
langchain-fundamentals
Create LangChain agents with createagent, define tools, and use middleware for human-in-the-loop and error handling.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/langchain-ai/langchain-skills --skill langchain-fundamentals- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads langchain-fundamentals automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
<create_agent>
Creating Agents with create_agent
create_agent() is the recommended way to build agents. It handles the agent loop, tool execution, and state management.
Agent Configuration Options
| Parameter | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
model | LLM to use | "anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5" or model instance |
tools | List of tools | [search, calculator] |
system_prompt / systemPrompt | Agent instructions | "You are a helpful assistant" |
checkpointer | State persistence | MemorySaver() |
middleware | Processing hooks | [HumanInTheLoopMiddleware] (Python) / [humanInTheLoopMiddleware({...})] (TypeScript) |
| </create_agent> |
from langchain.agents import create_agent
from langchain_core.tools import tool
@tool
def get_weather(location: str) -> str:
"""Get current weather for a location.
Args:
location: City name
"""
return f"Weather in {location}: Sunny, 72F"
agent = create_agent(
model="anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5",
tools=[get_weather],
system_prompt="You are a helpful assistant."
)
result = agent.invoke({
"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "What's the weather in Paris?"}]
})
print(result["messages"][-1].content)
import { createAgent } from "langchain";
import { tool } from "@langchain/core/tools";
import { z } from "zod";
const getWeather = tool(
async ({ location }) => `Weather in ${location}: Sunny, 72F`,
{
name: "get_weather",
description: "Get current weather for a location.",
schema: z.object({ location: z.string().describe("City name") }),
}
);
const agent = createAgent({
model: "anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5",
tools: [getWeather],
systemPrompt: "You are a helpful assistant.",
});
const result = await agent.invoke({
messages: [{ role: "user", content: "What's the weather in Paris?" }],
});
console.log(result.messages[result.messages.length - 1].content);
from langchain.agents import create_agent
from langgraph.checkpoint.memory import MemorySaver
checkpointer = MemorySaver()
agent = create_agent(
model="anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5",
tools=[search],
checkpointer=checkpointer,
)
config = {"configurable": {"thread_id": "user-123"}}
agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "My name is Alice"}]}, config=config)
result = agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "What's my name?"}]}, config=config)
# Agent remembers: "Your name is Alice"
import { createAgent } from "langchain";
import { MemorySaver } from "@langchain/langgraph";
const checkpointer = new MemorySaver();
const agent = createAgent({
model: "anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5",
tools: [search],
checkpointer,
});
const config = { configurable: { thread_id: "user-123" } };
await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "My name is Alice" }] }, config);
const result = await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "What's my name?" }] }, config);
// Agent remembers: "Your name is Alice"
Tools are functions that agents can call. Use the @tool decorator (Python) or tool() function (TypeScript).
</tools>
from langchain_core.tools import tool
@tool
def add(a: float, b: float) -> float:
"""Add two numbers.
Args:
a: First number
b: Second number
"""
return a + b
import { tool } from "@langchain/core/tools";
import { z } from "zod";
const add = tool(
async ({ a, b }) => a + b,
{
name: "add",
description: "Add two numbers.",
schema: z.object({
a: z.number().describe("First number"),
b: z.number().describe("Second number"),
}),
}
);
Middleware intercepts the agent loop to add human approval, error handling, logging, and more. A deep understanding of middleware is essential for production agents — use HumanInTheLoopMiddleware (Python) / humanInTheLoopMiddleware (TypeScript) for approval workflows, and @wrap_tool_call (Python) / createMiddleware (TypeScript) for custom hooks.
Key imports:
from langchain.agents.middleware import HumanInTheLoopMiddleware, wrap_tool_call
import { humanInTheLoopMiddleware, createMiddleware } from "langchain";
Key patterns:
- HITL:
middleware=[HumanInTheLoopMiddleware(interrupt_on={"dangerous_tool": True})]— requirescheckpointer+thread_id - Resume after interrupt:
agent.invoke(Command(resume={"decisions": [{"type": "approve"}]}), config=config) - Custom middleware:
@wrap_tool_calldecorator (Python) orcreateMiddleware({ wrapToolCall: ... })(TypeScript) </middleware>
<structured_output>
Structured Output
Get typed, validated responses from agents using response_format or with_structured_output().
from langchain.agents import create_agent
from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
class ContactInfo(BaseModel):
name: str
email: str
phone: str = Field(description="Phone number with area code")
# Option 1: Agent with structured output
agent = create_agent(model="gpt-4.1", tools=[search], response_format=ContactInfo)
result = agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Find contact for John"}]})
print(result["structured_response"]) # ContactInfo(name='John', ...)
# Option 2: Model-level structured output (no agent needed)
from langchain_openai import ChatOpenAI
model = ChatOpenAI(model="gpt-4.1")
structured_model = model.with_structured_output(ContactInfo)
response = structured_model.invoke("Extract: John, john@example.com, 555-1234")
# ContactInfo(name='John', email='john@example.com', phone='555-1234')
import { ChatOpenAI } from "@langchain/openai";
import { z } from "zod";
const ContactInfo = z.object({
name: z.string(),
email: z.string().email(),
phone: z.string().describe("Phone number with area code"),
});
// Model-level structured output
const model = new ChatOpenAI({ model: "gpt-4.1" });
const structuredModel = model.withStructuredOutput(ContactInfo);
const response = await structuredModel.invoke("Extract: John, john@example.com, 555-1234");
// { name: 'John', email: 'john@example.com', phone: '555-1234' }
<model_config>
Model Configuration
create_agent accepts model strings ("anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5", "openai:gpt-4.1") or model instances for custom settings:
from langchain_anthropic import ChatAnthropic
agent = create_agent(model=ChatAnthropic(model="claude-sonnet-4-5", temperature=0), tools=[...])
</model_config>
<fix-missing-tool-description> <python> Clear descriptions help the agent know when to use each tool.# WRONG: Vague or missing description
@tool
def bad_tool(input: str) -> str:
"""Does stuff."""
return "result"
# CORRECT: Clear, specific description with Args
@tool
def search(query: str) -> str:
"""Search the web for current information about a topic.
Use this when you need recent data or facts.
Args:
query: The search query (2-10 words recommended)
"""
return web_search(query)
// WRONG: Vague description
const badTool = tool(async ({ input }) => "result", {
name: "bad_tool",
description: "Does stuff.", // Too vague!
schema: z.object({ input: z.string() }),
});
// CORRECT: Clear, specific description
const search = tool(async ({ query }) => webSearch(query), {
name: "search",
description: "Search the web for current information about a topic. Use this when you need recent data or facts.",
schema: z.object({
query: z.string().describe("The search query (2-10 words recommended)"),
}),
});
# WRONG: No persistence - agent forgets between calls
agent = create_agent(model="anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5", tools=[search])
agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "I'm Bob"}]})
agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "What's my name?"}]})
# Agent doesn't remember!
# CORRECT: Add checkpointer and thread_id
from langgraph.checkpoint.memory import MemorySaver
agent = create_agent(
model="anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5",
tools=[search],
checkpointer=MemorySaver(),
)
config = {"configurable": {"thread_id": "session-1"}}
agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "I'm Bob"}]}, config=config)
agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "What's my name?"}]}, config=config)
# Agent remembers: "Your name is Bob"
// WRONG: No persistence
const agent = createAgent({ model: "anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5", tools: [search] });
await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "I'm Bob" }] });
await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "What's my name?" }] });
// Agent doesn't remember!
// CORRECT: Add checkpointer and thread_id
import { MemorySaver } from "@langchain/langgraph";
const agent = createAgent({
model: "anthropic:claude-sonnet-4-5",
tools: [search],
checkpointer: new MemorySaver(),
});
const config = { configurable: { thread_id: "session-1" } };
await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "I'm Bob" }] }, config);
await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "What's my name?" }] }, config);
// Agent remembers: "Your name is Bob"
# WRONG: No iteration limit - could loop forever
result = agent.invoke({"messages": [("user", "Do research")]})
# CORRECT: Set recursion_limit in config
result = agent.invoke(
{"messages": [("user", "Do research")]},
config={"recursion_limit": 10}, # Stop after 10 steps
)
// WRONG: No iteration limit
const result = await agent.invoke({ messages: [["user", "Do research"]] });
// CORRECT: Set recursionLimit in config
const result = await agent.invoke(
{ messages: [["user", "Do research"]] },
{ recursionLimit: 10 }, // Stop after 10 steps
);
# WRONG: Trying to access result.content directly
result = agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]})
print(result.content) # AttributeError!
# CORRECT: Access messages from result dict
result = agent.invoke({"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]})
print(result["messages"][-1].content) # Last message content
// WRONG: Trying to access result.content directly
const result = await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }] });
console.log(result.content); // undefined!
// CORRECT: Access messages from result object
const result = await agent.invoke({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }] });
console.log(result.messages[result.messages.length - 1].content); // Last message content
FAQ
What does the langchain-fundamentals skill do?
Create LangChain agents with createagent, define tools, and use middleware for human-in-the-loop and error handling.
How do I install langchain-fundamentals?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/langchain-ai/langchain-skills --skill langchain-fundamentals in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/langchain-fundamentals/ (personal) or .claude/skills/langchain-fundamentals/ (project).
Which AI agents can use langchain-fundamentals?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is langchain-fundamentals safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; Runlayer passed; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains langchain-fundamentals?
It is published by langchain-ai in langchain-ai/langchain-skills, and it is an official skill from the maker of the technology it covers. It has 17,474 recorded installs.
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