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swarms/docs/swarms/agents/reasoning_agents_overview.md

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# Reasoning Agents Overview
Reasoning agents are sophisticated agents that employ advanced cognitive strategies to improve problem-solving performance beyond standard language model capabilities. Unlike traditional prompt-based approaches, reasoning agents implement structured methodologies that enable them to think more systematically, self-reflect, collaborate, and iteratively refine their responses.
These agents are inspired by cognitive science and human reasoning processes, incorporating techniques such as:
- **Multi-step reasoning**: Breaking down complex problems into manageable components
- **Self-reflection**: Evaluating and critiquing their own outputs
- **Iterative refinement**: Progressively improving solutions through multiple iterations
- **Collaborative thinking**: Using multiple reasoning pathways or agent perspectives
- **Memory integration**: Learning from past experiences and building knowledge over time
- **Meta-cognitive awareness**: Understanding their own thinking processes and limitations
## Available Reasoning Agents
| Agent Name | Type | Research Paper | Key Features | Best Use Cases | Implementation | Documentation |
|------------|------|----------------|---------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
| **Self-Consistency Agent** | Consensus-based | [Self-Consistency Improves Chain of Thought Reasoning](https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.07870) (Wang et al., 2022) | • Multiple independent reasoning paths<br/>• Majority voting aggregation<br/>• Concurrent execution<br/>• Validation mode | • Mathematical problem solving<br/>• High-accuracy requirements<br/>• Decision making scenarios<br/>• Answer validation | `SelfConsistencyAgent` | [Guide](consistency_agent.md) |
| **Reasoning Duo** | Collaborative | Novel dual-agent architecture | • Separate reasoning and execution agents<br/>• Collaborative problem solving<br/>• Task decomposition<br/>• Cross-validation | • Complex analysis tasks<br/>• Multi-step problem solving<br/>• Tasks requiring verification<br/>• Research and planning | `ReasoningDuo` | [Guide](reasoning_duo.md) |
| **IRE Agent** | Iterative | Iterative Reflective Expansion framework | • Hypothesis generation<br/>• Path simulation<br/>• Error reflection<br/>• Dynamic revision | • Complex reasoning tasks<br/>• Research problems<br/>• Learning scenarios<br/>• Strategy development | `IterativeReflectiveExpansion` | [Guide](iterative_agent.md) |
| **Reflexion Agent** | Self-reflective | [Reflexion: Language Agents with Verbal Reinforcement Learning](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.11366) (Shinn et al., 2023) | • Self-evaluation<br/>• Experience memory<br/>• Adaptive improvement<br/>• Learning from failures | • Continuous improvement tasks<br/>• Long-term projects<br/>• Learning scenarios<br/>• Quality refinement | `ReflexionAgent` | [Guide](reflexion_agent.md) |
| **GKP Agent** | Knowledge-based | [Generated Knowledge Prompting](https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.08387) (Liu et al., 2022) | • Knowledge generation<br/>• Multi-perspective reasoning<br/>• Information synthesis<br/>• Fact integration | • Knowledge-intensive tasks<br/>• Research questions<br/>• Fact-based reasoning<br/>• Information synthesis | `GKPAgent` | [Guide](gkp_agent.md) |
| **Agent Judge** | Evaluation | [Agent-as-a-Judge: Evaluate Agents with Agents](https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.10934) | • Quality assessment<br/>• Structured evaluation<br/>• Performance metrics<br/>• Feedback generation | • Quality control<br/>• Output evaluation<br/>• Performance assessment<br/>• Model comparison | `AgentJudge` | [Guide](agent_judge.md) |
| **REACT Agent** | Action-based | [ReAct: Synergizing Reasoning and Acting](https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.03629) (Yao et al., 2022) | • Reason-Act-Observe cycle<br/>• Memory integration<br/>• Action planning<br/>• Experience building | • Interactive tasks<br/>• Tool usage scenarios<br/>• Planning problems<br/>• Learning environments | `ReactAgent` | [Guide](react_agent.md) |
## Agent Architectures
### Self-Consistency Agent
**Description**: Implements multiple independent reasoning paths with consensus-building to improve response reliability and accuracy through majority voting mechanisms.
**Key Features**:
- Concurrent execution of multiple reasoning instances
- AI-powered aggregation and consensus analysis
- Validation mode for answer verification
- Configurable sample sizes and output formats
**Architecture Diagram**:
```mermaid
graph TD
A[Task Input] --> B[Agent Pool]
B --> C[Response 1]
B --> D[Response 2]
B --> E[Response 3]
B --> F[Response N]
C --> G[Aggregation Agent]
D --> G
E --> G
F --> G
G --> H[Majority Voting Analysis]
H --> I[Consensus Evaluation]
I --> J[Final Answer]
style A fill:#e1f5fe
style J fill:#c8e6c9
style G fill:#fff3e0
```
**Use Cases**: Mathematical problem solving, high-stakes decision making, answer validation, quality assurance processes
**Implementation**: `SelfConsistencyAgent`
**Documentation**: [Self-Consistency Agent Guide](consistency_agent.md)
---
### Reasoning Duo
**Description**: Dual-agent collaborative system that separates reasoning and execution phases, enabling specialized analysis and task completion through coordinated agent interaction.
**Key Features**:
- Separate reasoning and execution agents
- Collaborative problem decomposition
- Cross-validation between agents
- Configurable model selection for each agent
**Architecture Diagram**:
```mermaid
graph TD
A[Task Input] --> B[Reasoning Agent]
B --> C[Deep Analysis]
C --> D[Strategy Planning]
D --> E[Reasoning Output]
E --> F[Main Agent]
F --> G[Task Execution]
G --> H[Response Generation]
H --> I[Final Output]
style A fill:#e1f5fe
style B fill:#f3e5f5
style F fill:#e8f5e8
style I fill:#c8e6c9
```
**Use Cases**: Complex analysis tasks, multi-step problem solving, research and planning, verification workflows
**Implementation**: `ReasoningDuo`
**Documentation**: [Reasoning Duo Guide](reasoning_duo.md)
---
### IRE Agent (Iterative Reflective Expansion)
**Description**: Sophisticated reasoning framework employing iterative hypothesis generation, simulation, and refinement through continuous cycles of testing and meta-cognitive reflection.
**Key Features**:
- Hypothesis generation and testing
- Path simulation and evaluation
- Meta-cognitive reflection capabilities
- Dynamic strategy revision based on feedback
**Architecture Diagram**:
```mermaid
graph TD
A[Problem Input] --> B[Hypothesis Generation]
B --> C[Path Simulation]
C --> D[Outcome Evaluation]
D --> E{Satisfactory?}
E -->|No| F[Meta-Cognitive Reflection]
F --> G[Path Revision]
G --> H[Knowledge Integration]
H --> C
E -->|Yes| I[Solution Synthesis]
I --> J[Final Answer]
style A fill:#e1f5fe
style F fill:#fff3e0
style J fill:#c8e6c9
```
**Use Cases**: Complex reasoning tasks, research problems, strategy development, iterative learning scenarios
**Implementation**: `IterativeReflectiveExpansion`
**Documentation**: [IRE Agent Guide](iterative_agent.md)
---
### Reflexion Agent
**Description**: Advanced self-reflective system implementing actor-evaluator-reflector architecture for continuous improvement through experience-based learning and memory integration.
**Key Features**:
- Actor-evaluator-reflector sub-agent architecture
- Self-evaluation and quality assessment
- Experience memory and learning capabilities
- Adaptive improvement through reflection
**Architecture Diagram**:
```mermaid
graph TD
A[Task Input] --> B[Actor Agent]
B --> C[Initial Response]
C --> D[Evaluator Agent]
D --> E[Quality Assessment]
E --> F[Performance Score]
F --> G[Reflector Agent]
G --> H[Self-Reflection]
H --> I[Experience Memory]
I --> J{Max Iterations?}
J -->|No| K[Refined Response]
K --> D
J -->|Yes| L[Final Response]
style A fill:#e1f5fe
style B fill:#e8f5e8
style D fill:#fff3e0
style G fill:#f3e5f5
style L fill:#c8e6c9
```
**Use Cases**: Continuous improvement tasks, long-term projects, adaptive learning, quality refinement processes
**Implementation**: `ReflexionAgent`
**Documentation**: [Reflexion Agent Guide](reflexion_agent.md)
---
### GKP Agent (Generated Knowledge Prompting)
**Description**: Knowledge-driven reasoning system that generates relevant information before answering queries, implementing multi-perspective analysis through coordinated knowledge synthesis.
**Key Features**:
- Dynamic knowledge generation
- Multi-perspective reasoning coordination
- Information synthesis and integration
- Configurable knowledge item generation
**Architecture Diagram**:
```mermaid
graph TD
A[Query Input] --> B[Knowledge Generator]
B --> C[Generate Knowledge Item 1]
B --> D[Generate Knowledge Item 2]
B --> E[Generate Knowledge Item N]
C --> F[Reasoner Agent]
D --> F
E --> F
F --> G[Knowledge Integration]
G --> H[Reasoning Process]
H --> I[Response Generation]
I --> J[Coordinator]
J --> K[Final Answer]
style A fill:#e1f5fe
style B fill:#fff3e0
style F fill:#e8f5e8
style J fill:#f3e5f5
style K fill:#c8e6c9
```
**Use Cases**: Knowledge-intensive tasks, research questions, fact-based reasoning, information synthesis
**Implementation**: `GKPAgent`
**Documentation**: [GKP Agent Guide](gkp_agent.md)
---
### Agent Judge
**Description**: Specialized evaluation system for assessing agent outputs and system performance, providing structured feedback and quality metrics through comprehensive assessment frameworks.
**Key Features**:
- Structured evaluation methodology
- Quality assessment and scoring
- Performance metrics generation
- Configurable evaluation criteria
**Architecture Diagram**:
```mermaid
graph TD
A[Output to Evaluate] --> B[Evaluation Criteria]
A --> C[Judge Agent]
B --> C
C --> D[Quality Analysis]
D --> E[Criteria Assessment]
E --> F[Scoring Framework]
F --> G[Feedback Generation]
G --> H[Evaluation Report]
style A fill:#e1f5fe
style C fill:#fff3e0
style H fill:#c8e6c9
```
**Use Cases**: Quality control, output evaluation, performance assessment, model comparison
**Implementation**: `AgentJudge`
**Documentation**: [Agent Judge Guide](agent_judge.md)
---
### REACT Agent (Reason-Act-Observe)
**Description**: Action-oriented reasoning system implementing iterative reason-act-observe cycles with memory integration for interactive task completion and environmental adaptation.
**Key Features**:
- Reason-Act-Observe cycle implementation
- Memory integration and experience building
- Action planning and execution
- Environmental state observation
**Architecture Diagram**:
```mermaid
graph TD
A[Task Input] --> B[Memory Review]
B --> C[Current State Observation]
C --> D[Reasoning Process]
D --> E[Action Planning]
E --> F[Action Execution]
F --> G[Outcome Observation]
G --> H[Experience Storage]
H --> I{Task Complete?}
I -->|No| C
I -->|Yes| J[Final Response]
style A fill:#e1f5fe
style B fill:#f3e5f5
style D fill:#fff3e0
style J fill:#c8e6c9
```
**Use Cases**: Interactive tasks, tool usage scenarios, planning problems, learning environments
**Implementation**: `ReactAgent`
**Documentation**: [REACT Agent Guide](react_agent.md)
## Implementation Guide
### Unified Interface via Reasoning Agent Router
The `ReasoningAgentRouter` provides a centralized interface for accessing all reasoning agent implementations:
```python
from swarms.agents import ReasoningAgentRouter
# Initialize router with specific reasoning strategy
router = ReasoningAgentRouter(
swarm_type="self-consistency", # Select reasoning methodology
model_name="gpt-4o-mini",
num_samples=5, # Configuration for consensus-based methods
max_loops=3 # Configuration for iterative methods
)
# Execute reasoning process
result = router.run("Analyze the optimal solution for this complex business problem")
print(result)
```
### Direct Agent Implementation
```python
from swarms.agents import SelfConsistencyAgent, ReasoningDuo, ReflexionAgent
# Self-Consistency Agent for high-accuracy requirements
consistency_agent = SelfConsistencyAgent(
model_name="gpt-4o-mini",
num_samples=5
)
# Reasoning Duo for collaborative analysis workflows
duo_agent = ReasoningDuo(
model_names=["gpt-4o-mini", "gpt-4o"]
)
# Reflexion Agent for adaptive learning scenarios
reflexion_agent = ReflexionAgent(
model_name="gpt-4o-mini",
max_loops=3,
memory_capacity=100
)
```
## Choosing the Right Reasoning Agent
| Scenario | Recommended Agent | Why? |
|----------|------------------|-------|
| **High-stakes decisions** | Self-Consistency | Multiple validation paths ensure reliability |
| **Complex research tasks** | Reasoning Duo + GKP | Collaboration + knowledge synthesis |
| **Learning & improvement** | Reflexion | Built-in self-improvement mechanisms |
| **Mathematical problems** | Self-Consistency | Proven effectiveness on logical reasoning |
| **Quality assessment** | Agent Judge | Specialized evaluation capabilities |
| **Interactive planning** | REACT | Action-oriented reasoning cycle |
| **Iterative refinement** | IRE | Designed for progressive improvement |
## Technical Documentation
For comprehensive technical documentation on each reasoning agent implementation:
- [Self-Consistency Agent](consistency_agent.md)
- [Reasoning Duo](reasoning_duo.md)
- [IRE Agent](iterative_agent.md)
- [Reflexion Agent](reflexion_agent.md)
- [GKP Agent](gkp_agent.md)
- [Agent Judge](agent_judge.md)
- [Reasoning Agent Router](reasoning_agent_router.md)
---
Reasoning agents represent a significant advancement in enterprise agent capabilities, implementing sophisticated cognitive architectures that deliver enhanced reliability, consistency, and performance compared to traditional language model implementations.