---
title: Skills Overview
description: CowAgent skills system introduction
---

Skills provide infinite extensibility for the Agent. Each Skill consists of a description file (`SKILL.md`), execution scripts (optional), and resources (optional), describing how to accomplish specific types of tasks.

The difference between Skills and Tools: Tools are atomic operations implemented in code (e.g., file read/write, command execution), while Skills are high-level workflows based on description files that can combine multiple Tools to complete complex tasks.

## Built-in Skills

Located in the project `skills/` directory, automatically enabled based on dependency conditions:

| Skill | Description | Dependencies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [`skill-creator`](/en/skills/skill-creator) | Create custom skills through conversation | None |
| [`openai-image-vision`](/en/skills/image-vision) | Recognize images using OpenAI vision models | `OPENAI_API_KEY` |
| [`linkai-agent`](/en/skills/linkai-agent) | Integrate LinkAI platform agents | `LINKAI_API_KEY` |
| [`web-fetch`](/en/skills/web-fetch) | Fetch web page text content | `curl` (enabled by default) |

## Custom Skills

Created by users through conversation, stored in workspace (`~/cow/skills/`), can implement any complex business process and third-party system integration.

## Skill Loading Priority

1. **Workspace skills** (highest): `~/cow/skills/`
2. **Project built-in skills** (lowest): `skills/`

Skills with the same name are overridden by priority.

## Skill File Structure

```
skills/
├── my-skill/
│   ├── SKILL.md          # Skill description (frontmatter + instructions)
│   ├── scripts/          # Execution scripts (optional)
│   └── resources/        # Additional resources (optional)
```

### SKILL.md Format

```markdown
---
name: my-skill
description: Brief description of the skill
metadata:
  emoji: 🔧
  requires:
    bins: ["curl"]
    env: ["MY_API_KEY"]
  primaryEnv: "MY_API_KEY"
---

# My Skill

Detailed instructions...
```

| Field | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `name` | Skill name, must match directory name |
| `description` | Skill description, Agent decides whether to invoke based on this |
| `metadata.requires.bins` | Required system commands |
| `metadata.requires.env` | Required environment variables |
| `metadata.always` | Always load (default false) |