> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nika.sh/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# path

> Contract, placement, related fields and source examples for this Nika YAML field.

[Language reference](/reference/language/overview) / `path`

## Meaning and placement

### → secrets · additionalProperties

File path · file source only · contents read at resolve time · masked.

| Property        | Declaration                                                |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Requirement     | Optional in this object                                    |
| Schema location | `/properties/secrets/additionalProperties/properties/path` |
| type            | "string"                                                   |

**In the same object:** [egress](/reference/language/words/egress) · [key](/reference/language/words/key) · [source](/reference/language/words/source)

[Schema source (use the pointer above)](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/schemas/workflow.schema.json)

### infer → vision · items

The schema declares this field at the location below.

| Property        | Declaration                                            |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Requirement     | Optional in this object                                |
| Schema location | `/$defs/infer/properties/vision/items/properties/path` |
| type            | "string"                                               |

**In the same object:** [source](/reference/language/words/source) · [url](/reference/language/words/url)

[Schema source (use the pointer above)](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/schemas/workflow.schema.json)

## In a source template

Excerpt from `templates/chain.nika.yaml`, source lines 79–88. This is a fragment, not a runnable workflow.

```yaml illustration theme={"system"}
    invoke:
      tool: "nika:write"
      args:
        path: "${{ const.destination }}"   # SLOT: destination · same path as permits.fs.write
        content: "${{ with.think }}"       # ALWAYS pass content · a write without it writes nothing
    on_error:
      # Golden rehearsal. Under `nika test` the mock plane simulates the
      # MODEL, not effects — this write is refused (NIKA-452) so the pin
      # lane needs this recover to walk its own scaffold. `nika run` never
      # fires it on success (a recover only runs on failure). Delete this
```

### Templates containing this field

| Template                               | Source                                                                                                                                         |
| -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `templates/chain.nika.yaml`            | [Line 82](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/templates/chain.nika.yaml#L82)              |
| `templates/docker-report.nika.yaml`    | [Line 94](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/templates/docker-report.nika.yaml#L94)      |
| `templates/etl-state.nika.yaml`        | [Line 140](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/templates/etl-state.nika.yaml#L140)        |
| `templates/human-gated-ship.nika.yaml` | [Line 98](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/templates/human-gated-ship.nika.yaml#L98)   |
| `templates/media-asset-pack.nika.yaml` | [Line 110](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/templates/media-asset-pack.nika.yaml#L110) |
| `templates/website-brief.nika.yaml`    | [Line 91](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/templates/website-brief.nika.yaml#L91)      |

These are literal key occurrences in the source files, not an execution or conformance claim. [How to instantiate a template](/guides/templates).

## Contract and implementation

This page projects the named specification revision. Check [released engine status](/reference/status) and [the validation workflow](/guides/agent-authoring) before running a file. An optional field is not evidence that every engine supports every value.

Canonical identity: `language:word:path`. Spec revision: [`c5ebbb7b862b`](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/tree/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6).

[How documentation stays connected](/reference/knowledge-system).