Glossary · Technical
Function Calling
The technical mechanism that lets a model trigger a predefined action — like running a search or querying a database — by outputting structured parameters instead of freeform text.
How it works
Developers define a set of functions the model is allowed to call, each with a name and expected inputs. When the model decides one is needed, it outputs a structured request matching that schema, the application executes the actual function, and the result gets fed back into the conversation.
Why it matters for AI visibility
Function calling is what turns "the model wants to search" into an actual query being sent to a search index. The exact query text the model constructs — which keywords it chooses, how it phrases the request — shapes which pages get retrieved and, downstream, which brands are even eligible to be mentioned.
See more terms in the full glossary, or read the AI Visibility 101 guide for the full picture.