---
title: Reading agent state
icon: "lucide/ArrowLeft"
description: Read the realtime agent state in your native application.
---

<IframeSwitcher
  id="shared-state-read-example"
  exampleUrl="https://feature-viewer.copilotkit.ai/aws-strands/feature/shared_state?sidebar=false&chatDefaultOpen=false"
  codeUrl="https://feature-viewer.copilotkit.ai/aws-strands/feature/shared_state?view=code&sidebar=false&codeLayout=tabs"
  exampleLabel="Demo"
  codeLabel="Code"
  height="700px"
/>

<Callout type="info">
  This example demonstrates reading from shared state in the [CopilotKit Feature
  Viewer](https://feature-viewer.copilotkit.ai/aws-strands/feature/shared_state).
</Callout>

## What is this?

You can easily use the realtime agent state not only in the chat UI, but also in the native application UX.

## When should I use this?

You can use this when you want to provide the user with feedback about your agent's state. As your agent's
state updates, you can reflect these updates natively in your application.

## Implementation

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Run and connect your agent
    <RunAndConnect />
  </Step>
  <Step>
    ### Setup your agent with state

    Define your agent's state schema. AWS Strands maintains state throughout execution.

    ```python title="agent/main.py"
    from ag_ui_strands import StrandsAgent, StrandsAgentConfig, create_strands_app
    from strands import Agent
    from strands.models.openai import OpenAIModel

    model = OpenAIModel(
        client_args={"api_key": os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY", "")},
        model_id="gpt-4o",
    )

    # Create the Strands agent
    strands_agent = Agent(
        model=model,
        system_prompt="Always communicate in the preferred language of the user as defined in your state. Do not communicate in any other language.",
    )

    # Inject state into the prompt
    def language_prompt(input_data, user_message: str) -> str:
        state_dict = getattr(input_data, "state", None)
        if isinstance(state_dict, dict) and "language" in state_dict:
            return f"Current language: {state_dict['language']}\n\nUser request: {user_message}"
        return user_message

    config = StrandsAgentConfig(state_context_builder=language_prompt)

    # Wrap with AG-UI integration
    agui_agent = StrandsAgent(
        agent=strands_agent,
        name="languageAgent",
        description="Always communicate in the preferred language of the user",
        config=config,
    )

    app = create_strands_app(agui_agent)
    ```

  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Use the `useAgent` Hook

    With your agent connected and running, call the `useAgent` hook, pass the agent's name, and
    optionally provide an initial state.

    ```tsx title="ui/app/page.tsx"

    // Define the agent state type to match your Strands agent
    type AgentState = {
      language: "english" | "spanish";
    };

    function YourMainContent() {
      // [!code highlight:5]
      const { agent } = useAgent({
        agentId: "strands_agent",
        // optionally provide a type-safe initial state
        initialState: { language: "spanish" }
      });

      // ...

      return (
        // style excluded for brevity
        <div>
          <h1>Your main content</h1>
          {/* [!code highlight:1] */}
          <p>Language: {agent.state?.language}</p>
        </div>
      );
    }
    ```
    <Callout type="info">
      The `agent.state` in `useAgent` is reactive and will automatically update when the agent state changes.
    </Callout>

  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Give it a try!

    As the agent state updates, your `state` variable will automatically update with it! In this case, you'll see the
    language set to "spanish" as that's the initial state we set.

  </Step>
</Steps>

## Rendering agent state in the chat

You can also render the agent state in the chat UI. This is useful for informing the user about the state in a
more in-context way. To do this, you can use the `useAgent` hook with a `render` function.

```tsx title="ui/app/page.tsx"
// Define the agent state type, should match the actual state of your agent
type AgentState = {
  language: "english" | "spanish";
};

function YourMainContent() {
  // ...
  // [!code highlight:7]
  useAgent({
    agentId: "strands_agent",
    render: ({ state }) => {
      if (!state.language) return null;
      return <div>Language: {state.language}</div>;
    },
  });
  // ...
}
```

<Callout type="info">
  The `agent.state` in `useAgent` is reactive and will automatically update when
  the agent state changes.
</Callout>
