A2A vs. Other Protocols
Explore the distinctions between A2A and other protocols like MCP and ACP to understand their roles in AI agent communication. Learn how A2A focuses on agent collaboration and coordination, complementing MCP's tool access, and why A2A is becoming the unified standard for cross-platform agent interaction.
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Before we explore A2A’s core components and real examples, it helps to see where it fits in the broader protocol landscape. Different protocols solve problems, and the most capable systems combine them rather than relying on a single approach.
A2A is often mentioned alongside MCP (Model Context Protocol). They sound similar but address different layers. Broadly, today’s protocols fall into two categories:
Context-oriented protocols govern how agents interact with external tools, APIs, and data. MCP belongs here. It lets a model or agent gain new capabilities by connecting to functions, services, and knowledge sources.
Inter-agent protocols govern how agents communicate with one another, exchange structured information, negotiate roles, and collaborate. A2A belongs here. It provides a shared language so multiple agents can coordinate ...