feat: provider-result caching with time expiry + DSL fact-level TTL

Automatically-retrieved facts (balances, sessions, etc.) are now cached with
a time expiry so repeated checks don't re-invoke the underlying data store.

- check(): registered providers cache their normalized edges per
  (relation, subject, object) with a TTL; a fresh entry is reused without
  re-invoking the provider. Per-check factProviders are one-off observations
  and stay cache-transparent (no read, no write).
- TTL resolution: DSL-declared 'BEHAVES { ttl <duration> }' on a fact >
  setFactTTL(relation, ms) > policy.providerCacheTTL (default 30s; 0 disables).
- Grammar: facts may now declare a freshness window via
  'fact balance(user, amount) BEHAVES { ttl 1h }' (previously BEHAVES only
  accepted 'AS edge|transitive|hierarchical|symmetrical_graph'). The runtime
  indexes it as the fact's ttlMs.
- registerFact/unregisterFact, graph mutations (add/update/remove node or
  relation), and invalidateProviderCache(relation?) keep the cache consistent.
- Injectable clock (default wall clock) drives cache freshness, mirroring the
  core's unpinned-clock contract.

Tests: DSLRuntimeCache (reuse within TTL, expiry re-invoke, per-check
override transparency, registerFact invalidation, mutation invalidation,
per-relation/all invalidation, policy default, DSL-declared 1h TTL).

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@arbiter/evidence-dsl",
-  "version": "1.6.0",
+  "version": "1.7.0",
   "description": "Evidence DSL v2 compiler: translates the natural Evidence DSL (ADR-000) into @arbiter/core relation configurations.",
   "license": "ISC",
   "type": "module",

src/grammar/dsl.peggy

@@ -248,6 +248,13 @@ BehaviorAnnotation
   = "BEHAVES" __ "AS" __ behavior:("edge" / "transitive" / "hierarchical" / "symmetrical_graph") {
       return { type: "BehaviorAnnotation", behavior };
     }
+  / "BEHAVES" __ "{" _ behavior:(TTLBehavior) _ "}" {
+      // Fact-level freshness: `fact balance(user, amount) BEHAVES { ttl 1h }`
+      // declares the relation's value-freshness window, which the runtime uses
+      // as the provider-result cache TTL. The behavior is wrapped like the
+      // `BEHAVES AS` form so consumers read `behavior.behaviorType`.
+      return { type: "BehaviorAnnotation", behavior };
+    }
 
 FactProperty
   = "transitive" { return "transitive"; }

src/parser/GeneratedParser.js

@@ -490,39 +490,46 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
   function peg$f29(behavior) {
     return { type: "BehaviorAnnotation", behavior };
   }
-  function peg$f30() {    return "transitive";  }
+  function peg$f30(behavior) {
-  function peg$f31() {    return "symmetrical";  }
+    // Fact-level freshness: `fact balance(user, amount) BEHAVES { ttl 1h }`
-  function peg$f32(value) {    return value;  }
+    // declares the relation's value-freshness window, which the runtime uses
-  function peg$f33(b) {    return b;  }
+    // as the provider-result cache TTL. The behavior is wrapped like the
-  function peg$f34(direction, period) {
+    // `BEHAVES AS` form so consumers read `behavior.behaviorType`.
+    return { type: "BehaviorAnnotation", behavior };
+  }
+  function peg$f31() {    return "transitive";  }
+  function peg$f32() {    return "symmetrical";  }
+  function peg$f33(value) {    return value;  }
+  function peg$f34(b) {    return b;  }
+  function peg$f35(direction, period) {
     return { type: "Behavior", behaviorType: "decay", direction, period };
   }
-  function peg$f35(mode, confidence) {
+  function peg$f36(mode, confidence) {
     return { type: "Behavior", behaviorType: "blur", mode, confidence: confidence ? confidence[1] : null };
   }
-  function peg$f36(duration) {
+  function peg$f37(duration) {
     return { type: "Behavior", behaviorType: "ttl", duration };
   }
-  function peg$f37(directive) {    return directive;  }
+  function peg$f38(directive) {    return directive;  }
-  function peg$f38(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
   function peg$f39(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
-  function peg$f40(head, typeName) {
+  function peg$f40(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
+  function peg$f41(head, typeName) {
     return { type: "BinaryExpression", operator: "is", left: head, right: typeName };
   }
-  function peg$f41(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
+  function peg$f42(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
-  function peg$f42(head, right) {
+  function peg$f43(head, right) {
     return { type: "BinaryExpression", operator: "within", left: head, right };
   }
-  function peg$f43(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
   function peg$f44(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
-  function peg$f45(operator, operand) {    return { type: "UnaryExpression", operator: "NOT", operand };  }
+  function peg$f45(head, tail) {    return buildLeftAssoc(head, tail);  }
-  function peg$f46(primary, binding) {
+  function peg$f46(operator, operand) {    return { type: "UnaryExpression", operator: "NOT", operand };  }
+  function peg$f47(primary, binding) {
     if (binding) {
       return { type: "BindingAccess", expression: primary, binding };
     }
     return primary;
   }
-  function peg$f47(head, tail) {
+  function peg$f48(head, tail) {
     return tail.reduce((obj, part) => {
       return {
         type: "AttributeAccess",
@@ -532,31 +539,31 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
       };
     }, head);
   }
-  function peg$f48(expr) {    return expr;  }
+  function peg$f49(expr) {    return expr;  }
-  function peg$f49(name, args) {
+  function peg$f50(name, args) {
     return { type: "PredicateCall", name, args: args || [], challenge: true };
   }
-  function peg$f50(name, args) {
+  function peg$f51(name, args) {
     return { type: "PredicateCall", name, args: args || [] };
   }
-  function peg$f51(name) {    return { type: "Variable", name };  }
+  function peg$f52(name) {    return { type: "Variable", name };  }
-  function peg$f52(head, tail) {
-    return [head, ...tail.map(t => t[3])];
-  }
   function peg$f53(head, tail) {
     return [head, ...tail.map(t => t[3])];
   }
-  function peg$f54(chars) {
+  function peg$f54(head, tail) {
-    return { type: "Literal", value: JSON.parse(text()) };
+    return [head, ...tail.map(t => t[3])];
   }
   function peg$f55(chars) {
+    return { type: "Literal", value: JSON.parse(text()) };
+  }
+  function peg$f56(chars) {
     return { type: "Literal", value: JSON.parse("\"" + chars.map(c => c[0] === '\\' ? c[1] : c[1]).join('') + "\"") };
   }
-  function peg$f56(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: parseFloat(text()) };  }
+  function peg$f57(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: parseFloat(text()) };  }
-  function peg$f57(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: parseInt(text(), 10) };  }
+  function peg$f58(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: parseInt(text(), 10) };  }
-  function peg$f58(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: value === "true" };  }
+  function peg$f59(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: value === "true" };  }
-  function peg$f59(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: text(), unit: text().slice(-1) };  }
+  function peg$f60(value) {    return { type: "Literal", value: text(), unit: text().slice(-1) };  }
-  function peg$f60(name) {    return name;  }
+  function peg$f61(name) {    return name;  }
   let peg$currPos = options.peg$currPos | 0;
   let peg$savedPos = peg$currPos;
   const peg$posDetailsCache = [{ line: 1, column: 1 }];
@@ -2456,7 +2463,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
   }
 
   function peg$parseBehaviorAnnotation() {
-    let s0, s1, s2, s3, s4, s5;
+    let s0, s1, s2, s3, s4, s5, s6, s7;
 
     s0 = peg$currPos;
     if (input.substr(peg$currPos, 7) === peg$c28) {
@@ -2536,6 +2543,61 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
     }
+    if (s0 === peg$FAILED) {
+      s0 = peg$currPos;
+      if (input.substr(peg$currPos, 7) === peg$c28) {
+        s1 = peg$c28;
+        peg$currPos += 7;
+      } else {
+        s1 = peg$FAILED;
+        if (peg$silentFails === 0) { peg$fail(peg$e34); }
+      }
+      if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
+        s2 = peg$parse__();
+        if (s2 !== peg$FAILED) {
+          if (input.charCodeAt(peg$currPos) === 123) {
+            s3 = peg$c2;
+            peg$currPos++;
+          } else {
+            s3 = peg$FAILED;
+            if (peg$silentFails === 0) { peg$fail(peg$e3); }
+          }
+          if (s3 !== peg$FAILED) {
+            s4 = peg$parse_();
+            s5 = peg$parseTTLBehavior();
+            if (s5 !== peg$FAILED) {
+              s6 = peg$parse_();
+              if (input.charCodeAt(peg$currPos) === 125) {
+                s7 = peg$c3;
+                peg$currPos++;
+              } else {
+                s7 = peg$FAILED;
+                if (peg$silentFails === 0) { peg$fail(peg$e4); }
+              }
+              if (s7 !== peg$FAILED) {
+                peg$savedPos = s0;
+                s0 = peg$f30(s5);
+              } else {
+                peg$currPos = s0;
+                s0 = peg$FAILED;
+              }
+            } else {
+              peg$currPos = s0;
+              s0 = peg$FAILED;
+            }
+          } else {
+            peg$currPos = s0;
+            s0 = peg$FAILED;
+          }
+        } else {
+          peg$currPos = s0;
+          s0 = peg$FAILED;
+        }
+      } else {
+        peg$currPos = s0;
+        s0 = peg$FAILED;
+      }
+    }
 
     return s0;
   }
@@ -2553,7 +2615,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
     }
     if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s1 = peg$f30();
+      s1 = peg$f31();
     }
     s0 = s1;
     if (s0 === peg$FAILED) {
@@ -2567,7 +2629,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
       }
       if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
         peg$savedPos = s0;
-        s1 = peg$f31();
+        s1 = peg$f32();
       }
       s0 = s1;
     }
@@ -2592,7 +2654,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         s3 = peg$parseInteger();
         if (s3 !== peg$FAILED) {
           peg$savedPos = s0;
-          s0 = peg$f32(s3);
+          s0 = peg$f33(s3);
         } else {
           peg$currPos = s0;
           s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -2650,7 +2712,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
             }
             if (s7 !== peg$FAILED) {
               peg$savedPos = s0;
-              s0 = peg$f33(s5);
+              s0 = peg$f34(s5);
             } else {
               peg$currPos = s0;
               s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -2762,7 +2824,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
             }
             if (s5 !== peg$FAILED) {
               peg$savedPos = s0;
-              s0 = peg$f34(s3, s5);
+              s0 = peg$f35(s3, s5);
             } else {
               peg$currPos = s0;
               s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -2870,7 +2932,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
             s4 = null;
           }
           peg$savedPos = s0;
-          s0 = peg$f35(s3, s4);
+          s0 = peg$f36(s3, s4);
         } else {
           peg$currPos = s0;
           s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -2904,7 +2966,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         s3 = peg$parseDuration();
         if (s3 !== peg$FAILED) {
           peg$savedPos = s0;
-          s0 = peg$f36(s3);
+          s0 = peg$f37(s3);
         } else {
           peg$currPos = s0;
           s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -2953,7 +3015,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
         if (s3 !== peg$FAILED) {
           peg$savedPos = s0;
-          s0 = peg$f37(s3);
+          s0 = peg$f38(s3);
         } else {
           peg$currPos = s0;
           s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3027,7 +3089,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
       }
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s0 = peg$f38(s1, s2);
+      s0 = peg$f39(s1, s2);
     } else {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3093,7 +3155,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
       }
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s0 = peg$f39(s1, s2);
+      s0 = peg$f40(s1, s2);
     } else {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3122,7 +3184,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
           s5 = peg$parseTypeName();
           if (s5 !== peg$FAILED) {
             peg$savedPos = s0;
-            s0 = peg$f40(s1, s5);
+            s0 = peg$f41(s1, s5);
           } else {
             peg$currPos = s0;
             s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3266,7 +3328,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
           }
         }
         peg$savedPos = s0;
-        s0 = peg$f41(s1, s2);
+        s0 = peg$f42(s1, s2);
       } else {
         peg$currPos = s0;
         s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3296,7 +3358,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
           s5 = peg$parseDuration();
           if (s5 !== peg$FAILED) {
             peg$savedPos = s0;
-            s0 = peg$f42(s1, s5);
+            s0 = peg$f43(s1, s5);
           } else {
             peg$currPos = s0;
             s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3377,7 +3439,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
       }
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s0 = peg$f43(s1, s2);
+      s0 = peg$f44(s1, s2);
     } else {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3443,7 +3505,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
       }
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s0 = peg$f44(s1, s2);
+      s0 = peg$f45(s1, s2);
     } else {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3478,7 +3540,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         s3 = peg$parseUnary();
         if (s3 !== peg$FAILED) {
           peg$savedPos = s0;
-          s0 = peg$f45(s1, s3);
+          s0 = peg$f46(s1, s3);
         } else {
           peg$currPos = s0;
           s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3512,7 +3574,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         s2 = null;
       }
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s0 = peg$f46(s1, s2);
+      s0 = peg$f47(s1, s2);
     } else {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3583,7 +3645,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
       }
       if (s2 !== peg$FAILED) {
         peg$savedPos = s0;
-        s0 = peg$f47(s1, s2);
+        s0 = peg$f48(s1, s2);
       } else {
         peg$currPos = s0;
         s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3630,7 +3692,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
                 }
                 if (s5 !== peg$FAILED) {
                   peg$savedPos = s0;
-                  s0 = peg$f48(s3);
+                  s0 = peg$f49(s3);
                 } else {
                   peg$currPos = s0;
                   s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3694,7 +3756,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
           }
           if (s8 !== peg$FAILED) {
             peg$savedPos = s0;
-            s0 = peg$f49(s2, s6);
+            s0 = peg$f50(s2, s6);
           } else {
             peg$currPos = s0;
             s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3744,7 +3806,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
         if (s6 !== peg$FAILED) {
           peg$savedPos = s0;
-          s0 = peg$f50(s1, s4);
+          s0 = peg$f51(s1, s4);
         } else {
           peg$currPos = s0;
           s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3768,7 +3830,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
     s1 = peg$parseIdentifier();
     if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s1 = peg$f51(s1);
+      s1 = peg$f52(s1);
     }
     s0 = s1;
 
@@ -3832,7 +3894,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
       }
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s0 = peg$f52(s1, s2);
+      s0 = peg$f53(s1, s2);
     } else {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -3898,7 +3960,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
       }
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s0 = peg$f53(s1, s2);
+      s0 = peg$f54(s1, s2);
     } else {
       peg$currPos = s0;
       s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -4083,7 +4145,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
       }
       if (s3 !== peg$FAILED) {
         peg$savedPos = s0;
-        s0 = peg$f54(s2);
+        s0 = peg$f55(s2);
       } else {
         peg$currPos = s0;
         s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -4245,7 +4307,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
         }
         if (s3 !== peg$FAILED) {
           peg$savedPos = s0;
-          s0 = peg$f55(s2);
+          s0 = peg$f56(s2);
         } else {
           peg$currPos = s0;
           s0 = peg$FAILED;
@@ -4340,7 +4402,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
     }
     if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s1 = peg$f56(s1);
+      s1 = peg$f57(s1);
     }
     s0 = s1;
     peg$silentFails--;
@@ -4381,7 +4443,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
     }
     if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s1 = peg$f57(s1);
+      s1 = peg$f58(s1);
     }
     s0 = s1;
     peg$silentFails--;
@@ -4416,7 +4478,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
     }
     if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s1 = peg$f58(s1);
+      s1 = peg$f59(s1);
     }
     s0 = s1;
     peg$silentFails--;
@@ -4477,7 +4539,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
     }
     if (s1 !== peg$FAILED) {
       peg$savedPos = s0;
-      s1 = peg$f59(s1);
+      s1 = peg$f60(s1);
     }
     s0 = s1;
     peg$silentFails--;
@@ -4545,7 +4607,7 @@ function peg$parse(input, options) {
       }
       if (s2 !== peg$FAILED) {
         peg$savedPos = s0;
-        s0 = peg$f60(s2);
+        s0 = peg$f61(s2);
       } else {
         peg$currPos = s0;
         s0 = peg$FAILED;

src/runtime/DSLRuntime.js

@@ -47,8 +47,21 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
     this.strictTypes = options.policy?.strictTypes !== false;
     this.program = null;
     this.types = new Map();      // typeName -> { fields: Map(field -> {type,isArray}) }
-    this.relations = new Map();  // relation -> { kind: 'fact'|'evidence', params, injectable }
+    this.relations = new Map();  // relation -> { kind: 'fact'|'evidence', params, injectable, ttlMs }
     this.dependsOn = new Map();  // evidence relation -> Set(fact relations)
+
+    // Provider-result cache: relation|subject|object -> { edges, fetchedAt }.
+    // Provider retrieval is a data-store read (balance lookups, session
+    // checks, etc.) — caching results with a time expiry avoids hammering the
+    // underlying store on every check. The clock is injectable (default wall
+    // clock) and drives cache freshness, mirroring the core's unpinned-clock
+    // contract.
+    this.providerCache = new Map();
+    this.clock = typeof options.clock === 'function' ? options.clock : (() => Date.now());
+    // Default provider-result TTL in ms (0 disables caching).
+    this.defaultProviderCacheTTL = options.policy?.providerCacheTTL ?? options.providerCacheTTL ?? 30_000;
+    // Per-fact overrides (ms). DSL-declared ttl behaviors are indexed here too.
+    this.factTTLs = new Map(Object.entries(options.factTTLs || {}));
   }
 
   /**
@@ -119,10 +132,12 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
     }
 
     for (const fact of this.program.facts || []) {
+      const ttlMs = this._ttlFromBehavior(fact.behavior);
       this.relations.set(fact.name, {
         kind: 'fact',
         params: (fact.params || []).map(p => ({ name: p.name, type: p.paramType, isArray: !!p.isArray })),
-        injectable: !!fact.injectable
+        injectable: !!fact.injectable,
+        ttlMs
       });
     }
 
@@ -196,12 +211,15 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
       throw new Error(`DSLRuntime: provider for '${relation}' must be a function`);
     }
     this.factProviders[relation] = provider;
+    // A new provider supersedes any cached retrieval for this fact.
+    this.invalidateProviderCache(relation);
     return this;
   }
 
   /** Remove a registered provider. */
   unregisterFact(relation) {
     delete this.factProviders[relation];
+    this.invalidateProviderCache(relation);
     return this;
   }
 
@@ -210,6 +228,109 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
     return Object.keys(this.factProviders);
   }
 
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Provider-result caching
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Set a per-fact provider-result TTL (ms). Overrides the policy default and
+   * the DSL-declared ttl behavior for that fact.
+   */
+  setFactTTL(relation, ms) {
+    this.factTTLs.set(relation, ms);
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /** The effective provider-result TTL (ms) for a fact: DSL > per-fact > policy default. */
+  _ttlFor(relation) {
+    if (this.factTTLs.has(relation)) return this.factTTLs.get(relation);
+    const meta = this.relations.get(relation);
+    if (meta && meta.ttlMs != null) return meta.ttlMs;
+    return this.defaultProviderCacheTTL;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Invalidate cached provider results — all, or for a single relation.
+   * Callers use this when the underlying data store changes out-of-band.
+   */
+  invalidateProviderCache(relation) {
+    if (relation === undefined) {
+      this.providerCache.clear();
+      return this;
+    }
+    const prefix = `${relation}\u0000`;
+    for (const key of [...this.providerCache.keys()]) {
+      if (key.startsWith(prefix)) this.providerCache.delete(key);
+    }
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  _providerCacheKey(relation, subject, object) {
+    return `${relation}\u0000${subject}\u0000${object}`;
+  }
+
+  _providerCacheGet(relation, subject, object) {
+    const ttl = this._ttlFor(relation);
+    if (ttl <= 0) return null;
+    const entry = this.providerCache.get(this._providerCacheKey(relation, subject, object));
+    if (!entry) return null;
+    if (this.clock() - entry.fetchedAt >= ttl) {
+      this.providerCache.delete(this._providerCacheKey(relation, subject, object));
+      return null;
+    }
+    return entry;
+  }
+
+  _providerCacheSet(relation, subject, object, edges) {
+    const ttl = this._ttlFor(relation);
+    if (ttl <= 0) return;
+    this.providerCache.set(this._providerCacheKey(relation, subject, object), {
+      edges,
+      fetchedAt: this.clock()
+    });
+  }
+
+  /** Convert a DSL `BEHAVES { ttl <duration> }` behavior (or `BEHAVES AS`) into ms. */
+  _ttlFromBehavior(behavior) {
+    if (!behavior || typeof behavior !== 'object') return null;
+    const b = behavior.behavior || behavior;
+    if (b && b.behaviorType === 'ttl' && b.duration) {
+      const n = parseInt(String(b.duration.value), 10);
+      const mult = { h: 3600_000, d: 86_400_000, w: 604_800_000, m: 60_000 }[b.duration.unit];
+      if (!Number.isNaN(n) && mult) return n * mult;
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Normalize a provider result (boolean / number / { possibility, value } /
+   * array of edge objects) into an array of partial-graph edge objects. The
+   * destination follows the DSL fact's declared shape: unary and value-carrying
+   * facts are self-edges on the subject; binary entity facts go subject → object.
+   */
+  _normalizeProviderEdges(result, factMeta, user, object) {
+    const edges = Array.isArray(result) ? result : [result];
+    const secondParamType = factMeta.params[1] && factMeta.params[1].type;
+    const defaultDst = factMeta.params.length >= 2 && this._isValueType(secondParamType)
+      ? user
+      : (factMeta.params.length >= 2 ? object : user);
+    const out = [];
+    for (const edge of edges) {
+      const normalized = typeof edge === 'boolean' || typeof edge === 'number'
+        ? { src: user, dst: defaultDst, possibility: edge === true ? 1 : edge }
+        : {
+          ...(edge.relation ? { relation: edge.relation } : {}),
+          src: edge.src ?? user,
+          dst: edge.dst ?? defaultDst,
+          possibility: edge.possibility ?? 1,
+          ...(edge.value !== undefined ? { value: edge.value } : {}),
+          ...(edge.reliability !== undefined ? { reliability: edge.reliability } : {})
+        };
+      out.push(normalized);
+    }
+    return out;
+  }
+
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Schema validation helpers
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -283,6 +404,8 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
     } else if (this.strictTypes) {
       throw new Error(`DSLRuntime: unknown type '${typeName}'`);
     }
+    // A graph mutation can make previously-retrieved facts stale.
+    this.invalidateProviderCache();
     return this.arbiter.addNode(key, typeName, data);
   }
 
@@ -297,11 +420,13 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
         if (data[name] !== undefined) this._checkFieldValue(field, data[name], `${typeName}.${name}`);
       }
     }
+    this.invalidateProviderCache();
     return this.arbiter.updateNodeData(key, data);
   }
 
   /** Remove a node (passthrough to the arbiter's node manager). */
   removeNode(key) {
+    this.invalidateProviderCache();
     if (this.arbiter.nodeManager && typeof this.arbiter.nodeManager.removeNode === 'function') {
       return this.arbiter.nodeManager.removeNode(key);
     }
@@ -327,6 +452,7 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
     if (meta) {
       this._validateRelationEndpoints(relation, meta, src, dst, attrs);
     }
+    this.invalidateProviderCache();
     return this.arbiter.addRelation(src, relation, dst, attrs);
   }
 
@@ -338,12 +464,14 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
     if (meta) {
       this._validateRelationEndpoints(relation, meta, src, dst, attrs);
     }
+    this.invalidateProviderCache();
     this.arbiter.removeRelation(src, relation, dst);
     return this.arbiter.addRelation(src, relation, dst, attrs);
   }
 
   /** Remove a relation edge (passthrough to the arbiter). */
   removeRelation(src, relation, dst) {
+    this.invalidateProviderCache();
     return this.arbiter.removeRelation(src, relation, dst);
   }
 
@@ -453,62 +581,60 @@ export class DSLRuntime {
         if (satisfied.has(fact)) continue;
         const factMeta = this.relations.get(fact);
         const provider = providers[fact];
-        if (typeof provider !== 'function') {
+
+        // Provider-result cache: reuse fresh edges without re-invoking the
+        // data store. A cached entry stores the NORMALIZED edges. Per-check
+        // provider overrides are one-off observations — they bypass the cache
+        // entirely (no read, no write) so a fresh override is never masked by
+        // a cached registered-provider result, nor does it pollute the cache.
+        const isPerCheckOverride = !!(options.factProviders && fact in options.factProviders);
+        const cacheHit = isPerCheckOverride ? null : this._providerCacheGet(fact, user, object);
+        let edges = null;
+        let fromCache = false;
+        if (cacheHit) {
+          edges = cacheHit.edges;
+          fromCache = true;
+        } else if (typeof provider === 'function') {
+          let result = null;
+          let error = null;
+          try {
+            result = await provider(user, object, {
+              relation: fact,
+              params: factMeta.params,
+              runtime: this,
+              options,
+              round,
+              alreadyInjected: [...satisfied]
+            });
+          } catch (err) {
+            error = err;
+          }
+          if (error) {
+            missingFacts.push({ relation: fact, reason: error.message });
+            satisfied.add(fact);
+            continue;
+          }
+          if (result === false || result === null || result === undefined) {
+            missingFacts.push({ relation: fact, reason: 'not_provided' });
+            satisfied.add(fact);
+            continue;
+          }
+          edges = this._normalizeProviderEdges(result, factMeta, user, object);
+          if (!isPerCheckOverride) this._providerCacheSet(fact, user, object, edges);
+        } else {
           missingFacts.push({ relation: fact, reason: 'no_provider' });
           satisfied.add(fact);
           continue;
         }
-        let result = null;
+
-        let error = null;
+        // A provider may return edges for relations other than its own; the
-        try {
+        // injected relation names satisfy those facts too (fixed point).
-          result = await provider(user, object, {
+        for (const normalized of edges) {
-            relation: fact,
-            params: factMeta.params,
-            runtime: this,
-            options,
-            round,
-            alreadyInjected: [...satisfied]
-          });
-        } catch (err) {
-          error = err;
-        }
-        if (error) {
-          missingFacts.push({ relation: fact, reason: error.message });
-          satisfied.add(fact);
-          continue;
-        }
-        if (result === false || result === null || result === undefined) {
-          missingFacts.push({ relation: fact, reason: 'not_provided' });
-          satisfied.add(fact);
-          continue;
-        }
-        const edges = Array.isArray(result) ? result : [result];
-        // Resolve the edge destination the same way the DSL declares the fact:
-        //   - unary fact (1 param)        -> self-edge on the subject
-        //   - value fact (2nd param value) -> self-edge on the subject carrying the value
-        //   - binary entity fact          -> subject → object
-        const secondParamType = factMeta.params[1] && factMeta.params[1].type;
-        const defaultDst = factMeta.params.length >= 2 && this._isValueType(secondParamType)
-          ? user
-          : (factMeta.params.length >= 2 ? object : user);
-        for (const edge of edges) {
-          const normalized = typeof edge === 'boolean' || typeof edge === 'number'
-            ? { src: user, dst: defaultDst, possibility: edge === true ? 1 : edge }
-            : {
-              ...(edge.relation ? { relation: edge.relation } : {}),
-              src: edge.src ?? user,
-              dst: edge.dst ?? defaultDst,
-              possibility: edge.possibility ?? 1,
-              ...(edge.value !== undefined ? { value: edge.value } : {}),
-              ...(edge.reliability !== undefined ? { reliability: edge.reliability } : {})
-            };
-          // A provider may return edges for relations other than its own; the
-          // injected relation names satisfy those facts too (fixed point).
           const injectedRelation = normalized.relation ?? fact;
           partialRelations.push({ relation: injectedRelation, ...normalized });
           satisfied.add(injectedRelation);
         }
-        injectedRelations.push({ relation: fact, edges: edges.length, round });
+        injectedRelations.push({ relation: fact, edges: edges.length, round, cacheHit: fromCache });
         newRelationsThisRound += edges.length;
         satisfied.add(fact);
       }

tests/DSLRuntimeCache.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+/**
+ * tests/DSLRuntimeCache.test.js — provider-result caching with time expiry.
+ *
+ * Registered providers retrieve missing facts from a data store; caching the
+ * retrieval avoids hammering the store on repeated checks. TTL resolution:
+ * DSL-declared `BEHAVES { ttl <duration> }` on a fact > per-fact setFactTTL >
+ * policy default (30s). Per-check factProviders are cache-transparent (one-off
+ * observations: no cache read, no cache write). Registering a provider or
+ * mutating the graph invalidates the cache.
+ */
+import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { Arbiter } from '@arbiter/core';
+import { DSLRuntime } from '../src/runtime/DSLRuntime.js';
+
+const BASE_DSL = `
+  definition Employee { id: string }
+  definition Doc { id: string }
+  fact *owns(user: Employee, doc: Doc)
+  evidence can_read(user: Employee, doc: Doc) { owns(user, doc) }
+`;
+
+function makeRuntime(options = {}) {
+  let t = 0;
+  const clock = () => t;
+  const rt = new DSLRuntime(new Arbiter(), { clock, ...options }).compile(BASE_DSL, 'rt-cache');
+  rt._test_advance = (ms) => { t += ms; };
+  return rt;
+}
+
+describe('DSLRuntime provider-result caching', () => {
+  it('reuses a registered provider result within the TTL', async () => {
+    const rt = makeRuntime();
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    let calls = 0;
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => { calls++; return 0.9; });
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 1, 'provider should be invoked once within TTL');
+  });
+
+  it('re-invokes the provider after the TTL expires', async () => {
+    const rt = makeRuntime();
+    rt.setFactTTL('owns', 100);
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    let calls = 0;
+    let value = 0.9;
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => { calls++; return value; });
+    const first = await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(first.possibility, 0.9);
+    rt._test_advance(50);
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9'); // within TTL -> cached
+    assert.equal(calls, 1);
+    rt._test_advance(60); // past TTL (110 total)
+    value = 0.4;
+    const after = await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 2);
+    assert.equal(after.possibility, 0.4);
+  });
+
+  it('per-check factProviders override the cache (fresh observation)', async () => {
+    const rt = makeRuntime();
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => 0.9);
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    // Per-check override is cache-transparent: it must NOT be masked by the
+    // cached 0.9, and it must NOT overwrite the cached value.
+    const over = await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9', {
+      factProviders: { owns: async () => 0.2 }
+    });
+    assert.equal(over.possibility, 0.2);
+    const next = await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(next.possibility, 0.9, 'registered provider cache untouched by per-check override');
+  });
+
+  it('registerFact invalidates the cached result for that relation', async () => {
+    const rt = makeRuntime();
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => 0.9);
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => 0.3); // re-register -> cache invalidated
+    const res = await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(res.possibility, 0.3);
+  });
+
+  it('invalidates cached results on graph mutations', async () => {
+    const rt = makeRuntime();
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    let calls = 0;
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => { calls++; return 0.9; });
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 1);
+    rt.addRelation('u:1', 'owns', 'doc:9', { possibility: 1.0 }); // mutation clears cache
+    const res = await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 2, 'graph mutation should invalidate the provider cache');
+  });
+
+  it('invalidateProviderCache() clears all or per relation', async () => {
+    const dsl = `
+      definition Employee { id: string }
+      definition Doc { id: string }
+      fact *owns(user: Employee, doc: Doc)
+      fact *banned(user: Employee)
+      evidence can_read(user: Employee, doc: Doc) { owns(user, doc) }
+      evidence can_open(user: Employee, doc: Doc) { WHEN can_read(user, doc) UNLESS banned(user) }
+    `;
+    const rt = new DSLRuntime(new Arbiter()).compile(dsl, 'rt-cache2');
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    let ownsCalls = 0, bannedCalls = 0;
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => { ownsCalls++; return 0.9; });
+    rt.registerFact('banned', async () => { bannedCalls++; return 0; });
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_open', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(ownsCalls, 1);
+    assert.equal(bannedCalls, 1);
+    // Invalidate a non-dependency relation: can_open's cache (owns+banned) survives.
+    rt.invalidateProviderCache('does_not_exist');
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_open', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(ownsCalls, 1);
+    assert.equal(bannedCalls, 1);
+    // Invalidate owns only: banned survives, owns re-fetched.
+    rt.invalidateProviderCache('owns');
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_open', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(ownsCalls, 2, 'owns cache cleared by per-relation invalidation');
+    assert.equal(bannedCalls, 1, 'banned cache survives per-relation invalidation');
+    // Clear all.
+    rt.invalidateProviderCache();
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_open', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(bannedCalls, 2, 'full invalidation clears every relation');
+  });
+
+  it('policy default TTL applies when no per-fact TTL is set', async () => {
+    const rt = makeRuntime({ policy: { providerCacheTTL: 50 } });
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    let calls = 0;
+    rt.registerFact('owns', async () => { calls++; return 0.9; });
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    rt._test_advance(40);
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 1, 'within 50ms policy TTL -> cached');
+    rt._test_advance(20);
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_read', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 2, 'past 50ms policy TTL -> re-invoked');
+  });
+
+  it('uses the DSL-declared fact TTL (BEHAVES { ttl X })', async () => {
+    const dsl = `
+      definition Employee { id: string }
+      definition Doc { id: string }
+      fact *balance(user: Employee, amount: number) BEHAVES { ttl 1h }
+      evidence can_spend(user: Employee, doc: Doc) { balance(user, 1) }
+    `;
+    let t = 0;
+    const rt = new DSLRuntime(new Arbiter(), { clock: () => t }).compile(dsl, 'rt-dsl-ttl');
+    // The DSL declares a 1h TTL for the balance fact.
+    assert.equal(rt.relations.get('balance').ttlMs, 3600_000);
+    rt.addNode('u:1', 'Employee', {});
+    rt.addNode('doc:9', 'Doc', {});
+    let calls = 0;
+    rt.registerFact('balance', async () => { calls++; return { possibility: 1.0, value: 50 }; });
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_spend', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 1);
+    t += 60 * 60 * 1000 - 1; // just under 1h
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_spend', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 1, 'cached within DSL-declared 1h TTL');
+    t += 2;
+    await rt.check('u:1', 'can_spend', 'doc:9');
+    assert.equal(calls, 2, 're-invoked past the DSL-declared 1h TTL');
+  });
+});