# Agent skills

Concept · [Building with AI](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai)

Also called: agent skill, skills, skill, SKILL.md, Claude skills

A packaged set of [instructions](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/prompt), sometimes with scripts, that an [agent](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai-agent) loads when a task calls for it, such as how to write a press [release](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/deployment) in your company's style. Only a short description sits in the agent's context until the skill is needed. [Anthropic](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/claude) first developed the format and released it as an open standard, so one skill can work across several agents.

**For example:** A [founder](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/founder) writes a skill for monthly investor updates, and the [agent](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai-agent) follows the same format every month.

## Connects to (10)

- [AI agent](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai-agent): An AI tool that does more than answer a question.
- [Context engineering](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/context-engineering): Deciding what information, instructions, examples and tools to put in front of an AI model for each task, and what to leave out.
- [Markdown](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/markdown): A simple way to format plain text with symbols, such as # for a heading and \* for a bullet.
- [Progressive disclosure](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/progressive-disclosure): Giving an agent only what it needs right now, with pointers to the rest, instead of loading everything at the start.
- [AGENTS.md](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/agents-md): A plain text file in a project that many coding agents read automatically at the start of every session.
- [Context pointer](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/context-pointer): A short mention in one document that tells an agent where to find more, such as 'deployment steps are in the deploy guide'.
- [Home repo](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/home-repo): One repository that acts as your base for working with agents.
- [Prompt](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/prompt): The instructions or question you give an AI tool in everyday words.
- [Startup ecosystem](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/startup-ecosystem): The people, money and organizations in one place that help new companies start and grow.
- [Standard operating procedure](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/standard-operating-procedure): Written step-by-step instructions for doing a routine task the same way every time.

## Sources

- <https://agentskills.io>
- <https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/agents-and-tools/agent-skills/overview>


Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/agent-skills