Lesson 3 of 8
State and Memory
State is what the agent needs for the current task; memory is information intentionally carried across steps or sessions.
Active reading
State
Current task facts.
Memory
Selected information retained.
Scope
How long should it persist?
Do not remember everything by default
Agents often need temporary state such as the current objective, tool results and remaining steps. Long-term memory should be deliberate and limited.
Store only information that improves future performance and is appropriate to retain.
Example
Current state: query, three retrieved sources, draft. Memory: a user-approved writing preference—not every raw interaction.
Quick check
Explain this lesson back in one sentence before continuing. If you cannot, reread the example and key takeaway.
Common mistake
Unbounded memory increases privacy risk and can contaminate later tasks with irrelevant context.
Key takeaway
Separate short-lived task state from intentional, minimal long-term memory.