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n. / Agents and tools
Agent handoff
Definition
An agent handoff is when one agent passes a task, along with context, to another agent that takes over. What gets passed on, and what gets left out, decides whether the second agent can succeed.
In more detail
Handoffs are a frequent failure point because the receiving agent only knows what it is told. Missing facts, an over-long dump of history, or a vague instruction all cause errors that look like the second agent's fault. A trace that links both agents shows exactly what crossed the boundary.
Example
A triage agent hands a ticket to a refunds agent with the order ID and the customer's request, but forgets to include the earlier agreement to waive the fee.
