# Agent computers explained

What an agent computer is, how it differs from a sandbox or a VPS, and what it keeps between sessions.

## Pages

- [What is an agent computer? Sandbox vs Computer vs VPS](https://sanbox.cloud/kb/agent-computers/what-is-an-agent-computer.md): An agent computer is a persistent, isolated machine that an AI agent owns. It differs from a short-lived code sandbox and from a VPS that you run and maintain yourself.
- [Persistent vs ephemeral sandboxes for AI agents: which do I need?](https://sanbox.cloud/kb/agent-computers/persistent-vs-ephemeral-sandboxes.md): Use an ephemeral sandbox for one-shot code execution. Use a persistent computer when the agent must keep files, packages, browser logins or services between sessions.
- [What survives when an agent's computer stops?](https://sanbox.cloud/kb/agent-computers/what-survives-a-stop.md): On Sanbox, a stop keeps the disk: /workspace, installed packages, Docker images and the browser profile. RAM, running processes, connections and exec commands end.
- [Container, microVM or VM: which isolation for coding agents?](https://sanbox.cloud/kb/agent-computers/container-microvm-or-vm-for-coding-agents.md): Containers share the host kernel. MicroVMs such as Firecracker give each workload its own kernel behind hardware virtualisation. Full VMs do too, with more weight.