---
title: "What is an agent session log?"
description: "An agent session log is a table of turns, tool calls, and outcomes you can query later."
url: "https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-an-agent-session-log"
updated: "2026-09-29"
vertical: "Agents"
doc: "https://docs.pixeltable.com/overview/quick-start"
---

# What is an agent session log?

An agent session log is a table of turns, tool calls, and outcomes you can query later.

Updated: 2026-09-29
Part of [What is a stateful agent?](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-stateful-agent).

## On this page

- [How it works](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-an-agent-session-log#how-it-works)
- [What it is not](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-an-agent-session-log#what-it-is-not)
- [Comparison](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-an-agent-session-log#comparison)
- [Where Pixeltable fits](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-an-agent-session-log#where-pixeltable-fits)
- [Questions](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-an-agent-session-log#questions)

## How it works {#how-it-works}


- Each turn is a row.
- Tool arguments and results are columns.
- You filter by session, time, or outcome.

## What it is not {#what-it-is-not}

It is not stdout, and it is not a vendor trace you cannot join to your media.

## agent session log: this, and the thing it is confused with {#comparison}

|  | This | Not this |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Form | Rows | A log file |
| Join | To the media the turn used | Impossible from a trace UI |
| Question | What did this session retrieve? | What printed to the console? |

## Where Pixeltable fits {#where-pixeltable-fits}

Pixeltable stores the session as a table. Media the agent touched can be columns on the same row or a parent row.

## Questions {#questions}

### How does agent session log work? {#faq-1}

Each turn is a row. Tool arguments and results are columns. You filter by session, time, or outcome.

### What is agent session log often confused with? {#faq-2}

It is not stdout, and it is not a vendor trace you cannot join to your media.

## In the blog

- [Agents as Data: Why the Session Log Should Be Your System of Record](https://pixeltable.com/blog/agents-as-data-session-log-system-of-record)
- [Where Does the Agent Live?](https://pixeltable.com/blog/where-does-the-agent-live)
- [Your Agent Needs a Data Plane, Not a Dashboard](https://pixeltable.com/blog/agent-data-plane-not-dashboard)

## Related

- [Documentation](https://docs.pixeltable.com/overview/quick-start)
- [Agents as Data: Why the Session Log Should Be Your System of Record](https://pixeltable.com/blog/agents-as-data-session-log-system-of-record)
- [Context Graphs and Decision Traces: Building the Data Plane for Agentic AI](https://pixeltable.com/blog/context-graphs-decision-traces-agentic-ai)
- [AI agents and MCP](https://pixeltable.com/use-cases/ai-agents-mcp)