> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.perisclaw.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.perisclaw.com/skills-and-integrations/triggers.md).

# Triggers & automations

A **trigger** is a simple if-this-then-that rule that runs the instant a message or reaction arrives — no thinking required, so it's immediate and free. Triggers are perfect for the small, repetitive reactions you'd otherwise do by hand.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Triggers vs. the assistant.** Triggers handle reflexes — *"every time X happens, do Y."* For anything that needs judgment (drafting a reply, deciding what matters), let the assistant handle it as a normal request or a [job](/what-perisclaw-can-do/autonomous-jobs.md).
{% endhint %}

## What a trigger can do

When a rule matches, Perisclaw can:

* **React** with an emoji — *"react 🌈 whenever someone says 'supreme' in the Velarians group."*
* **Send** a set message — *"if anyone posts 'gm' in the team chat, reply 'good morning ☀️'."*
* **Forward** a message to another chat — *"forward anything Sarah sends in Suppliers to the Ops group."*
* **Stay quiet** — suppress a chat so your assistant doesn't surface its messages to you.

Triggers can watch for a **keyword or pattern** in a specific chat, or for a **reaction** on a chat.

## Setting one up

Just describe the rule in plain language and your assistant sets it up:

> *"React 👍 whenever someone says 'approved' in the Finance channel."*

Perisclaw confirms the exact condition and action before turning it on, so a rule can't accidentally spam or silence the wrong messages.

## Managing your triggers

* **See them** — *"list my triggers."*
* **Change one** — *"edit the Finance trigger to react ✅ instead."*
* **Remove one** — *"delete the gm auto-reply."*

{% hint style="warning" %}
A trigger only fires on **new** messages going forward — it doesn't go back over past chats. If you want to cover history too (*"and do the last week as well"*), just ask; that's a separate one-time task the assistant runs for you.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.perisclaw.com/skills-and-integrations/triggers.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.