--- layout: docs page_title: 'Commands: Agent' sidebar_current: docs-commands-agent description: >- The `consul agent` command is the heart of Consul: it runs the agent that performs the important task of maintaining membership information, running checks, announcing services, handling queries, etc. --- # Consul Agent The `consul agent` command is the heart of Consul: it runs the agent that performs the important task of maintaining membership information, running checks, announcing services, handling queries, etc. Due to the power and flexibility of this command, the Consul agent is documented in its own section. See the [Consul Agent](/docs/agent/basics.html) section for more information on how to use this command and the options it has.