# Actions

In this section, you can attach one or more **published actions** to the agent. Actions allow agents to dynamically connect to external systems or trigger workflows based on user input.

- Click on **Add Connector** to view all the action providers available to you ![The Add Connector button in the connectors section before any actions are attached](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/343de4882f1e92e94dba0667cbb59b331f060e56d46893034e4038fddacc651a.png/raw)

- Use the dropdown to search for an action used within a particular tool/integration ![The dropdown for searching actions by tool or integration](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/5ee7074586a63c53929f1a45adb366fbd25cd20e2c67f460febd12d9362ce5eb.png/raw)

- Select one or more **read** or **write** published actions

  - Read actions will query data and retrieve it for the agent to consume
  - Write actions will take real world action and accomplish tasks within tools
  - Once all the actions are selected click the "Add" button in the bottom right ![Selecting read and write published actions with the Add button in the bottom right](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/2dd23edbc5603e1b3885ceef4e09ad3190e3ef3bed7220188a60b95f68022822.png/raw)

- You'll see it show up in the connectors section of the agent configuration ![Attached actions shown in the connectors section of the agent configuration](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/94ddfdf69eff5d585c373ab6dce2eabc778a8a332c59bc71ab7699b325d21e27.png/raw)

- This is where you can further configure them

  - Click on the pencil icon to edit and personalize them ![The pencil icon for editing and personalizing an attached action](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/0798f6d330f4443b6dcf60ce425ab4aad50cf5e7eb312fc6befee26de56129f6.png/raw)

- When editing the action you can scroll down to modify the parameters of the action. Learn more about [customizing action parameters](https://docs.credal.ai/user-guide/platform/governed-actions/action-parameters). ![The action parameters configuration in the action editor](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/f906a6fdde0123341a8f774374bd8b9cb7bd59b833468191aa6d641cb08332ea.png/raw)

- If you scroll even further you'll be able to see the optional human in the loop settings. This setting makes sure that the agent asks for permission every time it needs to take this action. It will wait for the user to approve usage of the action before proceeding. ![The human in the loop setting requiring user approval before the action runs](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/a7777d1ef4b6ecfb60d0753d7b9b19f99acfc6362aeb2102d050f3264cc30aee.png/raw)

- Once added you'll notice the small orange hammer icon on the action ![An action displaying the small orange hammer icon indicating human in the loop governance](/media/t/75c5dc71-055f-4496-bcaf-6966eeb0b645/p/6557597f-ed9e-4a60-b7d4-61f66fcfad15/180ed5ed88c9da9097ada06ac50f294864af6a58e048358344aa9543eae19a9c.png/raw)

Attaching the right actions ensures that your agent can not only respond to questions but also execute real-world tasks across integrated systems.

## Related pages

- [Connectors](./platform-agents-configure-steps-connectors-overview.md)
- [Data Sources](./platform-agents-configure-steps-connectors-data.md)
- [Document Collections](./platform-agents-configure-steps-connectors-document-collections.md)
- [Smart Filtering (beta)](./platform-integrations-metadata-and-smart-filtering-smart-filtering.md)
- [Collection Schemas](./platform-integrations-metadata-and-smart-filtering-collection-schemas.md)
- [AI Entity Extraction (beta)](./platform-integrations-metadata-and-smart-filtering-ai-entity-extraction.md)
- [Bring Your Own Custom Data Sources](./platform-integrations-bring-your-own-data.md)
- [Credal MCP Servers](./platform-agents-configure-steps-connectors-mcp-servers.md)

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