Definition · foundations
agent skill
agent skill is a reusable set of instructions and tools that gives an agent a named ability. You can spot agent skill in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does agent skill matter?
A named skill packages a repeatable way of working, making capability easier to inspect, test, and reuse. For agent skill, start with three checks: What can the system observe? What choice can it make? What changes after it acts? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does agent skill look like?
An agent loads a spreadsheet-audit skill containing the checks and tools needed to review a workbook. This example makes agent skill visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is agent skill easy to confuse with?
An agent skill is a reusable ability package. A tool is an external function the skill may call. The closest entries here are agent registry, agent team, skill registry. Compare their definitions with agent skill before using the names as if they mean the same thing.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is provisional. ACL Anthology supports the version you see today, but a better or more direct source may change it. Open the cited page and check its date before you use this entry to choose a product, write a policy, set a safety control, or design a system.
Who introduced the term agent skill?
We have not verified who first introduced agent skill. The source supports a useful definition, but it may not be the earliest use. Until a dated primary record settles the question, we leave the origin open. A popular article or product page is not enough to name the person who coined a term.
What should you understand before agent skill?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when agent skill depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use agent skill to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What can the system observe?
- What choice can it make?
- What changes after it acts?
Which source supports this definition of agent skill?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of agent skill. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to agent skill; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundagent skillChecked 2026-07-12→