> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.phinite.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agents overview

> Conversational vs Autonomous Agent Graphs — create, design, build, and deploy.

An **Agent Graph** is the unit you create and open from **Workspace Home**. Every graph follows the golden path: **Design → Save → Build → Environment → Deploy** (or **Expose as A2A**).

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Conversational" icon="comments" href="/agents/conversational">
    Voice and chat agents — deploy to channels or Chat API.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Autonomous" icon="robot" href="/agents/autonomous">
    Background automation — API triggers and cron schedules.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Graph Studio" icon="pencil" href="/graph-studio/overview">
    Design nodes, tools, RAG, and variables on the canvas.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket" type="tip" href="/getting-started/quickstart">
    First graph from empty workspace to deployable build.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Graph types

| Type               | Role                                 | Typical deploy targets               |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------ |
| **Conversational** | Real-time voice and chat with users  | Channel, Chat API, A2A               |
| **Autonomous**     | Background tasks without a live user | API trigger, Cron, A2A (coming soon) |

## Create an Agent Graph

1. Open **Workspace Home**.
2. Click **New Agent Graph**.
3. Enter **Agent Graph Name** and **Description**.
4. Choose **Conversational** or **Autonomous**.
5. Click **Create Agent Graph** — Graph Studio opens on the canvas.

<Frame caption="New Agent Graph — type picker and name fields">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/phinite/9A3jAaljSLWX8Xhw/images/v2/agents/01-new-agent-graph-modal.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9A3jAaljSLWX8Xhw&q=85&s=029327c537bf856ac1282c0b5829683e" alt="Create Agent Graph modal" width="1312" height="938" data-path="images/v2/agents/01-new-agent-graph-modal.png" />
</Frame>

<Note>
  Workspace filters may still show an **Email** chip. New graphs only offer **Conversational** and **Autonomous**.
</Note>

## Lifecycle at a glance

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
  create[Create graph]
  design[Design in Studio]
  save[Save]
  build[Build]
  env[Assign environment]
  ship[Deploy or A2A]

  create --> design --> save --> build --> env --> ship
```

| Stage           | Where                                  | Outcome                                   |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **Design**      | [Graph Studio](/graph-studio/overview) | Nodes, tools, RAG, variables              |
| **Save**        | Studio toolbar                         | Persisted draft graph                     |
| **Build**       | Studio **Build** dialog                | Immutable build with pinned tool versions |
| **Environment** | Build assignment drawer                | DEV / UAT / PROD                          |
| **Deploy**      | Studio **Deploy** dialog               | Channel, Chat API, trigger, or A2A        |

<Tip>
  You can change graph type later from graph settings, but deploy targets differ — review [Deploy](/agents/deploy) before switching in production.
</Tip>

## Choose the right type

| Choose **Conversational** when…               | Choose **Autonomous** when…                 |
| --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Users interact in real time via chat or voice | Work runs on a schedule or external webhook |
| You need channel or Chat API ingress          | No live user session is required            |
| Multi-turn dialogue drives the flow           | Batch, monitoring, or pipeline logic        |

## Related

* [Conversational Agent Graphs](/agents/conversational)
* [Autonomous Agent Graphs](/agents/autonomous)
* [Builds overview](/builds/overview)
* [Deploy](/agents/deploy)
* [Glossary](/reference/glossary-v2)