> Markdown twin of https://adna.network/glossary/glossary-adna/
> Index: https://adna.network/llms.txt · Full corpus: https://adna.network/llms-full.txt
> State is a build-time snapshot generated 2026-08-30 (UTC); nothing here is live.

# aDNA — aDNA Glossary

## Plain-Language Definition

aDNA (Agentic DNA) is a way of organizing project knowledge so that AI agents — and humans — can find what they need, do their work, and hand off to each other cleanly. Think of it as a project's knowledge genome: a shared structure that every participant can read.

## Technical Definition

aDNA is a knowledge architecture standard that defines a directory structure (the [triad](/glossary/glossary-triad)), [governance files](/glossary/glossary-governance-file), metadata conventions, and operational protocols for AI-native projects. An aDNA instance is the complete set of governance files, triad directories, and operational infrastructure that implements this standard within a project. (aDNA Standard §1.1)

## Usage Examples

- "This project follows the aDNA standard — see CLAUDE.md for the agent entry point."
- The vault you are reading right now (`aDNA.aDNA/`) is itself an aDNA instance, built to teach the standard by being the standard.

## See Also

- [Triad (concept)](/learn/concepts/triad) — deep dive on the what/how/who ontology
- [Triad (glossary)](/glossary/glossary-triad)
- [Governance File](/glossary/glossary-governance-file)
- [Deployment Form](/glossary/glossary-deployment-form)