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Python: Bug: OrchestrationHandoffs() using agent names ignores description #13115

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Description

@alanlt13

Describe the bug
The examples Handoff Orchestration use agent names (as opposed to passing in the agents themselves).

Please reference: OrchestrationHandoffs::add():
python/semantic_kernel/agents/orchestration/handoffs.py

description=description or target_agent.description or "" if isinstance(target_agent, Agent) else "",

If you don't pass in an agent, then this line just passes "" to self._add()

It looks like there may be similar issues in add_many(). Also, the interface feels awkward taking both list[str | Agent]. This behavior isn't documented anywhere.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:
Create a handoff using agent names like the examples (not agents). Then just pprint the handoff. You will see the handoff mapping, but the descriptioin is missing.

Expected behavior
I expect the handoffs to include the description passed in during OrchestrationHandoffs initialization.

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Additional context
Add any other context about the problem here.

Activity

  1. added theissue type on Sep 12, 2025
  2. changed the title [-]Bug: OrchestrationHandoffs() using agent names ignores description[/-] [+]Python: Bug: OrchestrationHandoffs() using agent names ignores description[/+] on Sep 12, 2025
  3. audricschiltknecht commented on Sep 16, 2025

    @audricschiltknecht

    I've opened PR #13122 for this exact issue.

  4. github-actions commented on Dec 16, 2025

    @github-actions
    Contributor

    This issue is stale because it has been open for 90 days with no activity.

  5. added
    staleIssue is stale because it has been open for a while and has no activity
    on Dec 16, 2025
  6. github-actions commented on Dec 31, 2025

    @github-actions
    Contributor

    This issue was closed because it has been inactive for 14 days since being marked as stale.

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agentsbugSomething isn't workingpythonPull requests for the Python Semantic KernelstaleIssue is stale because it has been open for a while and has no activity

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