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+# Heuristics
+
+{py:func}`~rasterix.assign_index` automatically detects the affine transform by trying each source in order, using the first one that succeeds:
+
+| Priority | Source                                 | Location                                      | Reference                                                                                               |
+| -------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| 1        | `GeoTransform`                         | CF grid mapping variable (e.g. `spatial_ref`) | [GDAL GeoTransform](https://gdal.org/en/stable/tutorials/geotransforms_tut.html)                        |
+| 2        | `proj:transform`                       | DataArray `.attrs`                            | [STAC Projection Extension](https://github.com/stac-extensions/projection)                              |
+| 3        | `model_tiepoint` + `model_pixel_scale` | DataArray `.attrs`                            | [GeoTIFF spec](https://docs.ogc.org/is/19-008r4/19-008r4.html)                                          |
+| 4        | `spatial:transform`                    | DataArray `.attrs`                            | [Zarr Spatial Convention](https://zarr-specs.readthedocs.io/en/latest/v3/conventions/spatial/v1.0.html) |
+| 5        | 1D coordinate arrays                   | Coordinate variables for x/y dims             | Common in NetCDF                                                                                        |
+
+## Grid mapping variable lookup
+
+For priority 1, the grid mapping variable is found following CF conventions:
+
+- **DataArray**: looks for a `grid_mapping` attribute on the DataArray
+- **Dataset**: uses the first `grid_mapping` attribute found across data variables
+- **Fallback**: a coordinate variable named `spatial_ref`
+
+## Coordinate array fallback
+
+For priority 5, coordinate variables must be 1D with at least 2 values. Pixel spacing is computed as `x[1] - x[0]` and `y[1] - y[0]`, and coordinates are assumed to be pixel-centered.
+
+## Logging
+
+Enable trace-level logging to see which source is used:
+
+```python
+import logging
+from rasterix.lib import TRACE
+
+logging.basicConfig(level=TRACE)
+logging.getLogger("rasterix").setLevel(TRACE)
+```