Comparison
Agent vs ReAct
Agent and ReAct are both common AI/LLM terms but cover different ideas. Here is a quick side-by-side.
When you would reach for Agent
Agent comes up when the question is fundamentally about agents & tools.
Claude Code — coding agent that edits files, runs commands, runs tests.
When you would reach for ReAct
ReAct comes up when the question is fundamentally about agents & tools.
A search-augmented assistant: Thought, Search, Observation, Thought, Answer.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between Agent and ReAct?
Agent: An AI agent is an LLM-driven system that decides which actions to take, executes them via tools, observes the results, and iterates until a goal is met. ReAct: ReAct is a prompting pattern that interleaves reasoning ("Thought:") with actions ("Action:") and observations ("Observation:"). It is the foundation of most tool-using agents.
When should I use Agent vs ReAct?
Agent is the right concept when you are focused on agents & tools. ReAct applies when you are focused on agents & tools.
Are Agent and ReAct the same thing?
No. Agent is agents & tools; ReAct is agents & tools. They are related but address different parts of the AI stack.