1# Core Concepts Reference
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3Use this reference when deciding which Mastra primitive to use or when explaining the high-level shape of a Mastra application.
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5## Agents vs workflows
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7Agent: Autonomous, makes decisions, uses tools.
8Use for open-ended tasks such as support, research, analysis, and tool-using assistants.
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10Workflow: Structured sequence of steps.
11Use for defined processes such as pipelines, approvals, ETL, multi-step business logic, and resumable processes.
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13## Key components
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15- Tools: Extend agent capabilities through APIs, databases, external services, and deterministic functions.
16- Memory: Maintain context through message history, working memory, semantic recall, and observational memory.
17- Storage: Persist data with providers such as Postgres, LibSQL, and MongoDB.
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