Tool categories - AWS Prescriptive Guidance
Protocol-based toolsFramework-native toolsMeta-tools

Tool categories

Building agent systems involves three main categories of tools.

Protocol-based tools

Protocol-based tools use standardized protocols for agent-to-tool communication:

  • MCP tools – Open standard tools that work across frameworks with both local and remote execution options.

  • OpenAI function calling – Proprietary tools that are specific to OpenAI models.

  • Anthropic tools – Proprietary tools that are specific to Anthropic Claude models.

Framework-native tools

Framework-native tools are built directly into specific agent frameworks:

  • Strands Agents Python tools – Lightweight, quick-to-implement tools that are specific to the Strands Agents framework.

  • LangChain tools – Python-based tools that are tightly integrated with the LangChain ecosystem.

  • LlamaIndex tools – Tools that are optimized for data retrieval and processing within LlamaIndex.

Meta-tools

Meta-tools enhance agent workflows without directly taking external actions:

  • Workflow tools – Manage agent execution flow, branching logic, and state management.

  • Agent graph tools – Coordinate multiple agents in complex workflows.

  • Memory tools – Provide persistent storage and retrieval of information across agent sessions.

  • Reflection tools – Enable agents to analyze and improve their own performance.