Tools glossary

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Terms for tool calling, built-in tools and MCP. Shorter definitions of the core API terms are on the main Glossary.

The sandbox where syntic_code_execution runs code; inputs at /mnt/inputs, outputs at /mnt/outputs. See code execution.

Tools that let the model operate a screen with mouse and keyboard actions your app carries out. See computer use.

The small process you run for a tunnel. It forwards calls only to the tunnel’s allowed_targets.

defer_loading: true on a tool: it is searchable but not sent to the model until needed.

A tool you describe with a name, description and JSON schema, and run in your own code. See tool calling.

Marks a tool result as a failure so the model can retry or explain instead of trusting it.

Model Context Protocol: an open protocol for exposing tools and data to models through a server.

The mcp_servers request field: Syntic connects to the listed servers and offers their tools to the model. See mcp connector.

The organization’s rule for which MCP servers may be used: open, allowlist or disabled. See mcp policy.

An outbound-only connection from your network that lets Syntic reach a private MCP server. See mcp tunnels.

Several tool calls in one assistant turn. Return one result per call id. See parallel tools.

Your own search hits passed as citable content. See search results.

A built-in tool Syntic runs during the request, such as syntic_web_search or syntic_code_execution. See tools.

A published tool definition the model knows well (syntic_text_editor, syntic_shell, syntic_memory) that your app executes. See standard tools.

function.strict: true: arguments are guaranteed to match the schema exactly. See strict tools.

Your reply to a tool call: a tool message with the matching tool_call_id. See tool results.

Loading tool definitions on demand from a large catalog instead of sending all of them on every call. See tool search.

Controls whether the model may, must, or must not call tools, or must call one named tool.

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