> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction

> The control plane for AI agents.

Guild is a platform for building, deploying, and governing AI agents. Install community agents from the Agent Hub, or build your own with the [Agent SDK](/guide/sdk-introduction).

## Core concepts

<CardGroup cols={1}>
  <Card title="Workspaces" icon="folder">
    A workspace is a container for agents, triggers, context, and credential policies.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Agents" icon="robot">
    Agents are programs that accept input, use tools and LLMs, and produce output. They range from simple scripted programs to autonomous LLM-driven workflows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sessions" icon="message">
    A session is a log of an agent's run. Input or a trigger is provided, the agent runs, asks questions if needed, and returns output or achieves an outcome.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How agents work

Requests flow from the browser or CLI to guildcore (API layer), which queries the database and forwards the request to the runtime, which executes the agent.

```text theme={null}
Browser/CLI → guildcore (API) → runtime (agent executor) → Agent
                    ↓
               Database
```

1. You start a session and send a message to an agent.
2. **guildcore** receives the request, authenticates it, and forwards it to the runtime.
3. The **runtime** loads the agent code, executes it, and manages the agent lifecycle.
4. The agent can call tools, invoke sub-agents, make LLM calls, and ask you questions.
5. When the agent finishes, its output is returned to your session.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={1}>
  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Build and publish your first agent in five minutes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="CLI reference" icon="terminal" href="/cli/getting-started">
    Install the CLI and learn the development workflow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Agent SDK" icon="code" href="/guide/sdk-introduction">
    Build advanced agents with typed inputs, tools, and platform services.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>