# Read inapplicability separately from truth

## Intent

I want to read inapplicability separately from truth.

## Wrong form and why it stays silent

NOT_APPLICABLE is not part of truth_status. In why_not, applicability belongs to the candidate, not automatically to the root answer.

```text title="Incorrect form"
expect truth_status == NOT_APPLICABLE;
```

## Correct form

```law
language "law.core" version "0.2";
package recipe.m09 version "1.0.0";
namespace "urn:recipe:m-queries:09";
entity Person;
relation eligible(p: Person);
relation accepted(p: Person);
rule Accept strict { for p: Person; effective [@2026-09-01, @2026-10-01); when eligible(p); then accepted(p); }
```

## Frozen execution scene

| Input / variant | Question | Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. outside the window | `truth(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")))` | `truth_status == NEITHER;  evaluation_status == COMPUTED;` |
| 2. explanation outside the window | `why_not(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")))` | `evaluation_status == COMPUTED;  blocked_by(Accept);` |
| 3. applicable, but the body refuted | `why_not(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")))` | `evaluation_status == COMPUTED;  blocked_by(Accept);` |
| 4. applicable and fired | `truth(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")))` | `truth_status == TRUE_ONLY;  evaluation_status == COMPUTED;` |

```law
test "outside window answers neither" {
    given {
        context { legal_time @2026-10-01; decision_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; knowledge_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; timezone "UTC";  }
        assert eligible(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p"));
    }
    evaluate truth(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")));
    expect truth_status == NEITHER; expect evaluation_status == COMPUTED;
}
```

```law
test "explanation outside window names rule" {
    given {
        context { legal_time @2026-10-01; decision_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; knowledge_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; timezone "UTC";  }
        assert eligible(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p"));
    }
    evaluate why_not(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")));
    expect evaluation_status == COMPUTED; expect blocked_by(Accept);
}
```

```law
test "refuted body names rule" {
    given {
        context { legal_time @2026-09-13; decision_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; knowledge_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; timezone "UTC";  }
        assert not eligible(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p"));
    }
    evaluate why_not(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")));
    expect evaluation_status == COMPUTED; expect blocked_by(Accept);
}
```

```law
test "applicable rule fires" {
    given {
        context { legal_time @2026-09-13; decision_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; knowledge_time @2026-09-13T09:00:00Z; timezone "UTC";  }
        assert eligible(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p"));
    }
    evaluate truth(accepted(entity_ref("urn:recipe:m-queries:p")));
    expect truth_status == TRUE_ONLY; expect evaluation_status == COMPUTED;
}
```

In scene 2 the path `results[0].value.value.blockers[0].applicability`
equals NOT_APPLICABLE, the conjunct list is empty: the rule is outside effective.
In scene 3 applicability is APPLICABLE, but trigger is NOT_SATISFIED.
Both questions return truthStatus NEITHER. The root GRAPH result
has no applicabilityStatus field; a candidate field must not be attributed to it.

Check of result fields and extra inputs:

```python
>>> import runpy
>>> checks = runpy.run_path("docs/recipes/m-queries/resources/check.py")
>>> checks["applicability"](https://github.com/arxohq/law/blob/master/docs/recipes/m-queries/9)
True
```

## Counterfactual

The sidecar mutation reproduces `LDC-E1319`. Counterfactual table variants are executed separately; input errors are not passed off as NEITHER.

## Boundary

APPLICABLE and SATISFIED are different axes. Absence of a rule’s application does not create negative support for its head.

## Pitfall

A closed anchor or window lifts application but does not refute the head — see [Move a rule onto the edition in force](/recipes/i-sources/closed-edition/).