Overview
A pattern describes how to arrange agents, tasks, and tools to solve a class of problem. The topics in this section document patterns that need more than one construct working together, with complete examples you can adapt.
Patterns aren't mutually exclusive. A single app often combines several, and different phases of one conversation can use different patterns.
Choosing a pattern
Both patterns in this section delegate work. They differ in whether the conversation waits for the result.
| Pattern | Conversation flow | Use cases |
|---|---|---|
| Supervisor | Waits. A specialist task takes temporary control and returns a typed result before the conversation continues. | Data collection, verification, and other discrete operations with a structured result. |
| Subagent delegation | Continues. A slower model works in the background and the result arrives in a later turn. | Open-ended analysis, multi-step research, and planning. |
For a comparison across every structural construct, including handoffs and task groups, see the table in Workflows.
Additional patterns
The LiveKit blog covers additional patterns.