# Episodic Memory

> Memory organized around events, interactions, runs, or user sessions.

- Category: Context & Memory
- Stage: Emerging
- Also called: Session memory, Experience memory
- Canonical: https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/episodic-memory

## Plain English

It remembers what happened, not just what is generally true.

## Example

A research agent stores the path it took through sources and the dead ends it ruled out.

## Why it matters

Episodic memory helps agents resume work and explain why they made earlier decisions.

## Related

- [Semantic Memory](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/semantic-memory)
- [Trace](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/trace)
- [Long-Running Agent](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/long-running-agent)

## Sources

- [LangChain: Long-Term Memory](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/python/deepagents/long-term-memory)
- [Anthropic: Effective Harnesses](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/effective-harnesses-for-long-running-agents)