Create and use tool sets

A tool set is a reusable collection of agent tools that you can reference as a single entity. This article describes user-defined tool-set files for organizing related tools in prompts, prompt files, and custom agents in Local sessions.

VS Code also provides predefined tool sets, such as #edit and #search.

Create a tool set

Select Local as the Session Target in the Chat view, then create a tool set:

1. Run Chat: Configure Tool Sets from the Command Palette and select Create new tool sets file.

   Alternatively, select the ellipsis (...) menu in the Chat view, select Tool Sets, and then select Create new tool sets file.

2. Define your tool set in the .jsonc file that opens.

   The following example creates a tool set named reader:

   {
     "reader": {
       "tools": ["search/changes", "search/codebase", "read/problems", "search/usages"],
       "description": "Tools for reading and gathering context",
       "icon": "book"
     }
   }
   

   A tool set has the following properties:

   • tools: array of built-in, MCP, or extension tool names.
   • description: brief description displayed in the tools picker.
   • icon: icon for the tool set. See the Product Icon Reference.

Use a tool set

Reference a tool set in a prompt by typing # followed by its name:

Analyze the codebase for security issues #reader

In the tools picker, tool sets appear as collapsible groups. Select or deselect a tool set to change the availability of all its tools at once.

You can also reference tool sets in prompt files and custom agents.

Related resources

• Use tools with agents
• Add MCP servers
• Create custom agents