can you explain me what is this tool ?
Asked on 2026-07-07
1 search
If you mean the tool calling feature shown in the WWDC sessions, it’s a way for a language model to use app capabilities or data sources during a response.
In simple terms
A tool is something you define with:
- a name
- a description
- input arguments
- a call method that does the real work
Then, when the model thinks it needs extra information or an action, it can call that tool, get the result back, and use it to answer.
What it’s for
Tools let the model:
- search your app’s content
- fetch data like contacts, calendar events, or weather
- analyze images
- run custom app logic
Example from WWDC
In LLM search using Core Spotlight, Apple shows a Spotlight Search Tool that lets a model search an app’s Core Spotlight index and use those results to generate a more contextual answer.
Why it matters
Instead of the model guessing, it can:
- look up real data
- ground its answer in your app’s content
- do this directly during the conversation
If you want, I can also explain how you build one, or what the Spotlight Search Tool specifically does.
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