Tool categories
Building agent systems involves three main categories of tools.
Protocol-based tools
Protocol-based tools use standardized protocols for agent-to-tool communication:
MCP tools
– Open standard tools that work across frameworks with both local and remote execution options. OpenAI function calling
– Proprietary tools that are specific to OpenAI models. Anthropic tool use
– A variation on OpenAI function calling for proprietary tools specific to Anthropic Claude models.
Framework-native tools
Framework-native tools are built directly into specific agent frameworks:
Strands Agents tools – Lightweight, quick-to-implement tools that are specific to the Strands Agents framework.
LangChain tools – Python-based tools that are tightly integrated with the LangChain ecosystem.
LlamaIndex tools – Tools that are optimized for data retrieval and processing within LlamaIndex.
Meta-tools
Meta-tools enhance agent workflows without directly taking external actions:
Workflow tools – Manage agent execution flow, branching logic, and state management.
Agent graph tools – Coordinate multiple agents in complex workflows.
Memory tools – Provide persistent storage and retrieval of information across agent sessions.
Reflection tools – Enable agents to analyze and improve their own performance.
