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

# Tools Overview

> Extend your agents with powerful tools and integrations

Tools are the building blocks that give your agents the ability to interact with external systems, process data, and perform complex operations. PLai Framework supports various tool types, each designed for specific use cases.

## Available Tool Types

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Agent Tool" href="/tools/agents">
    Trigger another agent as a tool
    <Badge variant="default">Default</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="Workflow" href="/tools/workflow">
    Run a predefined workflow with custom input
    <Badge variant="default">Default</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Request" href="/tools/api-requests">
    Make HTTP requests to any REST API with full configuration control
    <Badge variant="default">Default</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email" href="/tools/email">
    Send email messages through configured providers
    <Badge variant="default">Default</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="Perplexity AI" href="/tools/perplexity-ai">
    Web search and research capabilities powered by Perplexity AI
    <Badge variant="pro">Pro</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="Web Search & Browser" href="/tools/browser-tool">
    Web scraping and browser automation with ScraperAPI integration
    <Badge variant="default">Default</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="Office Documents" href="/tools/office-documents">
    Generate and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents
    <Badge variant="default">Default</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="External Data Source" href="/tools/external-datasource">
    Connect to external databases and data sources
    <Badge variant="pro">Pro</Badge>
  </Card>

  <Card title="MCP Server" href="/tools/mcp-servers">
    Connect to Model Context Protocol servers for extended functionality
    <Badge variant="preview">Preview</Badge>
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Tool Status Levels

Understanding tool maturity helps you make informed decisions:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Default">
    * **Production Ready**: Thoroughly tested and stable
    * **Full Support**: Complete documentation and support
    * **All Plans**: Available on all subscription tiers
    * **Examples**: Agent Tool, Workflow, API Request, Email, Browser, Office Documents
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Pro">
    * **Advanced Features**: Enhanced capabilities for premium users
    * **Pro Plans Only**: Requires professional subscription
    * **Priority Support**: Dedicated support channels
    * **Examples**: Perplexity AI, External Datasource
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Preview">
    * **Preview Release**: Nearly ready for production
    * **Feedback Welcome**: Share your experience
    * **Limited Changes**: Minor adjustments possible
    * **Examples**: MCP Server
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Tool Categories

### Agent Orchestration

Tools that enable agents to work together and manage workflows:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Agent Tool">
    **Purpose**: Trigger another agent as a tool

    **Key Features**:

    * Call agents from other agents
    * Pass structured input and receive output
    * Reuse agent logic across workflows
    * Support for agent-to-agent communication

    **Use Cases**:

    * Complex problem decomposition
    * Specialized agent routing
    * Multi-agent collaboration
    * Task delegation between agents
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Workflow Tool">
    **Purpose**: Execute predefined workflows with custom input

    **Key Features**:

    * Run multi-step workflows from agents
    * Pass input parameters and receive results
    * Wait for workflow completion
    * Integrate workflow logic into agents

    **Use Cases**:

    * Complex process automation
    * Multi-step data processing
    * Workflow orchestration
    * Agent-triggered automation
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Communication Tools

Tools that enable agents to interact with external services and send messages:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="API Request Tool">
    **Purpose**: Connect to any REST API endpoint

    **Key Features**:

    * Custom HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
    * Flexible header configuration
    * Request body templating
    * Response parsing and handling

    **Use Cases**:

    * CRM integration (Salesforce, HubSpot)
    * Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal)
    * Notification services (Slack, Discord)
    * Custom internal APIs
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Email Tool">
    **Purpose**: Send email messages through configured providers

    **Key Features**:

    * Dynamic recipient specification
    * Rich email content support
    * Multiple provider support
    * Email tracking and logging

    **Use Cases**:

    * Customer notifications
    * Order confirmations
    * Alert emails
    * Follow-up communications
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Perplexity AI Tool">
    **Purpose**: Web search and research capabilities

    **Key Features**:

    * Multiple model options (Sonar, Sonar Pro, Sonar Reasoning)
    * Domain-specific search filtering
    * Real-time web information
    * Citation and source tracking

    **Use Cases**:

    * Market research
    * News and current events
    * Fact-checking
    * Competitive analysis
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Processing Tools

Tools that enable data processing and document generation:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Browser Tool">
    **Purpose**: Web scraping and browser automation

    **Key Features**:

    * ScraperAPI integration for reliable scraping
    * JavaScript rendering support
    * Beautiful Soup for HTML parsing
    * Rate limiting and proxy support

    **Use Cases**:

    * Price monitoring
    * Content extraction
    * Website testing
    * Data collection
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Office Documents Tool">
    **Purpose**: Generate and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents

    **Key Features**:

    * Multiple document type support (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, PDF)
    * Template-based generation
    * Dynamic content population
    * Professional formatting

    **Use Cases**:

    * Report generation
    * Invoice creation
    * Presentation generation
    * Document automation
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Data Tools

Tools that provide access to external data sources and extensibility:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="External Datasource">
    **Purpose**: Connect to databases and data sources

    **Key Features**:

    * Multiple database support (SQL, NoSQL)
    * Secure connection management
    * Query optimization
    * Real-time data access

    **Use Cases**:

    * Customer data lookup
    * Inventory management
    * Analytics and reporting
    * Data synchronization
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="MCP Server">
    **Purpose**: Model Context Protocol server integration

    **Key Features**:

    * Standardized protocol support
    * OAuth and token authentication
    * Remote server connections
    * Extensible architecture

    **Use Cases**:

    * Custom tool development
    * Enterprise integrations
    * Third-party service connections
    * Distributed architectures
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Tool Configuration

### General Configuration Process

All tools follow a similar configuration pattern:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select Tool Type">
    Choose the appropriate tool type for your use case
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Parameters">
    Fill in required and optional configuration parameters
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test Connection">
    Verify the tool works correctly with test inputs
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add to Agent">
    Assign the tool to one or more agents
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor Usage">
    Track tool performance and usage through analytics
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Common Configuration Options

Most tools share these configuration elements:

* **Name**: Human-readable identifier for the tool
* **Description**: Purpose and functionality summary
* **Authentication**: API keys, tokens, or credentials
* **Rate Limits**: Request throttling and usage controls
* **Error Handling**: Retry logic and fallback options
* **Logging**: Activity tracking and debugging info

## Tool Security

### Authentication Methods

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="API Keys" icon="key">
    Simple key-based authentication for most APIs
  </Card>

  <Card title="OAuth 2.0" icon="shield">
    Secure token-based authentication for enterprise APIs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Basic Auth" icon="lock">
    Username/password authentication for legacy systems
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Security Best Practices

<Warning>
  **Credential Security**: Never expose API keys or credentials in tool descriptions or logs.
</Warning>

<Tip>
  **Environment Variables**: Use environment variables or secure vaults for sensitive credentials.
</Tip>

* **Rotate Credentials**: Regularly update API keys and access tokens
* **Minimal Permissions**: Grant only necessary permissions to tools
* **Monitor Usage**: Track tool usage for unusual activity
* **Audit Logs**: Maintain logs of all tool interactions

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Authentication Failures">
    **Symptoms**: 401 or 403 errors, access denied messages

    **Solutions**:

    * Verify API keys and credentials
    * Check permission scopes
    * Confirm rate limits haven't been exceeded
    * Review authentication method configuration
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Connection Timeouts">
    **Symptoms**: Request timeout errors, slow responses

    **Solutions**:

    * Check network connectivity
    * Increase timeout values
    * Implement retry logic
    * Use connection pooling
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Data Format Issues">
    **Symptoms**: Parsing errors, unexpected responses

    **Solutions**:

    * Validate request/response formats
    * Check API documentation
    * Update tool configuration
    * Implement proper error handling
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create Your First Tool" icon="play" href="/tools/api-requests">
    Start with the API Request tool
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tool Configuration Guide" icon="settings" href="/guides/multi-tool-setup">
    Learn advanced tool configuration
  </Card>

  <Card title="Browse All Tools" icon="grid" href="/tools">
    Explore all available tool types
  </Card>

  <Card title="MCP Development" icon="code" href="/tools/mcp-servers">
    Build custom MCP servers
  </Card>
</CardGroup>