# microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture architecture

> Architecture diagram of the GitHub repository microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture, generated by GitDiagram from its file tree, README and a sample of source files (last updated 2026-09-28). It is an AI-made overview: check details against the source.

- Interactive diagram: https://gitdiagram.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture
- Repository: https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture

## Overview

This repository is a conceptual reference guide for architects and engineers designing multi-agent systems, not an executable agent platform. The principal user workflow is to enter through the README, explore foundational design guidance, then consult specialized chapters and the reference architecture. The README documents the chapter links and capabilities; chapter-level relationships are omitted because their contents were not sampled.

Main entry points: [`README.md`](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/README.md) (Guide entry), [`docs/Introduction.md`](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/Introduction.md) (Introduction), [`docs/building-blocks/Building-Blocks.md`](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/building-blocks/Building-Blocks.md) (Building blocks), [`docs/design-options/Design-Options.md`](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/design-options/Design-Options.md) (Design options)

## Diagram (Mermaid)

```mermaid
flowchart TD

subgraph group_foundation["Foundations"]
  node_introduction["Introduction<br/>[Introduction.md]"]
  node_building_blocks["Building blocks<br/>[Building-Blocks.md]"]
  node_design_options["Design options<br/>[Design-Options.md]"]
end

subgraph group_coordination["Agent coordination"]
  node_registry["Agent registry<br/>[Agent-Registry.md]"]
  node_communication["Agent communication"]
  node_memory["Memory<br/>[Memory.md]"]
end

subgraph group_operations["System operations"]
  node_observability["Observability<br/>[Observability.md]"]
  node_evaluation["Evaluation<br/>[Evaluation.md]"]
  node_security["Security<br/>[Security.md]"]
  node_governance["Governance<br/>[Governance.md]"]
end

subgraph group_reference["Architecture reference"]
  node_reference_architecture["Reference architecture"]
end

node_reader(("Architect or engineer"))
node_readme["Guide entry<br/>[README.md]"]

node_reader -->|"opens"| node_readme
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_introduction
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_building_blocks
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_design_options
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_registry
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_communication
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_memory
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_observability
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_evaluation
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_security
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_governance
node_readme -->|"links to"| node_reference_architecture

click node_readme "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/README.md"
click node_introduction "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/Introduction.md"
click node_building_blocks "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/building-blocks/Building-Blocks.md"
click node_design_options "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/design-options/Design-Options.md"
click node_registry "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/agent-registry/Agent-Registry.md"
click node_communication "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/agents-communication/Agents-Communication.md"
click node_memory "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/memory/Memory.md"
click node_observability "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/observability/Observability.md"
click node_evaluation "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/evaluation/Evaluation.md"
click node_security "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/security/Security.md"
click node_governance "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/governance/Governance.md"
click node_reference_architecture "https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/reference-architecture/Reference-Architecture.md"

classDef toneNeutral fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#334155,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#0f172a
classDef toneBlue fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#172554
classDef toneAmber fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#78350f
classDef toneMint fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#14532d
classDef toneRose fill:#ffe4e6,stroke:#e11d48,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#881337
classDef toneIndigo fill:#e0e7ff,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#312e81
classDef toneTeal fill:#ccfbf1,stroke:#0f766e,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#134e4a
class node_introduction,node_building_blocks,node_design_options toneBlue
class node_registry,node_communication,node_memory toneAmber
class node_observability,node_evaluation,node_security,node_governance toneMint
class node_reference_architecture toneRose
class node_reader toneIndigo
class node_readme toneTeal
```

## Components

### Foundations

- [Introduction](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/Introduction.md): `docs/Introduction.md`
- [Building blocks](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/building-blocks/Building-Blocks.md): `docs/building-blocks/Building-Blocks.md`
- [Design options](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/design-options/Design-Options.md): `docs/design-options/Design-Options.md`

### Agent coordination

- [Agent registry](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/agent-registry/Agent-Registry.md): `docs/agent-registry/Agent-Registry.md`
- [Agent communication](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/agents-communication/Agents-Communication.md): `docs/agents-communication/Agents-Communication.md`
- [Memory](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/memory/Memory.md): `docs/memory/Memory.md`

### System operations

- [Observability](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/observability/Observability.md): `docs/observability/Observability.md`
- [Evaluation](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/evaluation/Evaluation.md): `docs/evaluation/Evaluation.md`
- [Security](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/security/Security.md): `docs/security/Security.md`
- [Governance](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/governance/Governance.md): `docs/governance/Governance.md`

### Architecture reference

- [Reference architecture](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/docs/reference-architecture/Reference-Architecture.md): `docs/reference-architecture/Reference-Architecture.md`

### Other components

- **Architect or engineer**
- [Guide entry](https://github.com/microsoft/multi-agent-reference-architecture/blob/main/README.md): `README.md`

## Connections

- Architect or engineer → Guide entry: opens
- Guide entry → Introduction: links to
- Guide entry → Building blocks: links to
- Guide entry → Design options: links to
- Guide entry → Agent registry: links to
- Guide entry → Agent communication: links to
- Guide entry → Memory: links to
- Guide entry → Observability: links to
- Guide entry → Evaluation: links to
- Guide entry → Security: links to
- Guide entry → Governance: links to
- Guide entry → Reference architecture: links to