SKILL.md
---
name: agent-framework-azure-ai-py
description: "Build persistent agents on Azure AI Foundry using the Microsoft Agent Framework Python SDK."
risk: unknown
source: community
date_added: "2026-02-27"
---
# Agent Framework Azure Hosted Agents
Build persistent agents on Azure AI Foundry using the Microsoft Agent Framework Python SDK.
## Architecture
```
User Query → AzureAIAgentsProvider → Azure AI Agent Service (Persistent)
↓
Agent.run() / Agent.run_stream()
↓
Tools: Functions | Hosted (Code/Search/Web) | MCP
↓
AgentThread (conversation persistence)
```
## Installation
```bash
# Full framework (recommended)
pip install agent-framework --pre
# Or Azure-specific package only
pip install agent-framework-azure-ai --pre
```
## Environment Variables
```bash
export AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT="https://<project>.services.ai.azure.com/api/projects/<project-id>"
export AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME="gpt-4o-mini"
export BING_CONNECTION_ID="your-bing-connection-id" # For web search
```
## Authentication
```python
from azure.identity.aio import AzureCliCredential, DefaultAzureCredential
# Development
credential = AzureCliCredential()
# Production
credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
```
## Core Workflow
### Basic Agent
```python
import asyncio
from agent_framework.azure import AzureAIAgentsProvider
from azure.identity.aio import AzureCliCredential
async def main():
async with (
AzureCliCredential() as credential,
AzureAIAgentsProvider(credential=credential) as provider,
):
agent = await provider.create_agent(
name="MyAgent",
instructions="You are a helpful assistant.",
)
result = await agent.run("Hello!")
print(result.text)
asyncio.run(main())
```
### Agent with Function Tools
```python
from typing import Annotated
from pydantic import Field
from agent_framework.azure i