ADE Components

Core Memory

Manage the agent’s in-context long-term memory

Understanding Core Memory in Letta

Core memory is a fundamental component of Letta’s stateful agent architecture. All agents in Letta maintain structured memory that persists across conversations and can be dynamically updated as new information is discovered.

Memory Blocks: The Foundation of Stateful Agent Memory

Core memory is comprised of memory blocks - text segments that are:

  1. Pinned to the context window: Always visible to the agent during interactions
  2. Structured and labeled: Can be organized by purpose (e.g., “human”, “persona”, “planning”)
  3. Editable by the agent: Can be updated as new information is discovered
  4. Can be shared between agents: Agents can share memory blocks with other agents, allowing for dynamic updates and broadcasts

These memory blocks form the agent’s persistent knowledge base, storing everything from user preferences to the agent’s own self-concept.

Default Memory Blocks

Letta agents typically start with two core memory blocks:

Human Memory Block

The human memory block stores information about the user(s) the agent interacts with:

The human's name is Sarah Johnson.
Sarah is a product manager at a tech company.
Sarah prefers concise, direct communication with specific examples.
Sarah is interested in AI ethics and sustainable technology.
Sarah has two children and enjoys hiking on weekends.

This information helps the agent personalize interactions and remember important facts about the user across conversations.

Persona Memory Block

The persona memory block defines the agent’s identity, personality, and capabilities:

I am Sam, a helpful AI built to assist with product management tasks.
I have expertise in agile methodologies, roadmap planning, and stakeholder communication.
I maintain a professional, supportive tone while providing actionable insights.
I should ask clarifying questions when requirements are ambiguous.
I was created by Letta to help product managers streamline their workflow.

This self-concept guides how the agent perceives itself and shapes its interactions with users.

Managing Core Memory in the ADE

The ADE provides a dedicated interface for viewing and editing core memory blocks:

Viewing Memory Blocks

In the right panel of the ADE, the Core Memory section displays:

  • A list of all memory blocks attached to the agent
  • The current content of each memory block
  • The number of characters in each block (which must be under a configurable limit)

You can expand each memory block to view its complete content, which is especially useful for longer memory structures.

Editing Memory Blocks

To edit a memory block:

  1. Click on the memory block you want to modify
  2. Use the built-in editor to update the content
  3. Click “Save” to commit the changes

Changes take effect immediately and will influence the agent’s behavior in subsequent interactions.

Creating New Memory Blocks

To create a new memory block:

  1. Click block icon to open the advanced editor in the Core Memory section
  2. Click the + button to add a new block
  3. Provide a name for the block (e.g., “knowledge”, “planning”, “preferences”)
  4. Enter the initial content for the block
  5. Click “Create” to add the block to the agent

Custom memory blocks allow you to structure the agent’s memory according to your specific needs.

Core Memory in Action

When an agent interacts with users, it can dynamically update its core memory to reflect new information. For example:

  1. A user mentions they’re allergic to nuts during a conversation
  2. The agent recognizes this as important information
  3. The agent calls the core_memory_append or core_memory_replace tool
  4. The agent adds “The human has a nut allergy” to the human memory block
  5. This information persists for future conversations

This dynamic memory management allows agents to build and maintain a rich understanding of user preferences, facts, and context over time.

Memory Tools

Letta provides several built-in tools for agents to manage their own memory:

  • core_memory_replace: Replace the entire content of a memory block
  • core_memory_append: Add new information to the end of a memory block

Agents can use these tools to maintain accurate and up-to-date memory as they learn more about the user and their environment.

Memory Block Length Limits

Because core memory blocks are kept in the context window at all times, they have length limits to prevent excessive token usage:

  • Default block length limit: 2,000 characters per block
  • Customizable: You can adjust limits in the ADE or via the API by opening the advanced memory editor
  • Exceeded limits: If an agent tries to exceed the limit, the operation will throw an error (visible to the agent)

The ADE displays the current character count and limit for each memory block to help you manage token usage effectively.

For more details on advanced memory management capabilities, see the Memory Management guide.