Description
Scan chain IDs in order, mark a cycle on any repeat, and either stop before counting the first repeated entry or continue counting every entry according to repeatedIdTerminates.
A justification chain or evidence path is a structural representation of an argument. Repeated identifiers and reachable cycles can expose a local structural issue, but path counts do not establish independent evidence or argument soundness.
Scan chain IDs in order, mark a cycle on any repeat, and either stop before counting the first repeated entry or continue counting every entry according to repeatedIdTerminates.
When to use this tool
Use Evidence Chain Depth when you need a supplied chain, path-count or cycle diagnostic.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter chainIds, repeatedIdTerminates. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read depth, cycleDetected. Inspect cycleDetected before interpreting the associated values.
Scan chain IDs in order, mark a cycle on any repeat, and either stop before counting the first repeated entry or continue counting every entry according to repeatedIdTerminates.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| chainIds | Chain Ids | Required. Array of text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192; maximum items 256. |
| repeatedIdTerminates | Repeated Id Terminates | Required. Boolean. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| depth | Depth on the common length basis and sign convention above. | Required. Safe integer. |
| cycleDetected | Cycle Detected | Required. Boolean. |
{
"input": {
"chainIds": [
"A",
"B",
"C",
"B"
],
"repeatedIdTerminates": true
},
"output": {
"depth": 3,
"cycleDetected": true
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Repeated IDs are treated as a cycle witness in the supplied sequence, without verifying actual dependency edges. The stopping repeat is excluded from depth.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Inspect the actual dependency graph and substantive premises. Use a full graph traversal when disconnected components matter, and evaluate evidentiary validity separately from structure.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Justification Chain Circular Reference Witness
Starting only at nodes[0], follow dependencies until leaving the node map or repeating; return the repeated cycle plus closure, or the visited path when acyclic.
- Testimonial Dependence Source Pair Tool
Record a supplied source pair and dependence-evidence reference without estimating independence or credibility.