What is AI agent?
The short answer
An AI agent is an AI system that pursues a goal over several steps, deciding what to do, using tools like a browser, terminal or APIs, and checking its own results.
AI agent, explained
Unlike a chatbot that answers once, an agent acts: it reads files, runs commands, fixes errors and reports back.
Questions people ask about AI agent
What is AI agent?
An AI agent is an AI system that pursues a goal over several steps, deciding what to do, using tools like a browser, terminal or APIs, and checking its own results.
Related terms
A coding agent is an AI that works in a real codebase: it reads files, writes and edits code, runs builds and tests, and fixes what fails.
Agentic workflowAn agentic workflow is a process where AI agents carry out multi-step work, planning, acting, checking and handing off, with people approving key decisions.
MCPMCP, the Model Context Protocol, is an open standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data, such as databases, design files, browsers and APIs.
Vibe codingVibe coding is building software by describing what you want to an AI in plain language and iterating on what it produces, rather than writing the code line by line yourself.
Part of the Web Encyclopedia by Apex Flow Digital. Definitions are general knowledge, kept current, with no invented statistics.