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Core Concepts of Agentforce Context Protocol

To effectively leverage the Agentforce Context Protocol (ACP), it’s important to understand its fundamental building blocks and how they interact. This section provides an overview of these core concepts, each of which will be explored in more detail on subsequent pages. Think of these concepts as the essential vocabulary and architectural pillars that enable ACP to provide a standardized, secure, and extensible way for Agentforce agents to interact with enterprise systems.

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Key Architectural Components

ACP’s architecture is designed to be modular and flexible. Here are the main components you’ll encounter:

ACP Registry

Learn about the central registry that manages and provides access to available Connectors and their capabilities.

Connectors

Understand “Connectors,” the components responsible for interfacing with specific external systems (like Salesforce, Slack, Google Workspace).

Tools

Discover “Tools,” the specific, invokable actions an AI agent can perform via a Connector (e.g., get_contact_details, post_message_to_channel).

Request/Response Flow

Explore the typical lifecycle of an ACP interaction, from an agent’s request to invoke a tool to the structured response it receives.

Security Model

Delve into ACP’s approach to security, including authentication, authorization, and data protection within the context of AI agent interactions.

Extensibility

Learn how ACP is designed to be extended, allowing developers to add new Connectors, Tools, and capabilities.

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Why Understanding These Concepts Matters

A solid grasp of these core concepts will empower you to:
  • Effectively configure ACP: Set up Connectors and enable the right Tools for your Agentforce agents.
  • Develop robust Agentforce agents: Design agents that can intelligently leverage ACP’s capabilities.
  • Troubleshoot issues: Quickly identify and resolve problems by understanding the underlying mechanics.
  • Extend ACP: Confidently add new functionalities or integrate new systems.
Click on any of the cards above to dive deeper into each core concept.