Subagent
A separate agent session assigned a focused task and expected to return a bounded result.
Illustrative conversation
- Can we research the API and audit the UI at the same time?
- Those are independent, bounded tasks, so the coordinator can assign one to a subagent and reconcile both results afterward.
Definition
A subagent is an agent instance delegated a concrete subtask by a coordinating agent. It usually works with its own focused instructions and context, then returns findings or a completed artifact for the coordinator to integrate and verify. Subagents are most useful when tasks are independent and boundaries are explicit; delegation adds coordination cost and does not remove the parent agent's responsibility for the final result.
Reviewed