AI engineering glossary · Agents tools MCP
What is reflection?
Reflection: A technique where an agent reviews its own output or past steps, spots mistakes, and revises before continuing. The critique can come from the same model or a second one, and often costs extra calls in exchange for higher quality on tasks like code and writing.
Reflection: an example
A coding agent runs its function, sees an IndexError, writes 'I forgot the empty-list case', and fixes the code.
Related terms
More Agents tools MCP terms
- Replanning
- Retry with backoff
- Router pattern
- Sandbox
- Scope (OAuth)
- Scratchpad memory
- Self-critique
- Semantic memory
Where you learn it
Reflection is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.