Understanding the Agent's State › Key Concepts

Agent State: The complete collection of information an agent knows about its current situation, including goals, memory, intermediate results, and task progress. State determines what the agent should do next.

Current Goal: The user's objective that the agent is working toward. This keeps the agent focused on what it's supposed to accomplish.

Working Memory: Temporary storage for intermediate results during task execution. Unlike long-term memory, working memory is typically cleared when a task completes.

Tool State: Information about which tools are available to the agent and which have been used for the current task. This prevents redundant tool calls and helps the agent make informed decisions about which capabilities to use.

Task Progress: Tracking information for multi-step tasks, showing which steps are complete and which remain. This enables the agent to work through complex objectives systematically.

State Lifecycle: The pattern of how state is created, updated, and cleared as the agent operates. Different components of state have different lifecycles, from temporary working memory to persistent long-term knowledge.