OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python)
by OpenAI
Official docs for OpenAI's lightweight Python framework for multi-agent workflows.
Overview
The OpenAI Agents SDK is a lightweight, Python-first framework — the production successor to OpenAI's experimental Swarm — for building agentic applications with very few abstractions. Its official documentation covers the core primitives: Agents (LLMs configured with instructions and tools), Handoffs (delegating work to other specialized agents), Guardrails (validating agent inputs and outputs), Sessions (persistent memory across turns), and built-in Tracing for visualizing and debugging agent runs. The SDK is provider-flexible — it works with OpenAI's Responses and Chat Completions APIs and many other models — and its documentation includes quickstarts, guides, and full API reference so engineers can go from a single agent to orchestrated multi-agent workflows.
At a Glance
- Topic
- Frameworks
- Level
- Intermediate
- Format
- Documentation
- Cost
- Free
- Duration
- Reference, self-paced
- Provider
- OpenAI
- Hands-on
- Yes — code/exercises
- Certificate
- None
What You’ll Learn
- ✓Define agents as LLMs configured with instructions and tools
- ✓Orchestrate multi-agent workflows using handoffs between specialized agents
- ✓Add input/output guardrails to validate and constrain agent behavior
- ✓Maintain conversation state with Sessions and debug runs with built-in tracing
- ✓Use the SDK across OpenAI and other model providers
Highlights
- •Official, actively maintained OpenAI documentation and API reference
- •Minimal-abstraction, Python-first design over the older Swarm project
- •Built-in tracing to visualize and debug multi-agent runs
Who It’s For
Best For
- ✓Python developers building production multi-agent systems
- ✓Engineers who prefer a thin framework over heavyweight orchestration
- ✓Teams wanting native tracing and guardrails for agents
Prerequisites
- •Intermediate Python
- •Familiarity with LLM APIs, tool/function calling, and async basics
FAQ
What is OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python)?
The official documentation for the OpenAI Agents SDK, a lightweight Python framework for building multi-agent applications with minimal abstractions. For developers who want production agents with tools, handoffs, guardrails, sessions, and built-in tracing.
Is OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python) free?
OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python) is free to access.
What level is OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python) for?
OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python) is aimed at a intermediate audience. Recommended background: Intermediate Python, Familiarity with LLM APIs, tool/function calling, and async basics.
How long does OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python) take?
Expect roughly Reference, self-paced. Most learners work through it at their own pace.
What will I learn from OpenAI Agents SDK Documentation (Python)?
You'll learn: Define agents as LLMs configured with instructions and tools; Orchestrate multi-agent workflows using handoffs between specialized agents; Add input/output guardrails to validate and constrain agent behavior; Maintain conversation state with Sessions and debug runs with built-in tracing; Use the SDK across OpenAI and other model providers.