---
term: "Agent framework"
category: "Agents and autonomy"
url: https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/agent-framework
source: AgenticOpenFinance glossary
---

# Agent framework

> A software library for building and running agents: the model loop, tools, delegation, approvals and tracing.

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.

Related terms: [AI agent](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/ai-agent.md), [Multi-agent system](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/multi-agent-system.md), [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/model-context-protocol.md), [Agent2Agent protocol (A2A)](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/agent2agent-protocol.md)