Multi-agent
architecture

A multi-agent system divides work between agents with distinct responsibilities. One may identify the request, another may handle scheduling, and a third may have permission to use a particular set of tools.

The value comes from those boundaries. Smaller responsibilities can make a system easier to test and maintain, but each handoff adds coordination work and another place for context to be lost. A single agent remains a sensible choice for a narrow workflow.

This guide explains common coordination patterns, how tools and handoffs fit together, and what to check before putting a system into production.

Hub-and-spoke systems use a central agent to route requests to specialists. They suit workflows where the first decision is which domain should handle the conversation.

A hierarchy delegates work through several levels, while a pipeline passes a task through a defined sequence. The right pattern depends on whether the work branches, requires supervision, or follows a stable order.

Start with the simplest arrangement that expresses the workflow. Add an agent when it creates a useful responsibility or permission boundary, and define which component owns the final response.

A tool gives an agent a specific way to read information or request an action. Keep the input schema narrow and validate it on the server. The model's request is not a substitute for authentication, authorization, or business rules.

Separate reads from writes. A booking tool should check availability and report whether the appointment was saved. If a request times out, use the system's record or an idempotency mechanism to avoid repeating an action that may already have succeeded.

Return clear results and useful failure states. The agent should be able to distinguish a completed action, an unavailable option, and an error that needs a person.

A handoff transfers responsibility for part of a conversation. Define why it happens, what context moves with it, and which agent is responsible after the transfer.

Send the relevant request details, confirmed facts, and actions already attempted. Avoid passing unnecessary information or asking the next agent to reconstruct the state from an unstructured conversation alone.

Set limits on repeated transfers and decide what happens when no specialist can complete the task. A visible handoff to the team is preferable to a loop between agents.

Test the routing decisions as carefully as the specialist behavior. A capable scheduling agent cannot help if the request never reaches it. Include ambiguous requests, interruptions, and attempts to use tools outside the assigned scope.

Trace the workflow from the original request through each tool call and handoff. Look for failed writes, missing context, repeated questions, and extra latency. Review the actual system records as well as the conversation.

Keep the design small enough to understand. Add agents for a clear operational reason, then verify that the change improves the workflow rather than simply moving complexity into the routing layer.