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# Model constraints

Open **Model Lab > Model Constraints** to inspect **Constraints** and **Constraint groups**. Constraints guide which feature modules or interactions training includes, excludes or prioritises. Create and maintain constraint definitions and group memberships through the [REST API](/guides/models/training/constraints), then select the saved resources in the training job form. Continue to [Training configuration](/ui-guides/models/training-configuration) for the training workflow.

## Before you begin

Identify the features or interactions you intend to control. Constraints are optional; use them when there is a clear modelling reason to include, exclude or prioritise a module. Prepare saved definitions and group memberships through the REST API before selecting them for a UI training run.

## Understand constraint behaviour

| Constraint | Effect during training                                           |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| INCLUDE    | Includes the specified module.                                   |
| EXCLUDE    | Excludes the specified module.                                   |
| SHORTLIST  | Prioritises the module, subject to the model's structure limits. |

A module can represent one feature or an interaction between features. Check the complete feature set in each definition, its reason and its weight. A group's name alone does not establish which constraints it contains.

## Inspect and select saved constraints

1. Open **Model Lab > Model Constraints** and use **Constraints** or **Constraint groups** to locate the saved resources.
2. Review the definitions and group membership against the dataset's feature names and intended modelling task.
3. Open **Training > Training jobs > Create**, select the dataset and configurations, then choose the intended **Constraint groups** and **Individual constraints**.
4. Review the selected resources before submitting the job. Keep their references with the run when comparing models.

Leave **Exclude implicit** off in the UI training configuration workflow. It must not be combined with Max interactions, which the form supplies. See [Training configuration](/ui-guides/models/training-configuration) for that limitation.

![Model Constraints list and Constraint groups tab](/_fern-files/_img/35d95db99b6120d4ea2bdbb0469d7f01a6733655fc57b55ba320fda52f9d4236.webp)

## Next steps

Continue to [Training configuration](/ui-guides/models/training-configuration).