Definition · foundations
trajectory
trajectory is the ordered record of an agent’s states, actions, inputs, and outputs during a run. You can spot trajectory 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 trajectory matter?
A trajectory shows the path of a run as well as its end. It helps find the step that caused a fault. For trajectory, 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 trajectory look like?
A log records each state, model output, tool call, result, and stop event. This example makes trajectory 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 trajectory easy to confuse with?
A trajectory is the observed path through a run. Chain-of-thought is generated step text. The closest entries here are tool use, tree of thoughts, agent manifest. Compare their definitions with trajectory before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps trajectory 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 trajectory?
We have not verified who first introduced trajectory. 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 trajectory?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when trajectory 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 trajectory 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 trajectory?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of trajectory. 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 trajectory; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundtrajectoryChecked 2026-07-12→