Definition · architectures
handoff
handoff is the term for Passing control, context, or duty from one agent to another. You can spot handoff 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 handoff matter?
A handoff must carry the task, state, and open risks. Lost context can make the next actor repeat or undo work. For handoff, start with three checks: Who chooses the next step? Where does state live between steps? Who owns recovery when a step fails? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does handoff look like?
A triage agent sends a case, source links, and unresolved questions to a tax expert. This example makes handoff 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 handoff easy to confuse with?
A handoff transfers active work. Delegation grants another actor a task or limited authority. The closest entries here are graph orchestration, multi-agent system, delegation. Compare their definitions with handoff before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps handoff 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 handoff?
We have not verified who first introduced handoff. 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 handoff?
Read agent workflow first when handoff 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 handoff 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 chooses the next step?
- Where does state live between steps?
- Who owns recovery when a step fails?
Which source supports this definition of handoff?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of handoff. 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 handoff; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundhandoffChecked 2026-07-12→