AGENTS.md

Also called: 智能体项目说明文件 · agents.md

A convention for a Markdown file at a repo's root that tells coding agents how to build, test, and follow the project's conventions. Introduced by OpenAI in 2025.

Schematic (simplified)

Contents and purpose

It is like "a README for agents": typical entries are build/test/lint commands, directory layout, code-style conventions, pre-commit checks, and "don't touch these files." An agent reads it before editing code, so its changes fit the project's habits with fewer detours. A nested AGENTS.md in a subdirectory can override local rules.

Degree of standardisation

It is a lightweight convention, not a strict schema — plain Markdown with no mandatory fields. By 2026 it had been adopted by 60,000+ open-source projects and tools including Codex, Cursor, Devin, Gemini CLI, and Copilot, and moved to community governance under the Agentic AI Foundation alongside OpenAI joining it.

Common misconceptions

AGENTS.md has no mandatory format; tools parse it on a best-effort basis, not against a spec.
It is operating instructions for an agent, not a human-facing project description — different purposes.

Related terms

Sources

Compiled 2026-08-29 · This glossary is compiled from public papers, official specifications, and common industry definitions, and is updated as the field evolves. Corrections welcome.