> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.conduit.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Tools & Capabilities

> Give your AI agent the ability to take actions, from booking appointments to updating records.

## Overview

Capabilities are the tools and actions your AI agent can execute during conversations and workflows. While [context integrations](/setting-up-conduit/integrations/context) give your agent knowledge, capabilities let it actually do things: book appointments, update CRM records, send notifications, trigger workflows, and more.

## Tool Types

V3 tools can come from several places:

| Tool type            | What it does                                                               |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Built-in tools**   | Native Conduit capabilities available to specific agents.                  |
| **Connection tools** | Actions exposed by connected apps and integrations.                        |
| **Custom tools**     | Python or JavaScript tools your team writes in Conduit.                    |
| **MCP tools**        | Tools exposed by an MCP server you connect.                                |
| **Workflow tools**   | AI-triggered workflows that can be called as a capability when configured. |

## Managing Tool Access

Use two levels of access:

1. Open **Build > Agents > Tools** to manage workspace defaults for connection tools and custom tools.
2. Open an individual agent and select **Tools** to configure that agent's overrides, built-in tools, connection tools, custom tools, and MCP tools.

<Card title="Tools Reference" icon="wrench" href="/agent-hub/tools">
  Learn how to manage workspace defaults, per-agent access, custom tools, MCP tools, and Operator tool access.
</Card>

## Marketplace Apps

Marketplace apps extend what your AI agents and workflows can do without custom development.

### Categories include:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="CRM" icon="address-book">
    Create contacts, update deals, log activities, and sync records with your CRM.
  </Card>

  <Card title="E-commerce" icon="cart-shopping">
    Look up orders, process returns, check inventory, and manage customer accounts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Project Management" icon="list-check">
    Create tasks, update tickets, assign work, and sync project status.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Communication" icon="paper-plane">
    Send emails, SMS, and notifications through additional platforms.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Data & Analytics" icon="chart-bar">
    Push data to analytics platforms, update spreadsheets, and sync records.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Scheduling" icon="calendar">
    Book meetings, check availability, and manage calendar events.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Connecting Marketplace Tools

1. Open **Build > Marketplace**
2. Browse categories or search for a specific tool
3. Select the tool and follow the authentication prompts
4. Review the connection and tool access before enabling it for agents

<Tip>
  Marketplace tools can be used by AI agents during conversations when the agent has access and determines the tool is relevant. They can also be used as workflow steps when supported.
</Tip>

## Workflow Actions

[Workflows](/workflows/getting-started) extend your AI agent's capabilities with automated sequences of actions triggered by events. Workflow action nodes can:

| Action Category    | Examples                                                                   |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Messaging**      | Send SMS, email, WhatsApp messages, or Slack notifications                 |
| **AI**             | Run AI prompts, inject an AI agent into a conversation, generate responses |
| **Workspace**      | Assign conversations, attach labels, update contact fields                 |
| **Controls**       | Add delays, branch on conditions, wait for events                          |
| **HTTP**           | Send webhooks to external systems                                          |
| **Business Tools** | Create or update records in connected CRM and business platforms           |

<Card title="Workflow Guide" icon="diagram-project" href="/workflows/getting-started">
  Learn how to build automated workflows with triggers, actions, and conditional logic.
</Card>

## Custom Tools

For workflows and processes specific to your business, you can build custom tools that your AI agent can use during conversations.

Custom tools let you define:

* **When** the tool should be used (trigger conditions)
* **What** data to collect from the conversation
* **What action** to perform (API call, record update, notification, etc.)

Custom tools can be enabled as workspace defaults and overridden per agent, giving you fine-grained control over which agents have access to which capabilities.

## Credit Usage

Some tool actions consume credits. Lightweight actions (like updating a contact field) use fewer or no credits, while advanced actions (like AI message generation or voice calls) use more.

For detailed credit costs per action, see [Workflow Usage](/workflows/workflow-usage).