Agent framework

An agent framework is an industry term for a software library that builds and runs agents: it provides the loop that calls a model, the tools an agent may use, ways for agents to delegate to each other, approval steps and tracing. Examples include agent SDKs from model providers and open-source orchestration libraries. A framework differs from a protocol: the framework builds the agent inside one system, while protocols such as MCP or A2A connect independent systems. Microsoft's documentation adds a test worth applying first: if a plain function can do the task, write the function instead.