Comparison
ReAct vs Workflow vs Agent
ReAct and Workflow vs Agent are both common AI/LLM terms but cover different ideas. Here is a quick side-by-side.
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.
When you would reach for Workflow vs Agent
Always reach for workflow first. Move to agent only when the next step genuinely cannot be predetermined.
A workflow: incoming email → classify → route to template responder. Deterministic.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between ReAct and Workflow vs Agent?
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. Workflow vs Agent: A workflow is a deterministic pipeline where humans hard-code the LLM call sequence. An agent lets the LLM decide which steps to take. Anthropic's recommended default is workflow first, agent only when needed.
When should I use ReAct vs Workflow vs Agent?
ReAct is the right concept when you are focused on agents & tools. Always reach for workflow first. Move to agent only when the next step genuinely cannot be predetermined.
Are ReAct and Workflow vs Agent the same thing?
No. ReAct is agents & tools; Workflow vs Agent is agents & tools. They are related but address different parts of the AI stack.