The agent encyclopedia.
Find a concept. Understand its role. Connect it to the rest of your stack.
23 topics
What is the OpenAI Agents API?
Understand the managed agent runtime, its core resources, and what your application still owns.
Read topic ComparisonsAgents API vs Agents SDK vs Responses API
Compare runtime ownership, state, tool execution, and the integration work each option requires.
Read topic Getting startedAgents API quickstart
Create your first managed session, stream progress, and check the actual turn outcome.
Read topic Core conceptsSessions, turns & durable state
Understand conversation continuity, steering, saved items, and recovery after a disconnected stream.
Read topic InfrastructureHosted vs self-hosted sandboxes
Choose no environment, OpenAI-hosted compute, or your own execution infrastructure.
Read topic Tools & integrationsConnect MCP servers to Agents API
See where MCP connections run, how authentication works, and how to control exposed tools.
Read topic Tools & integrationsFunction calling & application tools
Connect your own APIs with schemas, required actions, durable results, and explicit authorization.
Read topic Core conceptsMulti-agent orchestration
Understand independent contexts, parallel work, coordination, and when a single agent is enough.
Read topic Integration guidesStreaming, webhooks & event handling
Build progress feedback and reconnect safely without confusing transport state with task success.
Read topic Core conceptsFiles, outputs & published artifacts
Move input files into an environment and retrieve results before resource cleanup.
Read topic Tools & integrationsVaults & MCP authentication
Keep reusable MCP credentials separate from agent definitions and attach them to authorized sessions.
Read topic ProductionAgent security & credential boundaries
Map application keys, executor keys, network access, and approval checks to the correct trust boundary.
Read topic ProductionTracing, usage & debugging
Follow a session from live events to saved history, tool calls, subagent activity, and token usage.
Read topic ProductionAgents API pricing & cost planning
Understand model tokens, tool charges, hosted compute, and application infrastructure costs.
Read topic Getting startedOpenAI Agents API with Python
Install the OpenAI Python SDK and stream a managed agent session from your server.
Read topic Integration guidesAgents API with TypeScript & Next.js
Place the OpenAI client on the server and connect durable agent work to a React interface.
Read topic FoundationsWhat is the OpenAI Agents SDK?
Understand the application-side runner and how it differs from a managed Agents API session.
Read topic FoundationsResponses API in the agent stack
Understand the model-and-tools interface beneath application-controlled agent workflows.
Read topic Tools & integrationsAgent Skills & SKILL.md
Package reusable instructions, scripts, and supporting files for an agent’s task.
Read topic Tools & integrationsProgrammatic Tool Calling
Use JavaScript to coordinate tool calls, filter intermediate data, and return compact results.
Read topic Tools & integrationsRAG, file search & vector stores
Connect private knowledge through retrieval, and distinguish a search index from an agent workspace.
Read topic Tools & integrationsWeb search & source citations
Bring current public information into an agent workflow and preserve attribution in the final answer.
Read topic Integration guidesChatKit & Agent Builder
Understand the chat interface layer and the Agent Builder transition for existing workflows.
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