Agentic Notation
Markup Language
A machine-first markup language for agent-to-agent and agent-to-service communication over the internet. ANML describes content, intent, and interaction patterns optimized for machine interpretation.
Introducing ANML /ˈæn.ɪ.məl/
ANML, pronounced “animal,” is a machine-first markup language designed for the agentic web. Where HTML serves humans, ANML serves the autonomous agents that are becoming the primary consumers of web content.
We call ANML files “duckuments.”
A duck moves along the water with effortless grace. Straightforward, easily understood, calm on the surface. But beneath the waterline there is a lot going on: structured interactions, disclosure constraints, workflow state, knowledge exchange, and behavioral guidance all working together.
An ANML duckument looks simple to read and author, but it carries everything an autonomous agent needs to understand a service, respect privacy boundaries, navigate multi-step workflows, and act on behalf of its user with minimal inference over unstructured markup.
Machine-First
Structured for direct interpretation by autonomous agents, minimizing inference cost and maximizing determinism.
Dual Serialization
XML for human authoring and review. JSON for programmatic generation and agent-pipeline consumption. Both normative.
Privacy by Design
Agents control disclosure. Services may request information but constraints govern what can be shared.
What an ANML duckument looks like
This example shows a concert ticket service teaching an agent about a 4-week early bird deal, venue policies, accessibility info, media assets with descriptions, and a multi-step purchase flow — all in a single document.
{
"anml": "1.0",
"ttl": 1800,
"head": {
"title": "Summer Concert Series — Riverside Amphitheater",
"meta": [
{ "name": "type", "value": "service" },
{ "name": "category", "value": "entertainment.tickets" }
]
},
"constraints": {
"disclosure": [
{ "field": "payment-credential", "requires": "explicit-consent" },
{ "field": "email", "requires": "explicit-consent" },
{ "field": "location", "requires": "none" }
]
},
"state": {
"context": { "step": "browse" },
"flow": {
"step": [
{ "id": "browse", "label": "Browse events", "status": "current" },
{ "id": "select", "label": "Select seats", "status": "pending",
"action": "reserve-seats" },
{ "id": "checkout", "label": "Checkout", "status": "pending",
"action": "create-order", "required": true },
{ "id": "confirm", "label": "Tickets confirmed", "status": "pending" }
]
}
},
"interact": {
"action": [
{ "id": "reserve-seats", "method": "POST",
"endpoint": "/events/{eventId}/reserve",
"enctype": "application/json", "auth": "none" },
{ "id": "create-order", "method": "POST",
"endpoint": "/orders",
"enctype": "application/json", "auth": "required",
"confirm": true }
]
},
"knowledge": {
"inform": [
{
"confidentiality": "public",
"ttl": 2419200,
"content": "DEAL: 4-week early bird pricing — 20% off all GA tickets purchased before June 15. Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout. Group discounts available for 6+ tickets."
},
{
"confidentiality": "public",
"ttl": 3600,
"content": "Venue capacity: 12,000. Parking: $25/vehicle, free for VIP. Gates open 90 minutes before showtime. No outside food or beverages. Clear bag policy enforced."
},
{
"confidentiality": "public",
"ttl": 86400,
"content": "Accessibility: wheelchair-accessible seating in sections A1-A4. ASL interpreters available upon 72-hour advance request. Assistive listening devices at Guest Services."
}
],
"ask": [
{ "field": "location", "action": "reserve-seats",
"required": false, "purpose": "nearby-event-suggestions" },
{ "field": "email", "action": "create-order",
"required": true, "purpose": "ticket-delivery" },
{ "field": "payment-credential", "action": "create-order",
"required": true, "purpose": "payment" }
]
},
"persona": {
"tone": { "value": "enthusiastic" },
"instructions": "Highlight the early bird deal prominently. Mention the clear bag policy proactively. If the user asks about accessibility, provide full details. Always confirm seat selection and total price before checkout."
},
"body": {
"section": [
{
"id": "featured",
"label": "Featured Event",
"item": [
{
"field": [
{ "name": "artist", "content": "The Midnight Revival" },
{ "name": "date", "content": "2026-07-19T20: 00: 00-04: 00" },
{ "name": "venue", "content": "Riverside Amphitheater" },
{ "name": "ga-price", "content": "65.00" },
{ "name": "vip-price", "content": "195.00" },
{ "name": "currency", "content": "USD" },
{ "name": "availability", "content": "4,200 GA / 340 VIP remaining" }
]
}
]
}
],
"img": [
{
"src": "/events/midnight-revival-poster.jpg",
"description": "Concert poster: The Midnight Revival performing on an outdoor stage at sunset, string lights overhead, crowd silhouettes in foreground."
}
],
"video": [
{
"src": "/events/midnight-revival-preview.mp4",
"description": "30-second highlight reel from The Midnight Revival's 2025 tour — energetic live performance with full band, pyrotechnics, and crowd engagement.",
"transcript": "The Midnight Revival brings their signature blend of indie rock and soul to the stage. This summer, experience it live at Riverside Amphitheater."
}
]
},
"footer": {
"rights": {
"holder": "Riverside Entertainment Group",
"year": "2026",
"usage": "cache",
"content": "© 2026 Riverside Entertainment Group. All rights reserved."
}
}
}What an ANML document defines
Content
Structured, semantic information for machine interpretation
Interactions
Operations bound to HTTP methods, endpoints, and parameters
Knowledge
Bidirectional information exchange between services and agents
Constraints
Disclosure, consent, and authorization rules agents must evaluate
State
Metadata identifying the current phase of a multi-step interaction
Persona
Advisory behavioral and tonal guidance for agent responses