AI Agents Glossary

Your practical reference for AI agent terminology. Use this glossary to align teams on definitions, architecture choices, and implementation patterns.

How to Use This Glossary

If you are evaluating tools, start with foundational terms before diving into framework comparisons. If you are building production workflows, prioritize terms tied to architecture and reliability decisions.

  • Start with definitions to align language across product, engineering, and operations.
  • Use linked tutorials to translate terms into implementation steps.
  • Use linked comparisons and reviews to map concepts to platform tradeoffs.
  • Use related terms to build a structured learning path instead of isolated reading.

Suggested Learning Paths

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scrabble tiles spelling out words on a wooden surface

What Are AI Agent Guardrails?

A practical guide to AI agent guardrails, including policy enforcement, risk controls, escalation design, and reliability monitoring in production...

Read Term →Man gives robot bottles on a tray

What Are AI Agents?

A practical definition of AI agents, including how they perceive context, reason over goals, use tools, and execute multi-step workflows in product...

Read Term →black tablet computer on green table

What Are Autonomous Agents?

Learn what autonomous agents are, how autonomy levels work, and how to implement safe, measurable automation with human oversight.

Read Term →a white board with writing written on it

What Are LLM Agents?

Understand LLM agents, how language models power reasoning and planning, and what architecture controls are needed for reliable production use.

Read Term →a black and white photo of a group of spheres

What Are Multi-Agent Systems?

A practical overview of multi-agent systems, including coordination patterns, role design, communication protocols, and production reliability cont...

Read Term →white and black chess piece

What Is Agentic AI?

A practical guide to agentic AI, including its decision loop, autonomy boundaries, orchestration patterns, and production implementation criteria.

Read Term →an abstract image of a network of dots

What Is AI Agent Memory?

A practical explanation of AI agent memory, including short-term state, long-term memory stores, retrieval design, and quality control patterns.

Read Term →black and red computer keyboard

What Is AI Agent Orchestration?

Understand AI agent orchestration, including workflow control, task routing, state transitions, and reliability patterns for production systems.

Read Term →Computer screen showing lines of code.

What Is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)?

Learn how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) works in AI agents, including data retrieval pipelines, grounding strategies, and production quality...

Read Term →monitor showing computer application

What Is Tool Calling in AI Agents?

Learn how tool calling works in AI agents, including function execution, schema validation, error handling, and safe production deployment patterns.

Read Term →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should use this AI agents glossary?

This glossary is built for operators, product managers, developers, and business teams who need practical definitions tied to implementation decisions, not just dictionary-style summaries.

How should I read glossary terms if I am new to AI agents?

Start with foundational terms such as AI Agents, Agentic AI, and Tool Calling, then move to architecture topics like Memory, Orchestration, and Guardrails before comparing specific frameworks.

Are glossary pages connected to tutorials and comparisons?

Yes. Every glossary term includes internal links to related tutorials, comparisons, reviews, and templates so you can move from concept to implementation quickly.

How often are glossary terms updated?

Glossary entries are reviewed as platform patterns evolve, especially for orchestration, retrieval, memory, and governance topics where implementation standards change quickly.