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Tools

The Role of Tools​

Tools are external services, APIs, or modules that an AI agent can use to perform actions, retrieve information, or manipulate data.

Why Tools Matter​

AI agents are powerful because they can go beyond language understanding—they can take real actions in the world. Tools are the bridge between the agent's reasoning and real-world effects.

How do Dexto Agents use Tools?​

Dexto agents use tools from MCP servers - MCP servers define the tools, dexto uses them.

Examples of Tools in Dexto​

  • Filesystem Tool: Read, write, or search files on your computer.
  • Web Browser Tool: Automate web browsing, scraping, or form submissions.
  • Email Tool: Read, summarize, or send emails.
  • Slack Tool: Post messages, retrieve channels, or automate notifications.
  • Custom Tools: Any API or service you connect via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

How Tools Work​

  • Tools are registered with Dexto agents via MCP configuration (see the Configuration docs).
  • When you give a natural language command, the agent decides which tools to use and in what order.
  • The agent can chain multiple tools together to accomplish complex tasks.

Example:

"Find all PDF files in my Downloads folder and email them to me."

  • The Dexto agent uses the Filesystem Tool to search for PDFs.
  • Then uses the Email Tool to send them—all automatically.

Extending with Your Own Tools​

Dexto agents are extensible: you can add your own tools by implementing an MCP server or connecting to existing APIs. This lets you automate anything you can describe and connect.