> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.aident.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Skills

> The named actions a playbook step can take

A **Skill** is one named thing Aident knows how to do — send an email, post a message in a channel, read a spreadsheet, search the web. Every step in a playbook either uses a skill or describes an action that maps to one.

***

## How a Skill Shows Up

Inside a step, a skill appears as a small pill on the line where it's used. The pill is a quick, at-a-glance reminder of what that step actually does.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aidentai/crni0s_EV3xqJFqx/images/skills/skill-pill.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=crni0s_EV3xqJFqx&q=85&s=672df1e28376697bac1db9b1f8cf05e7" alt="A skill pill shown inline on a step in the playbook editor" width="1400" height="346" data-path="images/skills/skill-pill.png" />
</Frame>

* Hover over a skill pill to see what it does. Click it to open the related integration when there is one.
* If the skill requires an app, the matching pill in the editor's **⚙️ Integrations** section lights up.

You don't pick skills from a menu. Write your step in plain English and Aiden figures out which skill to reach for.

<Info>
  When Aiden drafts or edits your plan, it automatically finds skills that match what each step is trying to do. You can always rework a step and Aiden will re-resolve the skills.
</Info>

***

## Two Flavors

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="One-step actions" icon="bolt">
    Do a single thing, like sending an email or posting a message. Fast and focused.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Multi-step workflows" icon="layer-group">
    Bundle several actions into one reusable unit — for example, "research a topic and write a summary". One pill, several things happening under the hood.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Both flavors look the same when you use them in a step. The difference only matters when you're curious what's inside.

***

## Skills That Need an App

A skill that talks to the outside world needs an integration to work. "Send an email" needs Gmail. "Post a message" needs Slack, Discord, or Telegram. "Read a spreadsheet" needs Google Sheets.

When a step uses one of these skills:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Aiden adds the app">
    The needed integration shows up as a pill in the **⚙️ Integrations** section of your playbook.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You sign in once">
    If the pill is orange, click it and finish a standard sign-in. The pill turns white.
  </Step>

  <Step title="The skill just works">
    From there on, any step that uses this skill runs without asking you again.
  </Step>
</Steps>

See [Integrations](/documentation/integrations) for the full connection story.

***

## Browsing the Catalog

You don't have to browse skills to use them, but you can. Open **Connections** from the left sidebar and pick the **Skills** tab to see what Aident knows how to do across communication, productivity, research, developer tools, and more.

<Tip>
  Browsing the catalog is a nice way to get ideas for new playbooks. If you see something useful, write a Goal that describes it and let Aiden take it from there.
</Tip>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Integrations" icon="plug" href="/documentation/integrations">
    Connect the apps your skills rely on
  </Card>

  <Card title="Playbooks" icon="book" href="/documentation/playbooks">
    See skill pills living inside real steps
  </Card>
</CardGroup>