What constitutes a valid promise under the doctrine of promissory estoppel?

A promise that the promisee relies upon reasonably is a fundamental aspect of promissory estoppel. This legal doctrine is intended to prevent one party from withdrawing a promise when the other party has reasonably relied upon that promise to their detriment. For a promise to be considered valid under this doctrine, it must not only be made but also lead the promisee to take action or forbear from action based on the belief that the promise would be fulfilled. The reliance must be reasonable, meaning that the promisee's actions or decisions should logically follow from the promise made, and they should not be based on an overly vague or ambiguous promise, nor should they trust a promise that lacks genuine intent or could be effortlessly revoked.

In contrast, options describing vague promises, promises made without intent to fulfill, or easily withdrawn promises do not meet the necessary criteria for promissory estoppel. A vague promise fails to provide the specifics required for a promisee to make informed decisions based on it, and a promise made without genuine intent undermines the trust that is inherent to the promisee's reliance. Additionally, a promise that can be easily withdrawn does not create a binding expectation for the promisee, which is key to establishing reliance and preventing injustice in the legal framework