> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.uptiq.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.uptiq.ai/ai-workbench-qore/console/agent-builder/build/skills-and-capabilities.md).

# Skills & Capabilities

{% hint style="info" %}
**Skill & Capabilities** lists the agent's pre-attached skills, the built-in skills every agent has, and lets you choose which ones the agent uses. Skills from other sources, such as Skill Library skills, sub-agents, flows, integrations, and MCP servers, appear on the canvas's **Skills** card instead. See [Where other skills appear](#adding-skills-to-this-list).
{% endhint %}

> Agent Config → Skill & Capabilities, listing the agent's pre-attached skills

Reach this page from **Agent Config → Skill & Capabilities** in the left navigation.

The page is headed **Pre-attached Skills**, with the number of skills, and says "Enable the skills your agent uses to take actions, access data, and complete tasks." It has two lists:

* **Active Skills** — the skills the agent can use now. Each has an **Actions** menu.
* **Skills you can add** — the rest. Select **Enable** to make one active.

### The skill list <a href="#the-skill-list" id="the-skill-list"></a>

Each row shows:

* The skill's icon (varies by type)
* The skill's name (example **Show Message**)
* A one-line description of what the skill does
* An **Actions** menu, for an active skill, or an **Enable** button, for a skill you can add

### Built-in skills <a href="#platform-supplied-pre-attached-skills" id="platform-supplied-pre-attached-skills"></a>

Every agent has the same 26 pre-attached skills: 15 **General** skills and 11 **Document** skills. The General skills you will use most:

| Skill                   | What it does                                                                                              |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Show Message**        | Shows the user a message in markdown. Best for quick updates or progress messages, not for final answers. |
| **AI Reasoning**        | Uses AI to think through complex topics, make decisions, or generate summaries.                           |
| **Web Search**          | Runs a web search through the language model to retrieve up-to-date information.                          |
| **Knowledge Search**    | Searches the knowledge connected to the agent for relevant answers or references.                         |
| **View Uploaded Files** | Lists the files uploaded in the current session, with their names, details, and upload times.             |

For every built-in skill, see [General skills](/ai-workbench-qore/platform-resources/skill-library/general-skills.md) and [Document skills](/ai-workbench-qore/platform-resources/skill-library/document-skills.md).

### The row's `⋮` menu <a href="#the-rows-menu" id="the-rows-menu"></a>

The kebab menu on each row exposes the actions available for that skill — open it on any row to see them.

### Where other skills appear <a href="#adding-skills-to-this-list" id="adding-skills-to-this-list"></a>

This page shows only pre-attached skills. Skills you add from the other tabs of [Add Skill](/ai-workbench-qore/console/agent-builder/build/adding-a-skill-to-the-agent.md), such as Skill Library skills, custom skills, flows, and other agents, and skills registered by connecting an integration or an [MCP server](/ai-workbench-qore/console/agent-builder/build/mcp-tools.md), appear in the **Skills** card on the Builder Canvas. The card's count includes them. Select the card's **View all&#x20;*****N*****&#x20;Skills** link, where *N* is the count, to see the full list.

### How skills relate to the canvas <a href="#how-skills-relate-to-the-canvas" id="how-skills-relate-to-the-canvas"></a>

The Builder Canvas has a **Skills** card, connected to the agent node. It shows:

* The total number of skills on the agent, from every source.
* The first few skills, each with its type, such as **System Skill** or **Agent**, and its status, such as **Active**.
* A **View all&#x20;*****N*****&#x20;Skills** link to the full list.
* **Add Skills**, which opens [Add Skill](/ai-workbench-qore/console/agent-builder/build/adding-a-skill-to-the-agent.md).

Use this page to choose which pre-attached skills are active. Use the canvas card to see everything the agent can use.

### Why this matters <a href="#why-this-matters" id="why-this-matters"></a>

{% hint style="info" %}
This list is the planner's universe. When a user sends the agent a request, the platform's planner reads the instructions, considers the input, and picks one or more skills from this list to execute. A skill that isn't in the list cannot be used, no matter what the instructions say. A skill in the list whose description doesn't match the kinds of requests users send won't be picked, no matter how capable it is. Auditing this list — does every skill the agent needs appear? does every skill that appears earn its keep? — is the single highest-value review you can do when an agent isn't behaving as expected.
{% endhint %}

***

{% columns %}
{% column width="83.33333333333334%" %}

<p align="right"><em>Maintained by</em> <mark style="color:green;">Abhishek Paul</mark><br><code>AI-assisted, human-approved</code></p>
{% endcolumn %}

{% column width="16.666666666666664%" %}

<div align="left"><img src="https://1326225582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0qmgQjJ5aArDTj2ACFHG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d034645b4f8f8ee661985f5306b60ded3289653c%2Fmaintainer-abhishek-paul.png?alt=media" alt="" width="60"></div>
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.uptiq.ai/ai-workbench-qore/console/agent-builder/build/skills-and-capabilities.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.