# Request matching

> Select deterministic behavior from operation, request data, time, and state.

- Canonical URL: https://dotmock.com/docs/concepts/request-matching
- Capability status: Available
- Last verified: 2026-07-24

## Prerequisites
- A DotMock workspace you can access
- The API ID in $API_ID and its published runtime URL in $MOCK_URL when the example calls the mock

## In this guide
- Match the operation before the branch
- Read request data with bounded scopes
- Use state to represent what the system knows
- Keep branches specific and the fallback obvious
- Inspect the winner instead of guessing

## Verified boundaries
- Conditions are evaluated in their configured order; the first matching enabled branch wins.

Read the canonical guide for its complete examples and expected results: https://dotmock.com/docs/concepts/request-matching