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Subagents

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What are subagents?

Subagents let you attach one agent to another. The parent agent can then delegate tasks to its subagents during a conversation, and each subagent handles the request independently using its own instructions, knowledge, actions, and model. This is useful when a single agent would need overly complex instructions to cover multiple responsibilities. Instead, you can split those responsibilities across focused subagents.
Think of subagents like team members with different specializations. A general “Project Manager” agent could delegate data questions to a “Data Analysis” subagent and content tasks to a “Copywriter” subagent.

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How subagents work

When a parent agent decides a subagent is the right tool for the job, it sends a prompt to that subagent. The subagent then:
  1. Receives the prompt from the parent agent (either as free text or structured input, depending on the subagent’s input type)
  2. Runs independently using its own configuration — its own instructions, attached knowledge, actions, and model
  3. Returns a result back to the parent agent, which continues the conversation with the user
The parent agent sees the subagent’s response and can use it to formulate its own reply. From the user’s perspective, the subagent’s work appears as an expandable tool call in the conversation.
Subagents run in their own separate context. They don’t see the parent agent’s full conversation history — they only receive the prompt the parent sends them.
Write the parent agent’s instructions so each subagent receives the task, relevant context, expected output, and any constraints it needs to work independently.

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Adding subagents to an agent

Open the Actions tab in the agent configuration, then select Subagents in the sidebar to choose which agents to attach. You can also ask the Agent Builder chat to attach subagents for you. Subagents
You can only add an agent as a subagent if you are an editor or owner of that agent. This ensures you only attach agents you have permission to manage.

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Actions and connections

When a subagent uses actions that require an integration connection (e.g. Slack, Jira), it will either use the preconfigured connections assigned to it or ask the user to select and use their own connection.

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Permissions and access

  • Everyone with access to the parent agent can use its subagents. When a user chats with the parent agent, the parent can invoke any of its attached subagents on the user’s behalf.
  • If a user doesn’t have access to a subagent, the subagent call will show an access denied message. The user can then request access directly from the conversation.
  • When you attach a subagent or share the parent agent, Langdock checks whether everyone affected has access to the subagent. A dialog lists users without access so you can grant access directly or skip.

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When to use subagents

Subagents are a good fit when:
  • Your agent instructions are getting too long. Split different responsibilities into dedicated subagents with focused instructions.
  • You want to reuse an existing agent. If you already have a well-configured agent, you can attach it as a subagent to any other agent without duplicating the setup.
  • Different tasks need different models or knowledge. Each subagent can use its own model, knowledge base, and actions — independent of the parent.

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Limitations

  • No nesting. A subagent cannot call other subagents. Only the top-level parent agent can invoke subagents.
  • Separate context. Subagents don’t have access to the parent agent’s conversation history. They only receive the prompt passed to them.
  • Action approvals. If a subagent triggers an action that requires confirmation, the user will be prompted to approve it before the subagent can continue.
  • No user questions. A subagent cannot ask the user clarification questions with selectable answers. Only the parent agent can ask the user directly.

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FAQ

Use subagents when a parent agent has several distinct responsibilities that are easier to split into focused specialists. This can make instructions clearer and reduce the amount of context each agent needs to handle.
Check whether the parent agent instructions clearly describe when to delegate, whether the subagent is attached and available, and whether the user’s request matches the subagent’s role.