Tool calling

Ollama supports tool calling (also known as function calling) which allows a model to invoke tools and incorporate their results into its replies.

Calling a single tool

Invoke a single tool and include its response in a follow-up request. Also known as “single-shot” tool calling.

cURL
Python
JavaScript

curl -s http://localhost:11434/api/chat -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{
  "model": "qwen3",
  "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "What is the temperature in New York?"}],
  "stream": false,
  "tools": [
    {
      "type": "function",
      "function": {
        "name": "get_temperature",
        "description": "Get the current temperature for a city",
        "parameters": {
          "type": "object",
          "required": ["city"],
          "properties": {
            "city": {"type": "string", "description": "The name of the city"}
          }
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}'

Generate a response with a single tool result

curl -s http://localhost:11434/api/chat -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{
  "model": "qwen3",
  "messages": [
    {"role": "user", "content": "What is the temperature in New York?"},
    {
      "role": "assistant",
      "tool_calls": [
        {
          "type": "function",
          "function": {
            "index": 0,
            "name": "get_temperature",
            "arguments": {"city": "New York"}
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {"role": "tool", "tool_name": "get_temperature", "content": "22°C"}
  ],
  "stream": false
}'

Install the Ollama Python SDK:

# with pip
pip install ollama -U

# with uv
uv add ollama    

from ollama import chat

def get_temperature(city: str) -> str:
  """Get the current temperature for a city
  
  Args:
    city: The name of the city

  Returns:
    The current temperature for the city
  """
  temperatures = {
    "New York": "22°C",
    "London": "15°C",
    "Tokyo": "18°C",
  }
  return temperatures.get(city, "Unknown")

messages = [{"role": "user", "content": "What is the temperature in New York?"}]

# pass functions directly as tools in the tools list or as a JSON schema
response = chat(model="qwen3", messages=messages, tools=[get_temperature], think=True)

messages.append(response.message)
if response.message.tool_calls:
  # only recommended for models which only return a single tool call
  call = response.message.tool_calls[0]
  result = get_temperature(**call.function.arguments)
  # add the tool result to the messages
  messages.append({"role": "tool", "tool_name": call.function.name, "content": str(result)})

  final_response = chat(model="qwen3", messages=messages, tools=[get_temperature], think=True)
  print(final_response.message.content)

Install the Ollama JavaScript library:

# with npm
npm i ollama

# with bun
bun i ollama

import ollama from 'ollama'

function getTemperature(city: string): string {
  const temperatures: Record<string, string> = {
    'New York': '22°C',
    'London': '15°C',
    'Tokyo': '18°C',
  }
  return temperatures[city] ?? 'Unknown'
}

const tools = [
  {
    type: 'function',
    function: {
      name: 'get_temperature',
      description: 'Get the current temperature for a city',
      parameters: {
        type: 'object',
        required: ['city'],
        properties: {
          city: { type: 'string', description: 'The name of the city' },
        },
      },
    },
  },
]

const messages = [{ role: 'user', content: "What is the temperature in New York?" }]

const response = await ollama.chat({
  model: 'qwen3',
  messages,
  tools,
  think: true,
})

messages.push(response.message)
if (response.message.tool_calls?.length) {
  // only recommended for models which only return a single tool call
  const call = response.message.tool_calls[0]
  const args = call.function.arguments as { city: string }
  const result = getTemperature(args.city)
  // add the tool result to the messages
  messages.push({ role: 'tool', tool_name: call.function.name, content: result })

  // generate the final response
  const finalResponse = await ollama.chat({ model: 'qwen3', messages, tools, think: true })
  console.log(finalResponse.message.content)
}

Parallel tool calling

cURL
Python
JavaScript

Request multiple tool calls in parallel, then send all tool responses back to the model.

curl -s http://localhost:11434/api/chat -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{
  "model": "qwen3",
  "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "What are the current weather conditions and temperature in New York and London?"}],
  "stream": false,
  "tools": [
    {
      "type": "function",
      "function": {
        "name": "get_temperature",
        "description": "Get the current temperature for a city",
        "parameters": {
          "type": "object",
          "required": ["city"],
          "properties": {
            "city": {"type": "string", "description": "The name of the city"}
          }
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "function",
      "function": {
        "name": "get_conditions",
        "description": "Get the current weather conditions for a city",
        "parameters": {
          "type": "object",
          "required": ["city"],
          "properties": {
            "city": {"type": "string", "description": "The name of the city"}
          }
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}'

Generate a response with multiple tool results

curl -s http://localhost:11434/api/chat -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{
  "model": "qwen3",
  "messages": [
    {"role": "user", "content": "What are the current weather conditions and temperature in New York and London?"},
    {
      "role": "assistant",
      "tool_calls": [
        {
          "type": "function",
          "function": {
            "index": 0,
            "name": "get_temperature",
            "arguments": {"city": "New York"}
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "function",
          "function": {
            "index": 1,
            "name": "get_conditions",
            "arguments": {"city": "New York"}
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "function",
          "function": {
            "index": 2,
            "name": "get_temperature",
            "arguments": {"city": "London"}
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "function",
          "function": {
            "index": 3,
            "name": "get_conditions",
            "arguments": {"city": "London"}
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {"role": "tool", "tool_name": "get_temperature", "content": "22°C"},
    {"role": "tool", "tool_name": "get_conditions", "content": "Partly cloudy"},
    {"role": "tool", "tool_name": "get_temperature", "content": "15°C"},
    {"role": "tool", "tool_name": "get_conditions", "content": "Rainy"}
  ],
  "stream": false
}'

from ollama import chat

def get_temperature(city: str) -> str:
  """Get the current temperature for a city
  
  Args:
    city: The name of the city

  Returns:
    The current temperature for the city
  """
  temperatures = {
    "New York": "22°C",
    "London": "15°C",
    "Tokyo": "18°C"
  }
  return temperatures.get(city, "Unknown")

def get_conditions(city: str) -> str:
  """Get the current weather conditions for a city
  
  Args:
    city: The name of the city

  Returns:
    The current weather conditions for the city
  """
  conditions = {
    "New York": "Partly cloudy",
    "London": "Rainy",
    "Tokyo": "Sunny"
  }
  return conditions.get(city, "Unknown")


messages = [{'role': 'user', 'content': 'What are the current weather conditions and temperature in New York and London?'}]

# The python client automatically parses functions as a tool schema so we can pass them directly
# Schemas can be passed directly in the tools list as well 
response = chat(model='qwen3', messages=messages, tools=[get_temperature, get_conditions], think=True)

# add the assistant message to the messages
messages.append(response.message)
if response.message.tool_calls:
  # process each tool call 
  for call in response.message.tool_calls:
    # execute the appropriate tool
    if call.function.name == 'get_temperature':
      result = get_temperature(**call.function.arguments)
    elif call.function.name == 'get_conditions':
      result = get_conditions(**call.function.arguments)
    else:
      result = 'Unknown tool'
    # add the tool result to the messages
    messages.append({'role': 'tool',  'tool_name': call.function.name, 'content': str(result)})

  # generate the final response
  final_response = chat(model='qwen3', messages=messages, tools=[get_temperature, get_conditions], think=True)
  print(final_response.message.content)

import ollama from 'ollama'

function getTemperature(city: string): string {
  const temperatures: { [key: string]: string } = {
    "New York": "22°C",
    "London": "15°C",
    "Tokyo": "18°C"
  }
  return temperatures[city] || "Unknown"
}

function getConditions(city: string): string {
  const conditions: { [key: string]: string } = {
    "New York": "Partly cloudy",
    "London": "Rainy",
    "Tokyo": "Sunny"
  }
  return conditions[city] || "Unknown"
}

const tools = [
  {
    type: 'function',
    function: {
      name: 'get_temperature',
      description: 'Get the current temperature for a city',
      parameters: {
        type: 'object',
        required: ['city'],
        properties: {
          city: { type: 'string', description: 'The name of the city' },
        },
      },
    },
  },
  {
    type: 'function',
    function: {
      name: 'get_conditions',
      description: 'Get the current weather conditions for a city',
      parameters: {
        type: 'object',
        required: ['city'],
        properties: {
          city: { type: 'string', description: 'The name of the city' },
        },
      },
    },
  }
]

const messages = [{ role: 'user', content: 'What are the current weather conditions and temperature in New York and London?' }]

const response = await ollama.chat({
  model: 'qwen3',
  messages,
  tools,
  think: true
})

// add the assistant message to the messages
messages.push(response.message)
if (response.message.tool_calls) {
  // process each tool call 
  for (const call of response.message.tool_calls) {
    // execute the appropriate tool
    let result: string
    if (call.function.name === 'get_temperature') {
      const args = call.function.arguments as { city: string }
      result = getTemperature(args.city)
    } else if (call.function.name === 'get_conditions') {
      const args = call.function.arguments as { city: string }
      result = getConditions(args.city)
    } else {
      result = 'Unknown tool'
    }
    // add the tool result to the messages
    messages.push({ role: 'tool', tool_name: call.function.name, content: result })
  }

  // generate the final response
  const finalResponse = await ollama.chat({ model: 'qwen3', messages, tools, think: true })
  console.log(finalResponse.message.content)
}

Multi-turn tool calling (Agent loop)

An agent loop allows the model to decide when to invoke tools and incorporate their results into its replies. It also might help to tell the model that it is in a loop and can make multiple tool calls.

Python
JavaScript

from ollama import chat, ChatResponse


def add(a: int, b: int) -> int:
  """Add two numbers"""
  """
  Args:
    a: The first number
    b: The second number

  Returns:
    The sum of the two numbers
  """
  return a + b


def multiply(a: int, b: int) -> int:
  """Multiply two numbers"""
  """
  Args:
    a: The first number
    b: The second number

  Returns:
    The product of the two numbers
  """
  return a * b


available_functions = {
  'add': add,
  'multiply': multiply,
}

messages = [{'role': 'user', 'content': 'What is (11434+12341)*412?'}]
while True:
    response: ChatResponse = chat(
        model='qwen3',
        messages=messages,
        tools=[add, multiply],
        think=True,
    )
    messages.append(response.message)
    print("Thinking: ", response.message.thinking)
    print("Content: ", response.message.content)
    if response.message.tool_calls:
        for tc in response.message.tool_calls:
            if tc.function.name in available_functions:
                print(f"Calling {tc.function.name} with arguments {tc.function.arguments}")
                result = available_functions[tc.function.name](**tc.function.arguments)
                print(f"Result: {result}")
                # add the tool result to the messages
                messages.append({'role': 'tool', 'tool_name': tc.function.name, 'content': str(result)})
    else:
        # end the loop when there are no more tool calls
        break
  # continue the loop with the updated messages

import ollama from 'ollama'

type ToolName = 'add' | 'multiply'

function add(a: number, b: number): number {
  return a + b
}

function multiply(a: number, b: number): number {
  return a * b
}

const availableFunctions: Record<ToolName, (a: number, b: number) => number> = {
  add,
  multiply,
}

const tools = [
  {
    type: 'function',
    function: {
      name: 'add',
      description: 'Add two numbers',
      parameters: {
        type: 'object',
        required: ['a', 'b'],
        properties: {
          a: { type: 'integer', description: 'The first number' },
          b: { type: 'integer', description: 'The second number' },
        },
      },
    },
  },
  {
    type: 'function',
    function: {
      name: 'multiply',
      description: 'Multiply two numbers',
      parameters: {
        type: 'object',
        required: ['a', 'b'],
        properties: {
          a: { type: 'integer', description: 'The first number' },
          b: { type: 'integer', description: 'The second number' },
        },
      },
    },
  },
]

async function agentLoop() {
  const messages = [{ role: 'user', content: 'What is (11434+12341)*412?' }]

  while (true) {
    const response = await ollama.chat({
      model: 'qwen3',
      messages,
      tools,
      think: true,
    })

    messages.push(response.message)
    console.log('Thinking:', response.message.thinking)
    console.log('Content:', response.message.content)

    const toolCalls = response.message.tool_calls ?? []
    if (toolCalls.length) {
      for (const call of toolCalls) {
        const fn = availableFunctions[call.function.name as ToolName]
        if (!fn) {
          continue
        }

        const args = call.function.arguments as { a: number; b: number }
        console.log(`Calling ${call.function.name} with arguments`, args)
        const result = fn(args.a, args.b)
        console.log(`Result: ${result}`)
        messages.push({ role: 'tool', tool_name: call.function.name, content: String(result) })
      }
    } else {
      break
    }
  }
}

agentLoop().catch(console.error)

Tool calling with streaming

When streaming, gather every chunk of thinking, content, and tool_calls, then return those fields together with any tool results in the follow-up request.

Python
JavaScript

from ollama import chat 


def get_temperature(city: str) -> str:
  """Get the current temperature for a city
  
  Args:
    city: The name of the city

  Returns:
    The current temperature for the city
  """
  temperatures = {
    'New York': '22°C',
    'London': '15°C',
  }
  return temperatures.get(city, 'Unknown')


messages = [{'role': 'user', 'content': "What is the temperature in New York?"}]

while True:
  stream = chat(
    model='qwen3',
    messages=messages,
    tools=[get_temperature],
    stream=True,
    think=True,
  )

  thinking = ''
  content = ''
  tool_calls = []

  done_thinking = False
  # accumulate the partial fields
  for chunk in stream:
    if chunk.message.thinking:
      thinking += chunk.message.thinking
      print(chunk.message.thinking, end='', flush=True)
    if chunk.message.content:
      if not done_thinking:
        done_thinking = True
        print('\n')
      content += chunk.message.content
      print(chunk.message.content, end='', flush=True)
    if chunk.message.tool_calls:
      tool_calls.extend(chunk.message.tool_calls)
      print(chunk.message.tool_calls)

  # append accumulated fields to the messages
  if thinking or content or tool_calls:
    messages.append({'role': 'assistant', 'thinking': thinking, 'content': content, 'tool_calls': tool_calls})

  if not tool_calls:
    break

  for call in tool_calls:
    if call.function.name == 'get_temperature':
      result = get_temperature(**call.function.arguments)
    else:
      result = 'Unknown tool'
    messages.append({'role': 'tool', 'tool_name': call.function.name, 'content': result})

import ollama from 'ollama'

function getTemperature(city: string): string {
  const temperatures: Record<string, string> = {
    'New York': '22°C',
    'London': '15°C',
  }
  return temperatures[city] ?? 'Unknown'
}

const getTemperatureTool = {
  type: 'function',
  function: {
    name: 'get_temperature',
    description: 'Get the current temperature for a city',
    parameters: {
      type: 'object',
      required: ['city'],
      properties: {
        city: { type: 'string', description: 'The name of the city' },
      },
    },
  },
}

async function agentLoop() {
  const messages = [{ role: 'user', content: "What is the temperature in New York?" }]

  while (true) {
    const stream = await ollama.chat({
      model: 'qwen3',
      messages,
      tools: [getTemperatureTool],
      stream: true,
      think: true,
    })

    let thinking = ''
    let content = ''
    const toolCalls: any[] = []
    let doneThinking = false

    for await (const chunk of stream) {
      if (chunk.message.thinking) {
        thinking += chunk.message.thinking
        process.stdout.write(chunk.message.thinking)
      }
      if (chunk.message.content) {
        if (!doneThinking) {
          doneThinking = true
          process.stdout.write('\n')
        }
        content += chunk.message.content
        process.stdout.write(chunk.message.content)
      }
      if (chunk.message.tool_calls?.length) {
        toolCalls.push(...chunk.message.tool_calls)
        console.log(chunk.message.tool_calls)
      }
    }

    if (thinking || content || toolCalls.length) {
      messages.push({ role: 'assistant', thinking, content, tool_calls: toolCalls } as any)
    }

    if (!toolCalls.length) {
      break
    }

    for (const call of toolCalls) {
      if (call.function.name === 'get_temperature') {
        const args = call.function.arguments as { city: string }
        const result = getTemperature(args.city)
        messages.push({ role: 'tool', tool_name: call.function.name, content: result } )
      } else {
        messages.push({ role: 'tool', tool_name: call.function.name, content: 'Unknown tool' } )
      }
    }
  }
}

agentLoop().catch(console.error)

This loop streams the assistant response, accumulates partial fields, passes them back together, and appends the tool results so the model can complete its answer.

Using functions as tools with Ollama Python SDK

The Python SDK automatically parses functions as a tool schema so we can pass them directly. Schemas can still be passed if needed.

from ollama import chat

def get_temperature(city: str) -> str:
  """Get the current temperature for a city
  
  Args:
    city: The name of the city

  Returns:
    The current temperature for the city
  """
  temperatures = {
    'New York': '22°C',
    'London': '15°C',
  }
  return temperatures.get(city, 'Unknown')

available_functions = {
  'get_temperature': get_temperature,
}
# directly pass the function as part of the tools list
response = chat(model='qwen3', messages=messages, tools=available_functions.values(), think=True)

Get started

Capabilities

More information

Calling a single tool

Parallel tool calling

Multi-turn tool calling (Agent loop)

Tool calling with streaming

Using functions as tools with Ollama Python SDK

​Calling a single tool

​Parallel tool calling

​Multi-turn tool calling (Agent loop)

​Tool calling with streaming

​Using functions as tools with Ollama Python SDK

Calling a single tool

Parallel tool calling

Multi-turn tool calling (Agent loop)

Tool calling with streaming

Using functions as tools with Ollama Python SDK