Tools
Without tools, the model only talks. With tools, it gets things done.
In one sentence
Functions the agent can call to act in the world: search the web, read a file, call an API, send a message. Without tools, the model only talks; with tools, it gets things done.
Before
The model only talks
What it does
Functions that act in the world
After
The agent reads, queries, writes, sends
Example
Without tools, asking "is Ana still in the program?" returns a convincing guess. With a consultar_cadastro(id) tool, it returns what the database says.
The phrase changes from "probably yes" to "yes, enrolled since March 2024".
In practice
- One tool, one responsibility. A tool that does two things creates errors that are hard to trace.
- The tool description works like a prompt: write it so the agent understands when to use it, not just how.
- Every tool that writes to the world needs idempotency and logging.
- Test each one in isolation before handing it to the agent.
How to make it tangible
Named functions, with parameters and a description, exposed to the agent. Each one can be tested in isolation.
Translated from Portuguese with AI assistance.