# Context pointer

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

Also called: context pointers, doc pointer, file reference, see also link

A short mention in one document that tells an [agent](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai-agent) where to find more, such as '[deployment](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/deployment) steps are in the deploy guide'. The agent opens the other file only when the task needs it, which keeps the [context window](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/context-window) small.

**For example:** Instead of pasting the whole [style guide](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/design-system) into [AGENTS.md](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/agents-md), a team adds one line pointing to it, and the [agent](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai-agent) reads it only when writing customer-facing text.

## Connects to (5)

- [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.
- [Agent skills](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/agent-skills): A packaged set of instructions, sometimes with scripts, that an agent loads when a task calls for it, such as how to write a press release…
- [Context window](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/context-window): How much text an LLM can take into account at one time.
- [Home repo](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/home-repo): One repository that acts as your base for working with agents.

Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/context-pointer