The Gateway Model
OpenClaw operates as a "Gateway" between three distinct layers:
- Client Layer: Where you interact (WhatsApp, Discord, WebUI).
- Agent Layer: The reasoning engine (OpenClaw Core + LLM).
- Tool Layer: The execution environment (Skills + Computer Access).
WebSocket Control Plane
All communication between the Gateway and the execution environment happens over a secured WebSocket connection. This allows for real-time updates and streaming of agent logs directly to your chat interface.
Media Pipeline: OpenClaw handles images, audio, and video through a specialized media
pipeline that optimizes content for LLM ingestion.