---
title: "Memory"
icon: memory
---

<Card title="What is Memory?" icon="memory">
  The CAMEL Memory module gives your AI agents a flexible, persistent way to **store, retrieve, and manage information**, across any conversation or task.

  With memory, agents can maintain context, recall key details from previous chats, and deliver much more coherent, context-aware responses.

  Memory is what transforms a “chatbot” into a smart, adaptable assistant.
</Card>

<Card title="Basic Usage: LongtermAgentMemory" icon="star-shooting">
  This is the fastest way to enable true memory for your agents: store, retrieve, and leverage context across interactions.

  <Tabs>
    <Tab title="Python Example">
      ```python
      from camel.memories import (
          ChatHistoryBlock,
          LongtermAgentMemory,
          MemoryRecord,
          ScoreBasedContextCreator,
          VectorDBBlock,
      )
      from camel.messages import BaseMessage
      from camel.types import ModelType, OpenAIBackendRole
      from camel.utils import OpenAITokenCounter

      # Initialize the memory
      memory = LongtermAgentMemory(
          context_creator=ScoreBasedContextCreator(
              token_counter=OpenAITokenCounter(ModelType.GPT_4O_MINI),
              token_limit=1024,
          ),
          chat_history_block=ChatHistoryBlock(),
          vector_db_block=VectorDBBlock(),
      )

      # Create and write new records
      records = [
          MemoryRecord(
              message=BaseMessage.make_user_message(
                  role_name="User",
                  meta_dict=None,
                  content="What is CAMEL AI?",
              ),
              role_at_backend=OpenAIBackendRole.USER,
          ),
          MemoryRecord(
              message=BaseMessage.make_assistant_message(
                  role_name="Agent",
                  meta_dict=None,
                  content="CAMEL-AI.org is the 1st LLM multi-agent framework and "
                          "an open-source community dedicated to finding the scaling law "
                          "of agents.",
              ),
              role_at_backend=OpenAIBackendRole.ASSISTANT,
          ),
      ]
      memory.write_records(records)

      # Get context for the agent
      context, token_count = memory.get_context()

      print(context)
      print(f"Retrieved context (token count: {token_count}):")
      for message in context:
          print(f"{message}")
      ```
    </Tab>
    <Tab title="Output">
      ```markdown
      >>> Retrieved context (token count: 49):
      {'role': 'user', 'content': 'What is AI?'}
      {'role': 'assistant', 'content': 'AI refers to systems that mimic human intelligence.'}
      ```
    </Tab>
  </Tabs>
</Card>

<Card title="Integrate Memory into a ChatAgent" icon="user-secret">
  Assign memory to any agent and watch your AI recall and reason like a pro.

  <Tabs>
    <Tab title="Python Example">
      ```python
      from camel.agents import ChatAgent

      # Define system message for the agent
      sys_msg = BaseMessage.make_assistant_message(
          role_name='Agent',
          content='You are a curious agent wondering about the universe.',
      )

      # Initialize agent
      agent = ChatAgent(system_message=sys_msg)

      # Set memory to the agent
      agent.memory = memory

      # Define a user message
      usr_msg = BaseMessage.make_user_message(
          role_name='User',
          content="Tell me which is the 1st LLM multi-agent framework based on what we have discussed",
      )

      # Sending the message to the agent
      response = agent.step(usr_msg)

      # Check the response (just for illustrative purpose)
      print(response.msgs[0].content)
      ```
    </Tab>
    <Tab title="Output">
      ```markdown
      >>> CAMEL AI is recognized as the first LLM (Large Language Model) multi-agent framework. It is an open-source community initiative focused on exploring the scaling laws of agents, enabling the development and interaction of multiple AI agents in a collaborative environment. This framework allows researchers and developers to experiment with various configurations and interactions among agents, facilitating advancements in AI capabilities and understanding.
      ```
    </Tab>
  </Tabs>
</Card>

<Card title="Core Components of CAMEL Memory" icon="code">

<AccordionGroup>

  <Accordion title="MemoryRecord" icon="file-signature">
    **What it is:**
    The basic data unit in CAMEL’s memory system—everything stored/retrieved flows through this structure.

    **Attributes:**
    - **message**: The content, as a `BaseMessage`
    - **role_at_backend**: Backend role (`OpenAIBackendRole`)
    - **uuid**: Unique identifier for the record
    - **extra_info**: Optional metadata (key-value pairs)

    **Key methods:**
    - `from_dict()`: Build from a Python dict
    - `to_dict()`: Convert to dict for saving/serialization
    - `to_openai_message()`: Transform into an OpenAI message object
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ContextRecord" icon="folder-grid">
    **What it is:**
    Result of memory retrieval from `AgentMemory`, scored for context relevance.

    **Attributes:**
    - **memory_record**: The original `MemoryRecord`
    - **score**: How important/relevant this record is (float)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="MemoryBlock (Abstract Base Class)" icon="block">
    **What it is:**
    The core “building block” for agent memory, following the Composite design pattern (supports tree structures).

    **Key methods:**
    - `write_records()`: Store multiple records
    - `write_record()`: Store a single record
    - `clear()`: Remove all stored records
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="BaseContextCreator (Abstract Base Class)" icon="shapes">
    **What it is:**
    Defines strategies for generating agent context when data exceeds model limits.

    **Key methods/properties:**
    - `token_counter`: Counts message tokens
    - `token_limit`: Max allowed tokens in the context
    - `create_context()`: Algorithm for building context from chat history
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="AgentMemory (Abstract Base Class)" icon="brain-circuit">
    **What it is:**
    Specialized `MemoryBlock` for direct agent use.

    **Key methods:**
    - `retrieve()`: Get `ContextRecord` list
    - `get_context_creator()`: Return the associated context creator
    - `get_context()`: Return properly sized chat context
  </Accordion>

</AccordionGroup>
</Card>

<Card title="Memory Block Implementations" icon="database">

<AccordionGroup>

  <Accordion title="ChatHistoryBlock" icon="comment-dots">
    **What it does:**
    Stores and retrieves recent chat history (like a conversation timeline).

    **Initialization:**
    - `storage`: Optional (default `InMemoryKeyValueStorage`)
    - `keep_rate`: Historical message score weighting (default `0.9`)

    **Methods:**
    - `retrieve()`: Get recent chats (windowed)
    - `write_records()`: Add new records
    - `clear()`: Remove all chat history

    **Use Case:**
    Best for maintaining the most recent conversation flow/context.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="VectorDBBlock" icon="file-vector">
    **What it does:**
    Uses vector embeddings for storing and retrieving information based on semantic similarity.

    **Initialization:**
    - `storage`: Optional vector DB (`QdrantStorage` by default)
    - `embedding`: Embedding model (default: `OpenAIEmbedding`)

    **Methods:**
    - `retrieve()`: Get similar records based on query/keyword
    - `write_records()`: Add new records (converted to vectors)
    - `clear()`: Remove all vector records

    **Use Case:**
    Ideal for large histories or when semantic search is needed.
  </Accordion>

</AccordionGroup>

<ParamField path="Difference" type="string">
  **Key Differences:**
  - **Storage:** ChatHistoryBlock uses key-value storage. VectorDBBlock uses vector DBs.
  - **Retrieval:** ChatHistoryBlock retrieves by recency. VectorDBBlock retrieves by similarity.
  - **Data:** ChatHistoryBlock stores raw messages. VectorDBBlock stores embeddings.
</ParamField>
</Card>

<Card title="Agent Memory Implementations & Advanced Usage" icon="user-cog">

<Card title="ChatHistoryMemory" icon="comment-dots">
**What is it?**
An **AgentMemory** implementation that wraps `ChatHistoryBlock`.
**Best for:** Sequential, recent chat context (simple conversation memory).

**Initialization:**
- `context_creator`: `BaseContextCreator`
- `storage`: Optional `BaseKeyValueStorage`
- `window_size`: Optional `int` (retrieval window)

**Methods:**
- `retrieve()`: Get recent chat messages
- `write_records()`: Write new records to chat history
- `get_context_creator()`: Get the context creator
- `clear()`: Remove all chat messages
</Card>

<Card title="VectorDBMemory" icon="vector-square">
**What is it?**
An **AgentMemory** implementation that wraps `VectorDBBlock`.
**Best for:** Semantic search—find relevant messages by meaning, not just recency.

**Initialization:**
- `context_creator`: `BaseContextCreator`
- `storage`: Optional `BaseVectorStorage`
- `retrieve_limit`: `int` (default `3`)

**Methods:**
- `retrieve()`: Get relevant messages from the vector DB
- `write_records()`: Write new records and update topic
- `get_context_creator()`: Get the context creator
</Card>

<Card title="LongtermAgentMemory" icon="layer-group">
**What is it?**
Combines **ChatHistoryMemory** and **VectorDBMemory** for hybrid memory.
**Best for:** Production bots that need both recency & semantic search.

**Initialization:**
- `context_creator`: `BaseContextCreator`
- `chat_history_block`: Optional `ChatHistoryBlock`
- `vector_db_block`: Optional `VectorDBBlock`
- `retrieve_limit`: `int` (default `3`)

**Methods:**
- `retrieve()`: Get context from both history & vector DB
- `write_records()`: Write to both chat history & vector DB
- `get_context_creator()`: Get the context creator
- `clear()`: Remove all records from both memory blocks
</Card>

<Card title="Mem0Storage Integration" icon="warehouse">
Add [Mem0](https://mem0.ai/) for cloud-based memory with automatic sync.

**Initialization Params:**
- `api_key`: (optional) Mem0 API authentication
- `agent_id`: (optional) Agent association
- `user_id`: (optional) User association
- `metadata`: (optional) Dict of metadata for all memories

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Python Example">
    ```python
    from camel.memories import ChatHistoryMemory, ScoreBasedContextCreator
    from camel.storages import Mem0Storage
    from camel.types import ModelType
    from camel.utils import OpenAITokenCounter

    memory = ChatHistoryMemory(
        context_creator=ScoreBasedContextCreator(
            token_counter=OpenAITokenCounter(ModelType.GPT_4O_MINI),
            token_limit=1024,
        ),
        storage=Mem0Storage(
            api_key="your_mem0_api_key",  # Or set MEM0_API_KEY env var
            agent_id="agent123"
        ),
        agent_id="agent123"
    )
    # ...write and retrieve as usual...
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Output">
    ```markdown
    >>> Retrieved context (token count: 49):
    {'role': 'user', 'content': 'What is CAMEL AI?'}
    {'role': 'assistant', 'content': 'CAMEL-AI.org is the 1st LLM multi-agent framework and an open-source community dedicated to finding the scaling law of agents.'}
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

**Why use this?**
- Cloud persistence of chat history
- Simple setup and config
- Sequential retrieval—conversation order preserved
- Syncs across sessions automatically

**Use when:** you need reliable, persistent chat history in the cloud (not advanced semantic search).
</Card>
</Card>

<Card title="Advanced Topics" icon="star">

<Card title="Customizing Context Creator" icon="folder-grid">
You can subclass `BaseContextCreator` for advanced control.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Python Example">
    ```python
    from camel.memories import BaseContextCreator

    class MyCustomContextCreator(BaseContextCreator):
        @property
        def token_counter(self):
            # Implement your token counting logic
            return

        @property
        def token_limit(self):
            return 1000

        def create_context(self, records):
            # Implement your context creation logic
            pass
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>
</Card>

<Card title="Customizing VectorDBBlock" icon="database">
You can use custom embeddings or vector DBs.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Python Example">
    ```python
    from camel.embeddings import OpenAIEmbedding
    from camel.memories import VectorDBBlock
    from camel.storages import QdrantStorage

    vector_db = VectorDBBlock(
        embedding=OpenAIEmbedding(),
        storage=QdrantStorage(vector_dim=OpenAIEmbedding().get_output_dim()),
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>
</Card>

<Card title="Performance Considerations" icon="chart-user">
- For production, use persistent storage (not just in-memory).
- Optimize your context creator for both relevance and token count.
</Card>

</Card>