable context bundle.

## What a flash includes

Cortex walks the requested [Module's transitive dependencies](/docs/cortex/concepts/modules-and-map#dependencies). It emits each prerequisite before the Module that requires it, so the agent receives foundations in comprehension order. Each Module appears once. A flash does not include Modules that depend on the requested Module.

Requesting more than one root creates a separate flash for each root. Cortex executes those flashes in request order.

## When to flash

Flash a Module when the current task requires Account-specific knowledge that the agent cannot safely infer from general training or the repository alone. Choose the narrowest Module that owns the relevant decision.

The [plugin guidance](/docs/cortex/integrations/coding-agents) teaches the agent to find and Flash relevant knowledge before acting. The human does not need to memorize Module names or request each Flash. With other connections, save the [Cortex instructions](/docs/cortex/installation#suggested-instructions) in the host.

Do not flash every Module at session start. Large unrelated context makes the deciding constraints harder for the agent to identify.

## What a flash does not do

A flash supplies tool context. It does not change a repository, grant access, assign an [Issue](/docs/cortex/concepts/issues-and-coordination), or override the agent host's instruction hierarchy. The host decides how to present tool context and when to require approval.

When a Module changes, later Flashes return its updated knowledge. A save does not replace context already loaded in an active session. An agent working on the affected subject should retrieve the correction before continuing.

## Usage

Each successful root request creates one metered Flash. Cortex estimates the token contribution of the returned Module closure. Wrapper text is excluded from the estimate. The [CLI reference](/docs/cortex/reference/cli#setup-and-discovery) lists the commands for Flash usage and history.