# Auto
Auto is the default mode for open-ended or multi-step tasks. Rather than locking into a single mode, Cora evaluates the prompt and decides whether to plan first, write code, ask a clarifying question, or review what it just produced and can move between modes as the task unfolds.
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### When to use Auto
Auto is the right choice when you're not sure which mode a task requires, or when a task is likely to span more than one mode. Building a new feature from scratch, for example, naturally involves planning the approach, writing the code, and reviewing the result Auto handles the sequencing without you having to switch manually.
If you have a specific, well-scoped task :
`explain this function` , `refactor this file`, `review this diff` , `Fix this bug`
using a targeted mode directly is faster and more predictable. Auto adds value when the task is larger or less defined.
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### How Auto sequences modes
For a complex prompt, Auto typically follows this order:
1. If the task involves architectural decisions, it runs **Plan** first and surfaces the plan for your review.
2. Once you confirm, it switches to **Code** to execute.
3. After generating changes that touch security-sensitive areas, it runs a **Review** pass automatically.
4. At any point, it can pause in **Ask** mode if it needs clarification to proceed correctly.
The current mode is always visible in the panel. You can see when Cora switches and why.
> You can interrupt Auto at any mode transition. If the plan doesn't look right, push back before execution starts. If the code looks wrong mid-generation, stop and redirect don't let it finish and then ask it to redo.
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### Auto vs. manual mode selection
Auto does not always sequence all four modes. For a small, unambiguous task like adding a field to an existing model, it will skip Plan and go straight to Code. The planning overhead is proportional to the complexity of the task.
If you want to force a planning step for a task Auto would otherwise execute directly, use Plan mode explicitly, review the output, then switch to Code.
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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.codemate.ai/cora/modes/auto.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
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.