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

# Skills

> Reusable instruction + tool bundles. Drop one in and the assistant gains a new ability.

A **Skill** is a packaged bundle of instructions and (optional) tools that the assistant loads on-demand. Think of it as a focused expertise the model can put on like a coat — *PDF-summarizer*, *Stripe-query-writer*, *React-code-reviewer*.

Open the Skills manager from the composer's `+` panel.

<Note>
  **Screenshot coming.** Skills manager with active and inactive skills.
</Note>

## Anatomy of a Skill

Every Skill is a ZIP that unpacks into a directory with:

* A **`SKILL.md`** at the root — the instructions the assistant uses to know what this skill does and how to behave when it's active.
* Any **supporting files** (templates, examples, configs) referenced by `SKILL.md`.
* An optional **connector binding** that hooks the skill to one of your [connectors](/foundry/connectors/overview).

## How they're used

1. Import a skill (drag-drop the ZIP). It lands in your Skills library.
2. **Activate** one or more skills before sending a prompt.
3. Active skills are surfaced to the assistant as part of the prompt — the model now "knows" how to behave like a PDF summarizer (or whatever else).

You can stack multiple active skills. The assistant blends their instructions intelligently.

## Three flavors

| Source       | What it is                                                         |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Official** | Maintained by IronLabs. Lives at `skills/official/...` in storage. |
| **Upload**   | Skills you uploaded yourself. Private to your account.             |
| **GitHub**   | Pulled from a public GitHub repo. Auto-syncs new versions.         |
| **Private**  | Internal skills shared inside your workspace.                      |

## Tips

* **One narrow skill > one big skill.** Skills compose. Three small, sharp skills beat one giant one.
* **Pair with a connector.** A *PDF Annotator* skill paired with the Firecrawl connector gives you a serious document workflow.

## Limits

* Active skill count caps out at a reasonable few — the model has a context budget. Disable what you're not using.
* Skill `SKILL.md` files are the source of truth. Heavy supporting files (large PDFs, images) work, but keep them light or the skill loads slow.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Using skills" icon="play" href="/foundry/skills/using-skills">
    Activate, stack, disable.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Importing skills" icon="upload" href="/foundry/skills/importing-skills">
    ZIP up your own.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connectors" icon="plug" href="/foundry/connectors/overview">
    Skills + connectors = workflow.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>