Summary
Unit 6 of 6 · Module 8: Integrate custom tools into your agent
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Module 8 in postcards
That's Module 8: custom tools for Foundry Agent Service. Here are the postcards from the trip. From the bike shop: built-in tools gather knowledge and run code, while custom tools reach your own systems. From the ski resort: custom tools bring productivity, accuracy, and tailored solutions, and the agent decides when to call them. From the post office: four options, custom functions, Azure Functions, OpenAPI tools, and Logic Apps. From the polar station: you describe tools with clear names and schemas, and the agent works out the rest. And from the observatory: your code runs the functions the agent asks for, and returns each result with its call ID.
Where next
Custom tools help businesses optimize processes, from creating marketing materials to improving communication and analyzing market trends. And they build on patterns many companies already use, like Azure Functions and OpenAPI specs, for intelligent, event-driven apps. To go further, read AI Agents for Beginners on tool use, the Foundry function calling docs, the Azure Functions introduction, and the OpenAPI Specification. Next up: MCP tools. Now try the module review quiz below.
Facts from Microsoft's documentation: Use function calling with Microsoft Foundry agents; Connect OpenAPI tools to Microsoft Foundry agents; Integrate Azure Functions with Foundry Agents; Connect agents to MCP server endpoints (CC BY 4.0), rewritten in Loop's own words and examples. Narration, animation, and quiz by Loop. Microsoft, Azure, and Microsoft Foundry are trademarks of Microsoft. Loop is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.