kilocode/apps/kilocode-docs/docs/basic-usage/how-tools-work.md

How Tools Work

Kilo Code uses tools to interact with your code and environment. These specialized helpers perform specific actions like reading files, making edits, running commands, or searching your codebase. Tools provide automation for common development tasks without requiring manual execution.

Tool Workflow

Describe what you want to accomplish in natural language, and Kilo Code will:

1. Select the appropriate tool based on your request
2. Present the tool with its parameters for your review
3. Execute the approved tool and show you the results
4. Continue this process until your task is complete

Tool Categories

Category	Purpose	Tool Names
Read	Access file content and code structure	read_file, search_files, list_files, list_code_definition_names
Edit	Create or modify files and code	apply_diff, delete_file, write_to_file
Execute	Run commands and perform system operations	execute_command
Browser	Interact with web content	browser_action
Workflow	Manage task flow and context	ask_followup_question, attempt_completion, switch_mode, new_task

Example: Using Tools

Here's how a typical tool interaction works:

The tool approval interface shows Save/Reject buttons and Auto-approve options.

User: Create a file named greeting.js that logs a greeting message

Kilo Code: (Proposes the write_to_file tool as shown in the image above)

<write_to_file>
<path>greeting.js</path>
<content>
function greet(name) {
  console.log(`Hello, ${name}!`);
}

greet('World');
</content>
<line_count>5</line_count>
</write_to_file>

User: (Clicks "Save" in the interface)

Kilo Code: (Confirms file creation)

Tool Safety and Approval

Every tool use requires your explicit approval. When Kilo proposes a tool, you'll see:

• A "Save" button to approve and execute the tool
• A "Reject" button to decline the proposed tool
• An optional "Auto-approve" setting for trusted operations

This safety mechanism ensures you maintain control over which files are modified, what commands are executed, and how your codebase is changed. Always review tool proposals carefully before saving them.

Core Tools Reference

Tool Name	Description	Category
read_file	Reads the content of a file with line numbers	Read
search_files	Searches for text or regex patterns across files	Read
list_files	Lists files and directories in a specified location	Read
list_code_definition_names	Lists code definitions like classes and functions	Read
write_to_file	Creates new files or overwrites existing ones	Edit
apply_diff	Makes precise changes to specific parts of a file	Edit
delete_file	Removes files from the workspace	Edit
execute_command	Runs commands in the VS Code terminal	Execute
browser_action	Performs actions in a headless browser	Browser
ask_followup_question	Asks you a clarifying question	Workflow
attempt_completion	Indicates the task is complete	Workflow
switch_mode	Changes to a different operational mode	Workflow
new_task	Creates a new subtask with a specific starting mode	Workflow

Learn More About Tools

For more detailed information about each tool, including complete parameter references and advanced usage patterns, see the Tool Use Overview documentation.