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FcFunction Call2

Function Call

LLMs that take action

reactiveRow 2: Compositionsintermediate2 hoursRequires: Pr, Lg

Overview

Function calling enables LLMs to interact with external systems by generating structured function calls based on natural language input.

What is it?

The ability for LLMs to generate structured outputs that trigger real-world actions.

Why it matters

Function calling transforms LLMs from text generators into action-takers. It's the foundation of AI agents.

How it works

You define available functions with schemas. The LLM decides when to call them and generates the arguments. Your code executes the actual function.

Real-World Examples

API Integration

LLM calling weather, search, or database APIs

Tool Use

AI using calculators, code interpreters, browsers

Structured Output

Generating JSON, SQL, or other formats

Tools & Libraries

OpenAI Functionsservice

Native function calling in GPT models

LangChain Toolslibrary

Standardized tool interface

Claude Tool Useservice

Anthropic's function calling