# Contracts

> Explicit, enforceable agreements specifying the inputs, outputs, and guarantees between components.

Record: `lexicon:contracts`
Kind: constraint
Layer: [Structural Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/structural-core.md)
Aliases: Contract
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon#lexicon-contracts

Listed in [Lexicon terms](https://banes-lab.com/api/records/lexicon.md), after [Metrics](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/metrics.md) and before [Independent Deployment](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/independent-deployment.md).

## Category

- [Core Vocabulary](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon-category/core-vocabulary.md)

## Required by

- [Interoperability](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/interoperability.md)
- [Decentralization](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/decentralization.md)
- [Impact Analysis](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/impact-analysis.md)
- [Capability Declaration](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/capability-declaration.md)
- [Extension Points](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/extension-points.md)
- [Component-Based Architecture](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/component-based-architecture.md)

## Reinforced by

- [Specification-Based Testing](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/specification-based-testing.md)
- [Type Safety](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/type-safety.md)

## Linked from

- [Contracts / Interfaces / Compatibility](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-contracts-interfaces-compatibility.md)
- [Control / Coordination / Centralization](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-control-coordination-centralization.md)
- [Correctness / Determinism / Verification](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-correctness-determinism-verification.md)
- [Architecture Review / Evolution / Governance Artifacts](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-architecture-review-evolution-governance-artifacts.md)
- [Metadata / Self-Description / Declarative Systems](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-metadata-self-description-declarative-systems.md)
- [Plugin / Extensibility / IoC](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-plugin-extensibility-ioc.md)
- [Schema / Canonical Data / Semantics](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-schema-canonical-data-semantics.md)
- [Codebase / System Architecture Styles](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-codebase-system-architecture-styles.md)
- [Infrastructure Concerns](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon/lexicon-category-infrastructure-concerns.md)