Definition · foundations
function calling
function calling is a model feature that names a function and gives the inputs for software to run it. You can spot function calling 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 function calling matter?
A function call turns model output into a typed software request. The host still must check its name and arguments. For function calling, 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 function calling look like?
A model returns a call to get_weather with a city and date. The app checks both fields before use. This example makes function calling 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 function calling easy to confuse with?
Function calling emits a structured call. Tool use includes choosing, running, and checking the tool. The closest entries here are freshness window, generality, tool calling. Compare their definitions with function calling before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps function calling separate from nearby ideas without pretending the boundary is always perfect.
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 function calling?
We have not verified who first introduced function calling. 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 function calling?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when function calling 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 function calling 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 function calling?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of function calling. 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 function calling; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundfunction callingChecked 2026-07-12→