Agent SDK
Anthropic's Python and TypeScript SDK for building Claude agents that loop with tools, files, and MCP servers.
Definition
The Claude Agent SDK gives developers the same primitives Claude Code uses internally: a tool loop, file editing, shell execution, MCP client wiring, and conversation memory. It replaces hand-built agent scaffolding around the raw Messages API. Released in 2025 alongside Claude Code's third-party redistribution, the SDK is the recommended way to embed Claude agents in custom apps.
When to use
See also
- Claude Code — Anthropic's official terminal-based coding agent, with MCP support and a plugin ecosystem.
- MCP — Anthropic's open standard for connecting LLMs to external tools and data sources over JSON-RPC.
- agent — An LLM-driven program that plans, calls tools, observes results, and loops until it reaches a goal.