Definition · foundations
agent loop
agent loop is the repeated cycle in which an agent observes, decides, acts, checks the result, and chooses what to do next. You can spot agent loop in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does agent loop matter?
The loop is where small errors can be corrected or multiplied. Its checks and stop rules deserve as much attention as the model. For agent loop, start with three checks: What can the system observe? What choice can it make? What changes after it acts? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does agent loop look like?
An agent reads a failed API response, changes the request, retries once, then escalates. This example makes agent loop visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is agent loop easy to confuse with?
An agent loop includes deciding and checking. A perceive-act loop emphasizes observation and action. The closest entries here are agent discovery, agent manifest, perceive-act loop. Compare their definitions with agent loop before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps agent loop separate from nearby ideas without pretending the boundary is always perfect.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is provisional. ACL Anthology supports the version you see today, but a better or more direct source may change it. Open the cited page and check its date before you use this entry to choose a product, write a policy, set a safety control, or design a system.
Who introduced the term agent loop?
We have not verified who first introduced agent loop. The source supports a useful definition, but it may not be the earliest use. Until a dated primary record settles the question, we leave the origin open. A popular article or product page is not enough to name the person who coined a term.
What should you understand before agent loop?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when agent loop depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use agent loop to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What can the system observe?
- What choice can it make?
- What changes after it acts?
Which source supports this definition of agent loop?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of agent loop. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to agent loop; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundagent loopChecked 2026-07-12→