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Agent Lifecycle

Reviewed 19 July 2026 Canonical definition Part of: Agent Reliability & Deployment Terms →

The agent lifecycle is the full sequence of stages an AI agent passes through, from initial design and registration through deployment, active operation, updates, and eventual retirement. Governing the lifecycle ensures that identities, permissions, and ownership records stay current and that decommissioned agents cannot continue acting after they are no longer needed.

Looking for the applied side? Read Managing the agent lifecycle.

§01 / QUESTIONSterm: Agent Lifecycle
Questions

Common questions.

What is Agent Lifecycle?

The agent lifecycle is the full sequence of stages an AI agent passes through, from initial design and registration through deployment, active operation, updates, and eventual retirement.

Why does Agent Lifecycle matter for AI agents?

Governing the lifecycle ensures that identities, permissions, and ownership records stay current and that decommissioned agents cannot continue acting after they are no longer needed.

Which terms are related to Agent Lifecycle?

Closely related concepts include Agent Lifecycle Management, Agent CI/CD, Agent Discovery, Agent Onboarding. Each is defined in the Prefactor glossary.

Where can I read more about Agent Lifecycle in practice?

The guide "Managing the agent lifecycle" covers the applied side in depth.

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Where this fits.

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