04
Stateless vs. Stateful: Complete Deep Dive
The most fundamental architecture decision in LLM systems: does the server remember anything between requests? This choice affects scaling, cost, reliability, and user experience.
Core definitions
| Concept | Stateless | Stateful |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Server treats every request independently. No memory of previous requests. All context must be passed with each request | Server maintains state between requests. Remembers previous interactions, user context, and intermediate results |
| Where state lives | Client sends full context every time (or external store queried on-demand) | Server process holds state in memory across requests |
| Analogy | A restaurant where you show your ticket every time you order | A bartender who remembers your usual drink |
The LLM is inherently stateless — your architecture adds state
Critical Insight: The LLM is Stateless. Every LLM API call is independent. The model has NO memory between calls. "Conversations" are an illusion created by YOUR code resending the history.
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