Definition · context memory
memory
memory is the term for Information or state an agent keeps or finds again after its current reply. You can spot memory 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 memory matter?
Memory changes what an agent can carry forward, so what gets stored, retrieved, corrected, and forgotten is a design decision. For memory, start with three checks: What is kept, and for how long? Who can write or retrieve it? How would bad data be found and removed? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does memory look like?
An assistant stores a confirmed project deadline and retrieves it during the next planning session. This example makes memory 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 memory easy to confuse with?
Memory is the broad capability. A memory store is the database or service that holds records. The closest entries here are long-term memory, memory consolidation, memory retrieval. Compare their definitions with memory before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps memory 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 memory?
We have not verified who first introduced memory. 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 memory?
Read context engineering first when memory 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 memory 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 is kept, and for how long?
- Who can write or retrieve it?
- How would bad data be found and removed?
Which source supports this definition of memory?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of memory. 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 memory; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundmemoryChecked 2026-07-12→