Editorial illustration for A2A introduces Agent Cards, task lifecycle states and three sync modes
A2A introduces Agent Cards, task lifecycle states and...
Google handed the industry a set of keys to agent coordination in mid-2025. Everyone took them. The protocol, called A2A, went straight to the Linux Foundation and was adopted almost instantly.
Its success highlights a specific, unsolved mess left by the earlier MCP standard: MCP lets an agent use a tool, but says nothing about how multiple agents actually work together. A2A imposes order with three simple, bureaucratic parts. Agent Cards act as capability menus.
Formal task lifecycle states manage chaotic handoffs. Three sync modes let agents decide how tightly to couple. It is, effectively, useful paperwork.
Where MCP defines how an agent calls a tool, A2A defines how two agents delegate a task.
The skeleton for multi-agent systems is now assembled and functional. MCP provides the hands. A2A provides the workflow.
But that entire skeleton is bolted directly to an old, unquestioned floor: HTTP. For the research teams and enterprise shops that built these tools, web APIs are the only reality. It was the obvious, comfortable choice.
VentureBeat’s final question exposes that comfort as the next major wall. The industry has standardized how agents use tools and delegate work. The foundational layer they all run on remains a glaring, unexamined given.
The next problem isn't another protocol. It’s making the wire itself irrelevant.
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Common Questions Answered
What is the A2A protocol and how does it differ from the MCP standard?
A2A is a protocol adopted by the Linux Foundation in mid-2025 that enables coordination between multiple agents, addressing a key limitation of the earlier MCP standard. While MCP allows an agent to use individual tools, A2A imposes order and structure for how multiple agents actually work together through three bureaucratic components. This makes A2A essential for building functional multi-agent systems beyond simple tool usage.
What are the three main components that A2A uses to coordinate agent workflows?
A2A uses three simple, bureaucratic parts to impose order on multi-agent coordination: Agent Cards that act as capability menus, formal task lifecycle states that define workflow progression, and three sync modes that manage how agents communicate and synchronize their work. These components work together to create a structured framework for agent interaction.
Why is HTTP considered a limitation in the current multi-agent system architecture?
The entire skeleton of multi-agent systems is built on HTTP and web APIs, which represents an old, unquestioned foundation that may not be optimal for agent coordination. While HTTP was the obvious and comfortable choice for research teams and enterprise shops, it is identified as the next major wall that the industry will need to address as multi-agent systems become more sophisticated.
How do Agent Cards function within the A2A protocol?
Agent Cards serve as capability menus within the A2A protocol, providing a standardized way to advertise and discover what each agent can do. This allows other agents to understand available capabilities and coordinate their work more effectively within the multi-agent system.
Further Reading
- Understanding A2A — The protocol for agent collaboration — Google Developer Forums
- Announcing the Agent2Agent Protocol (A2A) — Google Developers Blog
- A2A Protocol Explained: How AI agents communicate across systems — CodiLime
- A2A Protocol Explained — Hugging Face
- Google A2A Protocol: How Agent-to-Agent Coordination Works — Atlan
