Technical Terms
Function Calling (Tool Use)
Definition
The ability of AI models to generate structured calls to external tools, APIs, or functions. Instead of just generating text, the model outputs a specific function name and parameters, which the application then executes and returns results for.
In Plain English
When AI can use tools, not just talk. Function calling lets AI actually do things — check the weather, search a database, send an email — by generating specific "commands" that your software then carries out.