ModelRefs / State Machine (Agents) — AI Glossary
State Machine (Agents) — AI Glossary
An agent control architecture defining discrete states and transitions, enabling structured, predictable agent behavior.
Overview
LangGraph implements agents as state machines: graph nodes process state, edges route based on conditions, and the state object carries context between steps. State machines prevent unstructured 'do anything' agent loops, support human-in-the-loop interrupts at defined states, and enable checkpoint/resume for long-running workflows.
Reference details
| Topic | agents |
|---|---|
| Also known as | finite state machine, agent graph |
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-24 |
Related terms
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Frequently asked questions
What is State Machine (Agents)?
An agent control architecture defining discrete states and transitions, enabling structured, predictable agent behavior.
Is State Machine (Agents) the same as finite state machine?
Yes — finite state machine, agent graph are common aliases for State Machine (Agents).
What concepts are related to State Machine (Agents)?
Closely related concepts include dag, agent, parallel execution.