---
type: "Glossary term"
title: "Idempotency"
description: "An operation that can be safely repeated with the same effect."
tags: [glossary]
generated: { by: human:crpage, at: 2026-07-09T09:44:00Z }
aliases: "idempotency; idempotent"
status: stable
---

# Definition
An operation that can be repeated safely with the same effect as doing it once — so a retry will not duplicate side effects. Owned by the runtime, not the prompt.

# Used in this bundle
Appears in: [execution-and-orchestration](../stack/execution-and-orchestration.md).

# Related terms
[compensation](compensation.md).