Definition
A standardized protocol through which AI agents and RAG pipelines interact with external language models, vector databases, or functional tools to extend their internal logic. While APIs enable modularity and access to real-time data, they introduce architectural trade-offs regarding network latency and dependency on third-party service availability.
Refers to 'Tool Use' and model inference endpoints rather than general web service integration.
"A Universal Remote Control where each button is a labeled command that triggers a specific, pre-defined operation in an external appliance."
- Function Calling(Component)
- Tool Use(Prerequisite)
- Endpoint(Component)
- Rate Limiting(Constraint)
Conceptual Overview
A standardized protocol through which AI agents and RAG pipelines interact with external language models, vector databases, or functional tools to extend their internal logic. While APIs enable modularity and access to real-time data, they introduce architectural trade-offs regarding network latency and dependency on third-party service availability.
Disambiguation
Refers to 'Tool Use' and model inference endpoints rather than general web service integration.
Visual Analog
A Universal Remote Control where each button is a labeled command that triggers a specific, pre-defined operation in an external appliance.