Tools
Give agents the exact actions they need
Connecting an agent to a provider shouldn't mean handing it everything that provider can do. Tools are the individual actions inside a provider, and Metorial lets you decide which ones an agent can use. Access lines up with what the agent is actually for.
- 01
Grant access per action.
Give an agent only the specific tools it needs from a provider, instead of access to the entire integration.
- 02
Separate reading from doing.
Allow lower-risk actions while blocking sensitive ones. An agent can use a system without being able to make changes you didn't intend.
- 03
Capped by the person behind it.
An agent can never do more than the person using it. Whatever you grant per tool is still capped by that person's own permissions.
- 04
See every call.
Each tool call is logged and monitored. You can review which agent used which action and when.
Pick the exact actions. Grant only what's needed. Block the sensitive ones. Log every call.
FAQ
Answers to common questions about tools and how they fit into governed AI agent infrastructure.
What is a tool in Metorial?
A tool is an individual action that a provider can perform, such as reading a record or sending a message. Agents call tools to get work done.Can I give an agent access to one tool but not the whole provider?
Yes. Access can be granted on a per-tool basis. You don't have to give an agent access to an entire provider just to let it use one action.Can I block specific tools?
Yes. You can allow a provider while blocking its sensitive actions, for example allowing an agent to read from Slack but not send messages, through policies and access control.Can an agent do more than the person using it?
No. An agent is always bounded by the permissions of the person it acts for. The access you grant per tool can never exceed what that person is allowed to do. See identity and delegation for how this works.Are tool calls logged?
Yes. Every tool call is logged and monitored for security and compliance, and appears in audit logs and observability.Can tools be configured?
Yes. Tools can be configured with parameters, authentication details, and access control policies so they behave the way each team needs.How do tools relate to providers?
A provider is the whole integration, and tools are the individual actions inside it. You manage providers to connect a system, and tools to control exactly what agents can do with it.