ModelRefs / Max Iterations — AI Glossary
Max Iterations — AI Glossary
A hard limit on the number of reasoning steps or tool calls an agent loop may execute before terminating. Also called max steps or recursion limit.
Overview
Max iterations is a safety constraint preventing unbounded agent loops that waste compute and incur cost. Set at the framework level (LangChain max_iterations, LangGraph recursion_limit). When the limit is hit, the agent returns its best answer or raises an error. Typical values: 10–50 for structured tasks, 100+ for deep research agents.
Reference details
| Topic | agents |
|---|---|
| Also known as | max steps, recursion limit |
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-24 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is Max Iterations?
A hard limit on the number of reasoning steps or tool calls an agent loop may execute before terminating.
Is Max Iterations the same as max steps?
Yes — max steps, recursion limit are common aliases for Max Iterations.
What concepts are related to Max Iterations?
Closely related concepts include stopping condition, retry logic, agent.