---
id: "traversal"
type: "concept"
title: "Forward and inverse traversal"
summary: "Traversal follows definitions forward or inverse, optionally expanding targets."
problem: "Callers guess direction and miss inverse edges."
why: "Explicit direction matches authored relationship semantics."
mentalModel: "Pick definition → direction → expand or not."
audiences: ["developers"]
prerequisites: ["relationship-references"]
related: ["resolved-unresolved"]
---
# Forward and inverse traversal

Traversal follows definitions forward or inverse, optionally expanding targets.

## Problem

Callers guess direction and miss inverse edges.

## Why

Explicit direction matches authored relationship semantics.

## Mental model

Pick definition → direction → expand or not.