What is A2A?
A2A, or Agent-to-Agent, is an open protocol for agent communication. A requesting agent can delegate work to a specialist agent without needing that agent's internal logic or private data.
It is useful where multiple agents with distinct roles, owners or systems need to collaborate.
Why should agents communicate?
A general agent should not hold every organization's domain knowledge, tool and responsibility. Specialist agents can remain close to their own data and process and return only the needed outcome.
This can clarify ownership and trust boundaries when the problem genuinely needs multiple specialties.
How does A2A work?
A typical flow includes discovery, capability description, task exchange, clarification and result exchange.
A2A does not automatically make agents trustworthy; each request still needs identity, policy and trust-boundary controls.
- Capability discovery
- Task exchange
- Progress and result exchange
- Clear data and action boundaries
A2A versus MCP
MCP is mainly used to connect an application or agent to external tools and data. A2A is designed for agent-to-agent collaboration.
An agent can use MCP for its own tools and A2A to delegate a task to another specialist agent.
Multi-agent architecture
Sales, finance and support agents can work under an orchestrator or use a peer pattern.
Responsibilities should remain bounded and testable; more agents without clear ownership increase complexity.
Security and interoperability
Automatic trust between agents is unsafe. Agent identity, authorization, data-sharing scope, result validation and audit need explicit design.
Interoperability is not unconditional access; shared protocols must work with organizational controls and trust boundaries.
- Agent identity and authentication
- Task and data authorization
- Trust boundaries and minimum disclosure
- Auditability
A2A in the enterprise
Suitable examples include delegating sales analysis to a specialist agent, policy review to a legal agent, or coordination between IT and HR agents.
Each scenario needs measurable output, failure handling and an appropriate approval stage.
A2A at Aivan
At Aivan, multi-agent architecture starts with a real organizational need: ownership, data and tool scope, and which actions require approval. A2A is one collaboration pattern for that design.
Frequently asked questions
What is A2A?
A protocol for collaboration and delegation between independent agents.
How is A2A different from MCP?
MCP connects an application or agent to tools and data; A2A connects agents.
Does A2A guarantee trust?
No. Identity, authorization, data boundaries and audit remain separate controls.
Do all systems need multiple agents?
No. A single agent or simple workflow is often better for a bounded task.
Sources and further reading
- Google Developers BlogAnnouncing the Agent2Agent Protocol (A2A)9 April 2025 · Official announcement
- Google Developers BlogHow A2A is Building a World of Collaborative Agents18 June 2026 · Official engineering article
- NISTAnnouncing the AI Agent Standards Initiative for Interoperable and Secure Innovation17 February 2026 · Standards initiative