sdk
OpenAI Agents SDK
The OpenAI Agents SDK is a toolkit for building agent applications with tool use, handoffs, and guardrail-oriented patterns in the OpenAI ecosystem.
- Python
- TypeScript
- sdk
Website: openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/
GitHub: github.com/openai/openai-agents-python
Languages: Python, TypeScript
License: MIT
Best for
- OpenAI-model-centric agent apps
- Handoffs between specialized agents
- Teams standardized on OpenAI APIs
Pros and cons
Pros
- Tight integration with OpenAI platform features
- Practical primitives for tools and handoffs
- Lower ceremony for OpenAI-first stacks
Cons / trade-offs
- Vendor-centric by design
- Portability to other model providers may require abstraction
Overview
The OpenAI Agents SDK provides primitives for building agents that use tools, hand off to specialists, and run with guardrail-oriented patterns on OpenAI models.
Fit signals
Strong choice if your production models and tooling already center on OpenAI and you want an official agent SDK rather than a general multi-vendor framework.
Production note
Still implement your own eval suite, spend caps, and enterprise policy engine. An SDK accelerates orchestration; it does not replace architecture.
Related reading
How to Choose an Agent Framework
A practical framework selection guide for agentic AI: control model, language, multi-agent needs, ecosystem, and production constraints.
Routing and Handoffs Pattern
Routing patterns send tasks to the right agent, model, or workflow based on intent, risk, and skills.
Tool Use Pattern
How agents call tools reliably: schemas, selection, error handling, permissions, and verification of side effects.