LangChain Core Components Explained
Learn about the essential building blocks of LangChain, including LLMs, Prompts, Chains, and Agents, and how they interact.
LangChain Core Components Explained is a free AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Welcome to LangChain Core!
Now meet LangChain, a framework for building agents. It gives you modular components you snap together like LEGO bricks.
The Brain: Large Language Models (LLMs)
The agent's brain is the LLM — a model trained on vast text to understand and generate language. LangChain makes it easy to plug into GPT or open-source models.
LLM in Action: A Simple Call
Here's a basic LLM call in LangChain, using a fake model so it runs without any API key.
from langchain_core.llms import FakeListLLM
# Our 'brain' that gives predefined answers
llm = FakeListLLM(responses=[
"The capital of France is Paris.",
"Hello! How can I help you today?"
])
# Ask the LLM a question
response = llm.invoke("What is the capital of France?")
print(response)Guiding the Brain: Prompts
An LLM needs instructions, and those are your prompts — the input text you feed it. Good prompts are crucial for getting the output you want.
Dynamic Prompts: Prompt Templates
For input that changes, use a prompt template: a reusable blueprint with placeholders you fill in at runtime.
from langchain_core.prompts import PromptTemplate
# Define a template with a placeholder '{topic}'
qa_template = """
Answer the following question about {topic}:
Question: {question}
"""
# Create a PromptTemplate object
prompt = PromptTemplate.from_template(qa_template)
# Format the prompt with specific values
formatted_prompt = prompt.format(
topic="Python programming",
question="What is a variable?"
)
print(formatted_prompt)Connecting Steps: Chains
Most agent tasks take several steps. A chain is a predefined sequence that wires LLMs, prompts, and utilities together, passing each output into the next step.
Building a Simple Chain
Here's a simple chain: a prompt template piped into an LLM using LangChain's Runnable interface. The prompt's output feeds straight into the model.
from langchain_core.llms import FakeListLLM
from langchain_core.prompts import PromptTemplate
# 1. Our 'brain'
llm = FakeListLLM(responses=["A variable is a named storage location."])
# 2. Our prompt template
qa_template = """
Explain {concept} in simple terms.
"""
prompt = PromptTemplate.from_template(qa_template)
# 3. Combine them into a chain using '|' operator
# The prompt output goes into the LLM as input
chain = prompt | llm
# Invoke the chain with the input for the template
response = chain.invoke({"concept": "variable"})
print(response)The Orchestrator: Agents
Chains run fixed steps; agents are dynamic. An agent decides which action to take, runs it, observes the result, and repeats until the goal is met.
How Agents Use Components
Agents tie it all together: LLMs for reasoning, prompts to guide thinking, chains for multi-step work, and tools to act on the real world.
Putting it All Together
Picture a smart assistant: a prompt sets the task, the LLM reasons, a chain processes input, and the agent picks a weather tool — then the LLM formats the answer.
Quick Check: Core Components
Which LangChain component is primarily responsible for dynamic decision-making and tool selection in an AI application?
Recap & Next Steps
Recap: the four LangChain building blocks — LLMs (the brain), prompts (instructions), chains (sequences), and agents (dynamic deciders). Next: build one.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “LangChain Core Components Explained” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “LangChain Core Components Explained” is free to read here on the web, and the AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “LangChain Core Components Explained”?
Learn about the essential building blocks of LangChain, including LLMs, Prompts, Chains, and Agents, and how they interact. You practise AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows?
No prior experience is required. AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “LangChain Core Components Explained” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows lesson?
Yes. Every AI Agents with LangChain & Autonomous Workflows lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Understanding AI Agents & LLMs
- LangChain Core Components Explained
- Building Your First Simple Agent
- Giving Agents Memory and Conversation State