Definition · foundations
shared state
shared state is the term for Information that more than one agent or component can read or change during a task. You can spot shared state 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 shared state matter?
Shared state gives several agents one view of current work. Writes need rules so agents do not erase or trust stale data. For shared state, 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 shared state look like?
Three agents update one task board with claims, sources, owners, and status. This example makes shared state 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 shared state easy to confuse with?
Shared state is common data. Blackboard architecture is a system design built around that data. The closest entries here are service account, skill registry, blackboard architecture. Compare their definitions with shared state before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps shared state 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 shared state?
We have not verified who first introduced shared state. 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 shared state?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when shared state 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 shared state 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 shared state?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of shared state. 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 shared state; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundshared stateChecked 2026-07-12→