---
title: "Types of tools"
description: "Tools are defined services that can be used within workflows and by agents alike."
---

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Tool Plugin" icon="puzzle-piece" iconType="regular" href="https://docs.dify.ai/en/plugins/quick-start/install-plugins">
    Explore hundreds of third-party tools native to Dify on Dify's [Marketplace](https://marketplace.dify.ai/?category=tool_)
  </Card>
  <Card title="MCP" icon="sparkles" href="en/guides/tools/mcp">
    Connect with an evergrowing ecosystem of tools based on the [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction).
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Custom Tool" icon="paintbrush-pencil">
    Transform any OpenAPI/Swagger standard formatted API service into a tool.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Workflow as Tool" icon="network-wired">
    Call another Dify workflow as a tool 
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

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