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Tools allow language models to interact with external systems and perform actions beyond just generating text. In the Playground, you can use two types of tools:
  1. Built-in tools: Pre-configured tools provided by model providers (like OpenAI and Anthropic) that are ready to use. Use built-in tools when you need common capabilities like web search or code interpretation.
  2. Custom tools: Functions you define to perform specific tasks. These are useful when you need to integrate with your own systems or create specialized functionality. When you define custom tools within the Playground, you can verify that the model correctly identifies and calls these tools with the correct arguments.
When you create a custom tool, you can save it to the current prompt only, or save it directly to the workspace-wide tool registry. Saving to the registry also adds the tool to the current prompt.

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Built-in tools

The Playground has native support for a variety of tools from OpenAI and Anthropic. If you want to use a tool that isn’t explicitly listed in the Playground, you can still add it by manually specifying its type and any required arguments.

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OpenAI tools

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Anthropic tools

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Add and use tools

The Playground lets you quickly add tools to any prompt with a single click. You can choose from built-in tools provided by model providers like OpenAI and Anthropic, or define your own custom tools tailored to your specific needs. Custom tools are saved to the current prompt by default. You can save them to the workspace-wide tool registry to reuse them across prompts without recreating them.

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Add a tool

To add a tool to your prompt, click the + Tool button at the bottom of the prompt editor. The prompt interface with the + Tool button following the editing boxes.

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Use a built-in tool

  1. In the tool section, select the built-in tool you want to use. You’ll only see the tools that are compatible with the provider and model you’ve chosen.
  2. When the model calls the tool, the Playground will display the response. Web search tool

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Create a custom tool

To create a custom tool, you’ll need to provide:
  • Name: A descriptive name for your tool.
  • Description: Clear explanation of what the tool does.
  • Arguments: The inputs your tool requires.
Custom tool When running a custom tool in the Playground, the model will respond with a JSON object containing the tool name and the tool call. Tool call

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Manage tools with the registry

The Playground includes a workspace-scoped tool registry for saving and reusing tools across prompts and sessions. When you create a custom tool, you can save it to the current prompt only, or save it directly to the registry. Saving to the registry also adds the tool to the current prompt. Click the + Tool button in the Playground to open Manage tools. From the Available Tools tab, you can:
  • Click + in the tools list to create a new tool.
  • Click Add from registry to add an existing registry tool to the current prompt.
  • Click a tool in the list to view and edit it.
Registry tools are identified by a key icon in the tools list and display a Workspace registry tool badge when selected. The available actions depend on whether a tool is prompt-local or saved to the registry:
  • Prompt-local tools: Click Add to Registry to save the tool to the workspace registry, or Delete to remove it from the current prompt. Manage tools dialog showing a prompt-local tool with Add to Registry and Delete buttons.
  • Registry tools: Click Remove from prompt to detach the tool from the current prompt without affecting the registry, Duplicate for this prompt to create a prompt-local copy independent of the registry version, or Delete from registry to remove it from the workspace registry entirely. Manage tools dialog showing the tools list with registry tools marked by a key icon, and tool editing options.

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Tool choice settings

Some models provide control over which tools are called. To configure this:
  1. Select + Tool under the prompt editor.
  2. Navigate to the Tool Choice Setting tab.
  3. Select your tool choice.
To understand the available tool choice options, check the documentation for your specific provider. For example, OpenAI’s documentation on tool choice. Select tools from the Tool Choice Settings tab.
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