[2026-02-18] Copilot code referencing annotations in Copilot coding agent (#59622)

Co-authored-by: Copilot Autofix powered by AI <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: timrogers

content/copilot/concepts/completions/code-referencing.md

@@ -49,11 +49,17 @@ category:
 
 ## About {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} code referencing on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom_the_website %}
 
+### Code referencing for {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %}
+
 If you, or your organization, have allowed suggestions that match public code, then whenever a response from {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} includes matching code, details of the matches will be included in the response.
 
 > [!NOTE]
 > Typically, matches to public code occur infrequently, so you should not expect to see code references in many {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} responses.
 
+### Code referencing for {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}
+
+When {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} generates code that matches code in a public {% data variables.product.github %} repository, this is indicated in the agent session logs with a link to display details of the matched code. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/track-copilot-sessions).
+
 {% endwebui %}
 
 {% visualstudio %}
@@ -82,7 +88,7 @@ Code in private {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} repositories, or co
 
 The search index is refreshed every few months. As a result, newly committed code, and code from public repositories deleted before the index was created, may not be included in the search. For the same reason, the search may return matches to code that has been deleted or moved since the index was created.
 
-References to matching code are currently available in JetBrains IDEs, {% data variables.product.prodname_vs %}, {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}, and on the {% data variables.product.github %} website.
+References to matching code are currently available in JetBrains IDEs, {% data variables.product.prodname_vs %}, {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}, and on the {% data variables.product.github %} website.
 
 ## Further reading
 

content/copilot/concepts/completions/code-suggestions.md

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ category:
 
 ## Code suggestions that match public code
 
-{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} checks each suggestion for matches with publicly available code. Any matches are discarded or suggested with a code reference, based on the setting of the "Suggestions matching public code" policy for your account or organization. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/completions/code-referencing).
+{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} checks each suggestion for matches with publicly available code. Matches may be discarded or suggested with a code reference, based on the setting of the "Suggestions matching public code" policy for your account or organization. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/completions/code-referencing).
 
 ## About the AI model used for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} inline suggestions
 

content/copilot/how-tos/get-code-suggestions/find-matching-code.md

@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ This version of this article is for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_s
 
 ## Introduction
 
-If you allow {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} to make suggestions that match publicly available code, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will display references to any similar code that is found. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/completions/code-referencing).
+If you allow {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} to make suggestions that match publicly available code or use a product that does not support "Block" mode, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will display references to any similar code that is found. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/completions/code-referencing).
 
 ### Prerequisites
 
-References to matching code are only generated if {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is configured to allow suggestions that match publicly available code. This is configured in either your personal{% ifversion ghec %},{% else %} or {% endif %} organization{% ifversion ghec %} or enterprise{% endif %} settings.
+References to matching code are only generated if you use a product that does not support "Block" mode, or if {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is configured to allow suggestions that match publicly available code. This is configured in either your personal{% ifversion ghec %},{% else %} or {% endif %} organization{% ifversion ghec %} or enterprise{% endif %} settings.
 
 For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/configuring-github-copilot/configuring-your-personal-github-copilot-settings-on-githubcom#enabling-or-disabling-suggestions-matching-public-code){% ifversion ghec %},{% else %} or {% endif %} [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/managing-copilot/managing-github-copilot-in-your-organization/managing-policies-for-copilot-in-your-organization#policies-for-suggestion-matching){% ifversion ghec %} or [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/managing-copilot/managing-copilot-for-your-enterprise/managing-policies-and-features-for-copilot-in-your-enterprise){% endif %}.
 
@@ -217,6 +217,8 @@ The details include:
 
 {% webui %}
 
+## View code references for {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %}
+
 When {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} provides a response that includes code that matches code in a public {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} repository, this is indicated beneath the code suggestion:
 
 > < > Public code references from _n_ repositories
@@ -231,6 +233,10 @@ To see details of the matching code:
 
 1. Click the name of a repository to display that repository on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom_the_website %}.
 
+## View code references for {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}
+
+When {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} provides a response that includes code that matches code in a public {% data variables.product.github %} repository, this is indicated in the agent session logs with a link to display details of the matched code. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/track-copilot-sessions).
+
 {% endwebui %}
 
 ## Further reading

content/copilot/how-tos/manage-your-account/manage-policies.md

@@ -28,9 +28,11 @@ In addition to the configuration for the {% data variables.product.prodname_copi
 
 > [!NOTE] If you are a member of an organization on {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} who has been assigned a {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} seat through your organization, you will not be able to configure suggestions matching public code in your personal account settings. Your setting for suggestions matching public code will be inherited from your organization or enterprise.
 
-Your personal settings for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} include an option to either allow or block code suggestions that match publicly available code. If you choose to block suggestions matching public code, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} checks code suggestions with their surrounding code of about 150 characters against public code on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}. If there is a match, or a near match, the suggestion is not shown to you.
+Your personal settings for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} include an option to either allow or block code suggestions that match publicly available code.
 
-If you choose to allow suggestions matching public code, when {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} suggests matching code you can display details of the matches and click through to the relevant repositories on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/using-github-copilot/finding-public-code-that-matches-github-copilot-suggestions).
+If you choose to block suggestions matching public code, in most {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} products, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} checks code suggestions with their surrounding code of about 150 characters against public code on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}. If there is a match, or a near match, the suggestion is not shown to you.
+
+If you choose to allow suggestions matching public code or use a product that does not support "Block" mode, when {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} suggests matching code you can display details of the matches and click through to the relevant repositories on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/using-github-copilot/finding-public-code-that-matches-github-copilot-suggestions).
 
 {% data reusables.user-settings.copilot-settings %}
 1. To the right of **Suggestions matching public code**, select the dropdown menu, then click **Allow** to allow suggestions matching public code, or **Block** to block suggestions matching public code.

content/copilot/responsible-use/copilot-coding-agent.md

@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ To mitigate the risk of inaccurate code, you should carefully review and test th
 
 {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} may generate code that is a match or near match of publicly available code, even if the "Suggestions matching public code" policy is set to "Block." See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/managing-copilot/managing-copilot-as-an-individual-subscriber/managing-your-copilot-plan/managing-copilot-policies-as-an-individual-subscriber#enabling-or-disabling-suggestions-matching-public-code).
 
-If this happens, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will not provide code references pointing to the original source of the code. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/using-github-copilot/finding-public-code-that-matches-github-copilot-suggestions).
+If this happens, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will show matches in the agent session logs with a link to display details of the matched code. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/track-copilot-sessions).
 
 ### Legal and regulatory considerations