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Agent Framework

Reviewed 19 July 2026 Canonical definition Part of: Agent Orchestration & Workflow Terms →

An agent framework is a software library or platform that provides the building blocks for constructing AI agents: reasoning loops, tool calling interfaces, memory management, and multi-agent coordination. Popular frameworks include LangChain, LangGraph, AutoGen, CrewAI, and Semantic Kernel. Frameworks shape how an agent is built but say little about whether it works, which is only visible in the agent's actual runs.

§01 / QUESTIONSterm: Agent Framework
Questions

Common questions.

What is Agent Framework?

An agent framework is a software library or platform that provides the building blocks for constructing AI agents: reasoning loops, tool calling interfaces, memory management, and multi-agent coordination.

How is Agent Framework used in production?

Popular frameworks include LangChain, LangGraph, AutoGen, CrewAI, and Semantic Kernel. Frameworks shape how an agent is built but say little about whether it works, which is only visible in the agent's actual runs.

Which terms are related to Agent Framework?

Closely related concepts include Multi-Agent System, Episodic Memory (Agent), Agentic Memory, Orchestrator Agent. Each is defined in the Prefactor glossary.

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Where this fits.

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