Framework vs Protocol

Agent frameworks and agent protocols solve different problems.

Question	Framework	Protocol
Main purpose	Build and orchestrate an application	Interoperate across boundaries
Controlled by	Application team	Specification, standard, or shared contract
Examples	LangGraph, CrewAI, Semantic Kernel, ADK	OpenAPI, MCP, A2A, OAuth2/OIDC
Change speed	Can change with application code	Must be stable for clients and partners
Architecture role	Productivity and control flow	Compatibility, governance, integration

Decision Rule

Choose frameworks for implementation productivity. Use protocols for boundaries that other teams, agents, clients, or organizations must understand.

Related Pages

• Agent Framework Selection
• Protocol Selection
• Applications topic