ReAct Loop
The ReAct Loop block implements the Reasoning and Acting pattern, enabling agents to think step-by-step about problems, use tools to gather information, and adjust their approach based on observations.
Overview
ReAct (Reason and Act) combines reasoning and acting in language models to create more reliable and interpretable AI workflows. The agent alternates between thinking about the problem and taking actions to gather information or make progress.
Think: The agent analyzes the current situation and plans its next action
Act: The agent executes a specific action using available tools or functions
Observe: The agent processes the results and decides whether to continue or conclude
How It Works
graph LR
A[User Query] --> B[Think]
B --> C[Act]
C --> D[Observe]
D --> E{Goal Achieved?}
E -->|No| B
E -->|Yes| F[Final Answer]Configuration
Reasoning Model
The AI model used for the thinking step. Choose models optimized for reasoning like GPT-4, Claude Sonnet, or Gemini Pro.
Action Tools
Available tools the agent can use during the Act phase. Include search engines, APIs, databases, or custom functions.
Max Iterations
Maximum number of think-act-observe cycles to prevent infinite loops. Recommended range: 5-15 iterations.
Stop Conditions
Criteria that trigger the loop to conclude, such as finding a definitive answer or reaching confidence thresholds.
Use Cases
- Research Tasks: Systematically gathering and analyzing information from multiple sources
- Problem Solving: Breaking down complex problems into manageable steps
- Troubleshooting: Diagnosing issues through iterative testing and analysis
Example Workflow
[User Question] → [ReAct Loop] → [Research Agent] → [Response]The user asks "What are the latest developments in quantum computing?" The ReAct Loop:
- Think: Need to search for recent quantum computing news and developments
- Act: Use web search tool to find recent articles and papers
- Observe: Found several breakthroughs from the past 6 months
- Think: Need more specific information about IBM and Google's latest chips
- Act: Search specifically for IBM Condor and Google Willow processors
- Observe: Gathered comprehensive information about recent developments
- Conclude: Synthesize findings into comprehensive answer
Best Practice: Set appropriate max iterations based on task complexity. Simple fact-finding might need 3-5 iterations, while complex research could require 10-15.
When to Use This vs Other Blocks
| Block | When to Use |
|---|---|
| ReAct Loop | Complex multi-step problems requiring iterative reasoning |
| Agent | Simple question-answering or single-step tasks |
| Router | Routing decisions based on content classification |