Glossary
Tool use (function calling)
Tool use, also called function calling, is when an AI model asks another program to do something for it, such as search, calculate or send data, and then uses the result.
What it means in practice
It is how assistants move from talking to doing. Give each tool the smallest permission that works and keep a person in charge of anything irreversible.
Example
A model that asks a calendar tool for free slots and then proposes a meeting time.
Term: Model Context Protocol (MCP)Term: AI agentGuide: Connect your assistant with a safe permission listAll terms