AI coding glossary
Subagent
Also known as: sub-agent, claude code subagent
In one sentence
An isolated, parallel AI agent spawned by a parent agent for a specific specialized task, each with its own context window and tool access.
Full definition
A subagent (or sub-agent) is an isolated AI agent that a parent agent spawns to handle a specialized task in parallel. Each subagent has its own context window, system prompt, and tool access, so they don't compete for context with the parent or each other. Subagents are the foundation of agent teams in Claude Code (native sub-agents, 2025+), Google Antigravity 2.0 (multi-agent architecture, May 2026 launch), and Cursor (via Composer). Use them to fan out work: one implements, one tests, one reviews, one ships, in parallel where possible.
On skills-hub.ai
Related terms
Agent Teams
A pattern where multiple specialized AI subagents collaborate on a task, typically implementing, testing, revi…
Claude Code
Anthropic's terminal-native AI coding agent with sub-agents, scheduled tasks, voice mode, and first-class MCP …
Composition Skill
A SKILL.md that chains multiple skills into an agent team or pipeline, implement → test → review → ship as a s…
Skill (Agent Skill)
A reusable, versioned, natural-language instruction set for AI coding assistants, packaged as a SKILL.md file …