Skip to content

Time travel

In a typical chatbot workflow, the user interacts with the bot one or more times to accomplish a task. Memory and a human-in-the-loop enable checkpoints in the graph state and control future responses.

What if you want a user to be able to start from a previous response and explore a different outcome? Or what if you want users to be able to rewind your chatbot's work to fix mistakes or try a different strategy, something that is common in applications like autonomous software engineers?

You can create these types of experiences using LangGraph's built-in time travel functionality.

Note

This tutorial builds on Customize state.

1. Rewind your graph

Rewind your graph by fetching a checkpoint using the graph's get_state_history method. You can then resume execution at this previous point in time.

pip install -U "langchain[openai]"

import os
from langchain.chat_models import init_chat_model

os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = "sk-..."

llm = init_chat_model("openai:gpt-4.1")


pip install -U "langchain[anthropic]"

import os
from langchain.chat_models import init_chat_model

os.environ["ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"] = "sk-..."

llm = init_chat_model("anthropic:claude-3-5-sonnet-latest")


pip install -U "langchain[openai]"

import os
from langchain.chat_models import init_chat_model

os.environ["AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY"] = "..."
os.environ["AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"] = "..."
os.environ["OPENAI_API_VERSION"] = "2025-03-01-preview"

llm = init_chat_model(
    "azure_openai:gpt-4.1",
    azure_deployment=os.environ["AZURE_OPENAI_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
)


pip install -U "langchain[google-genai]"

import os
from langchain.chat_models import init_chat_model

os.environ["GOOGLE_API_KEY"] = "..."

llm = init_chat_model("google_genai:gemini-2.0-flash")


pip install -U "langchain[aws]"

from langchain.chat_models import init_chat_model

# Follow the steps here to configure your credentials:
# https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/getting-started.html

llm = init_chat_model(
    "anthropic.claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620-v1:0",
    model_provider="bedrock_converse",
)

API Reference: TavilySearch | BaseMessage | MemorySaver | StateGraph | START | END | add_messages | ToolNode | tools_condition

from typing import Annotated

from langchain_tavily import TavilySearch
from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage
from typing_extensions import TypedDict

from langgraph.checkpoint.memory import MemorySaver
from langgraph.graph import StateGraph, START, END
from langgraph.graph.message import add_messages
from langgraph.prebuilt import ToolNode, tools_condition

class State(TypedDict):
    messages: Annotated[list, add_messages]

graph_builder = StateGraph(State)

tool = TavilySearch(max_results=2)
tools = [tool]
llm_with_tools = llm.bind_tools(tools)

def chatbot(state: State):
    return {"messages": [llm_with_tools.invoke(state["messages"])]}

graph_builder.add_node("chatbot", chatbot)

tool_node = ToolNode(tools=[tool])
graph_builder.add_node("tools", tool_node)

graph_builder.add_conditional_edges(
    "chatbot",
    tools_condition,
)
graph_builder.add_edge("tools", "chatbot")
graph_builder.add_edge(START, "chatbot")

memory = MemorySaver()
graph = graph_builder.compile(checkpointer=memory)

2. Add steps

Add steps to your graph. Every step will be checkpointed in its state history:

config = {"configurable": {"thread_id": "1"}}
events = graph.stream(
    {
        "messages": [
            {
                "role": "user",
                "content": (
                    "I'm learning LangGraph. "
                    "Could you do some research on it for me?"
                ),
            },
        ],
    },
    config,
    stream_mode="values",
)
for event in events:
    if "messages" in event:
        event["messages"][-1].pretty_print()

================================ Human Message =================================

I'm learning LangGraph. Could you do some research on it for me?
================================== Ai Message ==================================

[{'text': "Certainly! I'd be happy to research LangGraph for you. To get the most up-to-date and accurate information, I'll use the Tavily search engine to look this up. Let me do that for you now.", 'type': 'text'}, {'id': 'toolu_01BscbfJJB9EWJFqGrN6E54e', 'input': {'query': 'LangGraph latest information and features'}, 'name': 'tavily_search_results_json', 'type': 'tool_use'}]
Tool Calls:
  tavily_search_results_json (toolu_01BscbfJJB9EWJFqGrN6E54e)
 Call ID: toolu_01BscbfJJB9EWJFqGrN6E54e
  Args:
    query: LangGraph latest information and features
================================= Tool Message =================================
Name: tavily_search_results_json

[{"url": "https://blockchain.news/news/langchain-new-features-upcoming-events-update", "content": "LangChain, a leading platform in the AI development space, has released its latest updates, showcasing new use cases and enhancements across its ecosystem. According to the LangChain Blog, the updates cover advancements in LangGraph Platform, LangSmith's self-improving evaluators, and revamped documentation for LangGraph."}, {"url": "https://blog.langchain.dev/langgraph-platform-announce/", "content": "With these learnings under our belt, we decided to couple some of our latest offerings under LangGraph Platform. LangGraph Platform today includes LangGraph Server, LangGraph Studio, plus the CLI and SDK. ... we added features in LangGraph Server to deliver on a few key value areas. Below, we'll focus on these aspects of LangGraph Platform."}]
================================== Ai Message ==================================

Thank you for your patience. I've found some recent information about LangGraph for you. Let me summarize the key points:

1. LangGraph is part of the LangChain ecosystem, which is a leading platform in AI development.

2. Recent updates and features of LangGraph include:

   a. LangGraph Platform: This seems to be a cloud-based version of LangGraph, though specific details weren't provided in the search results.
...
3. Keep an eye on LangGraph Platform developments, as cloud-based solutions often provide an easier starting point for learners.
4. Consider how LangGraph fits into the broader LangChain ecosystem, especially its interaction with tools like LangSmith.

Is there any specific aspect of LangGraph you'd like to know more about? I'd be happy to do a more focused search on particular features or use cases.
Output is truncated. View as a scrollable element or open in a text editor. Adjust cell output settings...

events = graph.stream(
    {
        "messages": [
            {
                "role": "user",
                "content": (
                    "Ya that's helpful. Maybe I'll "
                    "build an autonomous agent with it!"
                ),
            },
        ],
    },
    config,
    stream_mode="values",
)
for event in events:
    if "messages" in event:
        event["messages"][-1].pretty_print()

================================ Human Message =================================

Ya that's helpful. Maybe I'll build an autonomous agent with it!
================================== Ai Message ==================================

[{'text': "That's an exciting idea! Building an autonomous agent with LangGraph is indeed a great application of this technology. LangGraph is particularly well-suited for creating complex, multi-step AI workflows, which is perfect for autonomous agents. Let me gather some more specific information about using LangGraph for building autonomous agents.", 'type': 'text'}, {'id': 'toolu_01QWNHhUaeeWcGXvA4eHT7Zo', 'input': {'query': 'Building autonomous agents with LangGraph examples and tutorials'}, 'name': 'tavily_search_results_json', 'type': 'tool_use'}]
Tool Calls:
  tavily_search_results_json (toolu_01QWNHhUaeeWcGXvA4eHT7Zo)
 Call ID: toolu_01QWNHhUaeeWcGXvA4eHT7Zo
  Args:
    query: Building autonomous agents with LangGraph examples and tutorials
================================= Tool Message =================================
Name: tavily_search_results_json

[{"url": "https://towardsdatascience.com/building-autonomous-multi-tool-agents-with-gemini-2-0-and-langgraph-ad3d7bd5e79d", "content": "Building Autonomous Multi-Tool Agents with Gemini 2.0 and LangGraph | by Youness Mansar | Jan, 2025 | Towards Data Science Building Autonomous Multi-Tool Agents with Gemini 2.0 and LangGraph A practical tutorial with full code examples for building and running multi-tool agents Towards Data Science LLMs are remarkable — they can memorize vast amounts of information, answer general knowledge questions, write code, generate stories, and even fix your grammar. In this tutorial, we are going to build a simple LLM agent that is equipped with four tools that it can use to answer a user’s question. This Agent will have the following specifications: Follow Published in Towards Data Science --------------------------------- Your home for data science and AI. Follow Follow Follow"}, {"url": "https://github.com/anmolaman20/Tools_and_Agents", "content": "GitHub - anmolaman20/Tools_and_Agents: This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph. This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph. This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph. This repository serves as a comprehensive guide for building AI-powered agents using Langchain and Langgraph. It provides hands-on examples, practical tutorials, and resources for developers and AI enthusiasts to master building intelligent systems and workflows. AI Agent Development: Gain insights into creating intelligent systems that think, reason, and adapt in real time. This repository is ideal for AI practitioners, developers exploring language models, or anyone interested in building intelligent systems. This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph."}]
================================== Ai Message ==================================

Great idea! Building an autonomous agent with LangGraph is definitely an exciting project. Based on the latest information I've found, here are some insights and tips for building autonomous agents with LangGraph:

1. Multi-Tool Agents: LangGraph is particularly well-suited for creating autonomous agents that can use multiple tools. This allows your agent to have a diverse set of capabilities and choose the right tool for each task.

2. Integration with Large Language Models (LLMs): You can combine LangGraph with powerful LLMs like Gemini 2.0 to create more intelligent and capable agents. The LLM can serve as the "brain" of your agent, making decisions and generating responses.

3. Workflow Management: LangGraph excels at managing complex, multi-step AI workflows. This is crucial for autonomous agents that need to break down tasks into smaller steps and execute them in the right order.
...
6. Pay attention to how you structure the agent's decision-making process and workflow.
7. Don't forget to implement proper error handling and safety measures, especially if your agent will be interacting with external systems or making important decisions.

Building an autonomous agent is an iterative process, so be prepared to refine and improve your agent over time. Good luck with your project! If you need any more specific information as you progress, feel free to ask.
Output is truncated. View as a scrollable element or open in a text editor. Adjust cell output settings...

3. Replay the full state history

Now that you have added steps to the chatbot, you can replay the full state history to see everything that occurred.

to_replay = None
for state in graph.get_state_history(config):
    print("Num Messages: ", len(state.values["messages"]), "Next: ", state.next)
    print("-" * 80)
    if len(state.values["messages"]) == 6:
        # We are somewhat arbitrarily selecting a specific state based on the number of chat messages in the state.
        to_replay = state

Num Messages:  8 Next:  ()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  7 Next:  ('chatbot',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  6 Next:  ('tools',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  5 Next:  ('chatbot',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  4 Next:  ('__start__',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  4 Next:  ()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  3 Next:  ('chatbot',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  2 Next:  ('tools',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  1 Next:  ('chatbot',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Num Messages:  0 Next:  ('__start__',)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Checkpoints are saved for every step of the graph. This spans invocations so you can rewind across a full thread's history.

Resume from a checkpoint

Resume from the to_replay state, which is after the chatbot node in the second graph invocation. Resuming from this point will call the action node next.

print(to_replay.next)
print(to_replay.config)

('tools',)
{'configurable': {'thread_id': '1', 'checkpoint_ns': '', 'checkpoint_id': '1efd43e3-0c1f-6c4e-8006-891877d65740'}}

4. Load a state from a moment-in-time

The checkpoint's to_replay.config contains a checkpoint_id timestamp. Providing this checkpoint_id value tells LangGraph's checkpointer to load the state from that moment in time.

# The `checkpoint_id` in the `to_replay.config` corresponds to a state we've persisted to our checkpointer.
for event in graph.stream(None, to_replay.config, stream_mode="values"):
    if "messages" in event:
        event["messages"][-1].pretty_print()

================================== Ai Message ==================================

[{'text': "That's an exciting idea! Building an autonomous agent with LangGraph is indeed a great application of this technology. LangGraph is particularly well-suited for creating complex, multi-step AI workflows, which is perfect for autonomous agents. Let me gather some more specific information about using LangGraph for building autonomous agents.", 'type': 'text'}, {'id': 'toolu_01QWNHhUaeeWcGXvA4eHT7Zo', 'input': {'query': 'Building autonomous agents with LangGraph examples and tutorials'}, 'name': 'tavily_search_results_json', 'type': 'tool_use'}]
Tool Calls:
  tavily_search_results_json (toolu_01QWNHhUaeeWcGXvA4eHT7Zo)
 Call ID: toolu_01QWNHhUaeeWcGXvA4eHT7Zo
  Args:
    query: Building autonomous agents with LangGraph examples and tutorials
================================= Tool Message =================================
Name: tavily_search_results_json

[{"url": "https://towardsdatascience.com/building-autonomous-multi-tool-agents-with-gemini-2-0-and-langgraph-ad3d7bd5e79d", "content": "Building Autonomous Multi-Tool Agents with Gemini 2.0 and LangGraph | by Youness Mansar | Jan, 2025 | Towards Data Science Building Autonomous Multi-Tool Agents with Gemini 2.0 and LangGraph A practical tutorial with full code examples for building and running multi-tool agents Towards Data Science LLMs are remarkable — they can memorize vast amounts of information, answer general knowledge questions, write code, generate stories, and even fix your grammar. In this tutorial, we are going to build a simple LLM agent that is equipped with four tools that it can use to answer a user’s question. This Agent will have the following specifications: Follow Published in Towards Data Science --------------------------------- Your home for data science and AI. Follow Follow Follow"}, {"url": "https://github.com/anmolaman20/Tools_and_Agents", "content": "GitHub - anmolaman20/Tools_and_Agents: This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph. This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph. This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph. This repository serves as a comprehensive guide for building AI-powered agents using Langchain and Langgraph. It provides hands-on examples, practical tutorials, and resources for developers and AI enthusiasts to master building intelligent systems and workflows. AI Agent Development: Gain insights into creating intelligent systems that think, reason, and adapt in real time. This repository is ideal for AI practitioners, developers exploring language models, or anyone interested in building intelligent systems. This repository provides resources for building AI agents using Langchain and Langgraph."}]
================================== Ai Message ==================================

Great idea! Building an autonomous agent with LangGraph is indeed an excellent way to apply and deepen your understanding of the technology. Based on the search results, I can provide you with some insights and resources to help you get started:

1. Multi-Tool Agents:
   LangGraph is well-suited for building autonomous agents that can use multiple tools. This allows your agent to have a variety of capabilities and choose the appropriate tool based on the task at hand.

2. Integration with Large Language Models (LLMs):
   There's a tutorial that specifically mentions using Gemini 2.0 (Google's LLM) with LangGraph to build autonomous agents. This suggests that LangGraph can be integrated with various LLMs, giving you flexibility in choosing the language model that best fits your needs.

3. Practical Tutorials:
   There are tutorials available that provide full code examples for building and running multi-tool agents. These can be invaluable as you start your project, giving you a concrete starting point and demonstrating best practices.
...

Remember, building an autonomous agent is an iterative process. Start simple and gradually increase complexity as you become more comfortable with LangGraph and its capabilities.

Would you like more information on any specific aspect of building your autonomous agent with LangGraph?
Output is truncated. View as a scrollable element or open in a text editor. Adjust cell output settings...

The graph resumed execution from the action node. You can tell this is the case since the first value printed above is the response from our search engine tool.

Congratulations! You've now used time-travel checkpoint traversal in LangGraph. Being able to rewind and explore alternative paths opens up a world of possibilities for debugging, experimentation, and interactive applications.

Learn more

Take your LangGraph journey further by exploring deployment and advanced features: