Definition · protocols
agent protocol
agent protocol is the term for Shared rules that let agents trade tasks, messages, identity, and results. You can spot agent protocol 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 protocol matter?
Shared rules reduce the custom glue needed for agents to exchange work without guessing message or identity formats. For agent protocol, start with three checks: Who publishes the contract? How are identity and permissions checked? What happens when versions disagree? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does agent protocol look like?
Two agents use the same task envelope and status codes to hand off a translation job. This example makes agent protocol 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 protocol easy to confuse with?
An agent protocol defines exchange rules. An agent workflow defines the steps inside one operating process. The closest entries here are MCP server, interoperability, agent swarm. Compare their definitions with agent protocol before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps agent protocol 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 protocol?
We have not verified who first introduced agent protocol. 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 protocol?
Read interoperability first when agent protocol 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 protocol 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.
- Who publishes the contract?
- How are identity and permissions checked?
- What happens when versions disagree?
Which source supports this definition of agent protocol?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of agent protocol. 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 protocol; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundagent protocolChecked 2026-07-12→