Definition · architectures
orchestration
orchestration is the logic that decides which agent, tool, or workflow runs, in what order, with what state, and when it stops. You can spot orchestration 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 orchestration matter?
Orchestration owns the movement of work, so it is where routing, state, retries, handoffs, and stops become one operating system. For orchestration, 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 orchestration look like?
A coordinator sends a request to research, then calculation, then review, carrying the same case state. This example makes orchestration 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 orchestration easy to confuse with?
Orchestration controls who or what runs next. An agent workflow is one defined process under that control. The closest entries here are multi-agent system, planner, passive tool use. Compare their definitions with orchestration before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps orchestration 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 orchestration?
We have not verified who first introduced orchestration. 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 orchestration?
Read agent workflow first when orchestration 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 orchestration 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 orchestration?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of orchestration. 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 orchestration; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundorchestrationChecked 2026-07-12→