Home/AI/Tool Use & Function Calling/Introduction

🔧 Tool Use & Function Calling

Extend LLM capabilities with external tools and function calls

Your Progress

0 / 5 completed
←
Previous Module
ReAct Pattern

Introduction to Tool Use

🎯 What is Function Calling?

Function calling enables language models to interact with external tools, APIs, and databases by generating structured function calls based on natural language inputs. This extends LLM capabilities beyond their training data to real-time information and computational tools.

💡
Key Insight

Function calling transforms LLMs from static text generators into dynamic agents that can retrieve data, perform calculations, and execute actions in real-world systems.

🔄 The Function Calling Flow

1
Define Functions

Describe available tools with schemas (parameters, types, descriptions)

2
User Request

User asks question requiring external data or computation

3
Model Decision

LLM decides which function(s) to call and extracts parameters

4
Execute & Return

System executes function, returns result to model for final response

🌐
API Integration

Weather data, stock prices, web search, maps

🗄️
Database Access

Query records, update entries, analytics

🧮
Computation

Math operations, data processing, conversions

✅ Advantages

  • •Access real-time information
  • •Structured, reliable outputs
  • •Extend beyond training data
  • •Integrate with existing systems

📊 Use Cases

  • •Virtual assistants with actions
  • •Data analysis and reporting
  • •Workflow automation
  • •E-commerce and booking systems