> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://agents.nanonets.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Tools and capabilities

> Understand what agents can do with documents, spreadsheets, email, business systems, files, and people.

Tools are the actions an agent can take.

You choose which tools an agent can use. This keeps the agent focused on the work it is meant to do.

<Frame caption="The Tools panel groups tools by category (document processing, email, Nanonets, and more), each with an enable toggle.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/nanonets-fb7e8f2a/eksLpltcNl29FEi2/images/tools-panel.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=eksLpltcNl29FEi2&q=85&s=2b2db72289de452f7906fc396cb39154" alt="Tools panel showing tools grouped by category with enable toggles" width="1440" height="1000" data-path="images/tools-panel.png" />
</Frame>

## Common things agents can do

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Read documents" icon="file-magnifying-glass" href="/docs/guide/extract-data">
    Extract data from invoices, forms, contracts, spreadsheets, emails, and images.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Look up information" icon="magnifying-glass">
    Match vendors, customers, products, IDs, and prices from spreadsheets or connected systems.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Export results" icon="arrow-up-right-from-square">
    Add rows to Google Sheets, upload files to Google Drive, or create records in business systems.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create files" icon="file-plus" href="/docs/guide/generate-files">
    Generate PDFs, Excel files, Word documents, CSVs, HTML, and Markdown files.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Send messages" icon="message">
    Send emails, Slack messages, Teams messages, or SMS updates.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ask people for help" icon="circle-question" href="/docs/guide/running-tasks">
    Pause the task and ask a user for missing information or approval.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Extraction

Extraction means reading a file and turning important parts into clean data.

Examples:

* Pull invoice number, date, vendor, and total from a PDF.
* Read line items from a purchase order.
* Classify a document as an invoice, receipt, contract, or form.
* Convert tables in a PDF into an Excel file.

## Lookup and matching

Lookup means checking information against a trusted source.

Examples:

* Match "Northwind Traders Inc." to the correct vendor record.
* Find a product SKU from a product catalog spreadsheet.
* Check whether a customer already exists in your ERP.
* Search reference documents for policy details.

<Tip>
  Lookup tools are useful when names are not written the same way every time. The agent can help match messy business data to clean records.
</Tip>

## Export and write-back

Export means sending the result somewhere useful.

Examples:

* Add extracted invoice data to Google Sheets.
* Upload a generated report to Google Drive.
* Create a vendor bill in NetSuite.
* Create or update records in SAP, Sage, or Microsoft Dynamics.
* Send a summary by email or Slack.

## Human review

Some work should not be fully automatic.

Agents can pause and ask a person when:

* A required field is missing.
* A total does not match.
* A payment needs approval.
* A rule says a human must review the result.

## Connected apps

Many tools need a connected app before they can work.

For example, a Google Sheets tool needs a Google Sheets connection. A Gmail tool needs a Gmail connection.

Learn more in [Integrations](/docs/guide/integrations).