What Is an LLM-Based Agent?
Define LLM agents, contrast them with chatbots and pipelines, and learn the loop of perceive-think-act that makes a system 'agentic'.
What Is an LLM-Based Agent? is a free AI Agents lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 3. 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 learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Welcome! 👋
You're about to learn how AI agents work. This is our most beginner-friendly track, sized into tiny steps. You'll move fast!
What's an LLM?
An LLM (Large Language Model) is software that's great at understanding and writing text. Think of it as a super-smart autocomplete.
Meet Your AI Mentor 🤖
See the purple ✨ AI Mentor button at the bottom of every lesson? That is your personal tutor — free to try, available 24/7 on mobile and web.
Tap it whenever you are stuck and choose what you need:
- 💡 Explain Simply — turn anything confusing into plain words
- 📋 Step by Step — break a problem into clear steps
- 🗣️ Everyday Example — connect it to real life
There is also Mini Quiz, Code Example and Ask — ask it absolutely anything. You are never learning alone. 💜
Learn in Your Own Language 🌍
Prefer to learn in your native language? You can!
Tap the 🌐 translate button at the top-right of the lesson (it is in the top bar on the web too) and pick your language. Every lesson instantly appears in your own language.
Switch back any time — learn the way that feels easiest for you. 🙌
A brain, not a body
An LLM on its own can only talk. It can think and reply, but it can't actually do anything in the world yet.
So what's an agent?
An agent is an LLM given a goal plus the ability to take actions. It's the brain with hands and a to-do list. 🤖
A helpful intern
Picture a smart intern: you give them a task, they figure out steps, use tools, and report back. That's an agent in a nutshell.
The loop
Agents work in a simple loop: think, act, observe the result, then repeat until the goal is done.
Real examples
Agents can book a trip, search the web, or write and run code for you. Same idea, just different tools attached.
You've got the big idea! 🎉
Agent = LLM brain + a goal + tools. That's the core! Next up: how we actually talk to the brain with prompts.
Quick Check
Let's lock it in. What turns a plain LLM into an agent?
Frequently asked questions
Is the “What Is an LLM-Based Agent?” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “What Is an LLM-Based Agent?” is free to read here on the web, and the AI Agents course includes 3 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 course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “What Is an LLM-Based Agent?”?
Define LLM agents, contrast them with chatbots and pipelines, and learn the loop of perceive-think-act that makes a system 'agentic'. You practise AI Agents 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?
No prior experience is required. AI Agents on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “What Is an LLM-Based Agent?” 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 lesson?
Yes. Every AI Agents 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
- What Is an LLM-Based Agent?
- Prompts, Roles and System Messages
- Tool Use: How Agents Take Action