Tool Use (Function Calling)
A LLM's ability to call external functions (read a file, do a web search, execute code) instead of just responding in text. This is what turns a chat into an agent.
Strengths
- Extends LLM capabilities far beyond its training knowledge
Limitations
- Each tool call consumes additional tokens, monitor costs on long pipelines
Best for
- Understanding how AI agents read files, execute code, and browse the web