AI engineering glossary · Agents tools MCP
What is action?
Action: A single step an agent chooses to perform in the outside world, most often a tool call with specific arguments. Actions are what make an agent different from a chatbot, because they change or read real systems rather than only producing text.
Action: an example
The action send_email(to='[email protected]', subject='Leave request') is chosen by the agent after drafting the message.
Related terms
More Agents tools MCP terms
- Action space
- Agent autonomy level
- Agent benchmark
- Agent card
- Agent evaluation
- Agent handoff
- Agent loop
- Agent memory
Where you learn it
Action is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.