Plug-ins extend LLM applications with external capabilities like web search, calculations, and data processing. Each plug-in wraps one or more API tools the LLM calls at runtime.
Model Studio provides ready-to-use official plug-ins and supports custom plug-ins for your own APIs or third-party services.
How plug-ins work
The model evaluates each request against available tool names and descriptions to decide whether to call a tool.
Agent applications
In agent applications, the LLM autonomously decides which tools to call:
| Step | Actor | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | User | Sends a request to the application |
| 2 | LLM | Evaluates the request against available tool names and descriptions |
| 3 | LLM | Selects a tool and generates the required parameters. If no tool is needed, responds directly. |
| 4 | Application | Calls the tool and receives the output |
| 5 | LLM | Combines the tool output with the original request and generates the final response |
Workflow applications
In workflow applications, plug-ins run as predefined nodes you configure upfront (not LLM-decided at runtime).
Official plug-ins
The Plug-in Gallery provides pre-installed plug-ins ready to use — no configuration required. For the full list, see Official plug-ins.
| Name | Tool ID | What it does | Billing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python Code Interpreter | code_interpreter |
Executes Python code for calculations, data analysis, and visualization | Free |
| Calculator | calculator |
Performs mathematical calculations like 12313 * 13232 |
Free |
| Image Generation | text_to_image |
Generates images from text prompts such as "draw a smiling puppy" | Free for a limited period. Apply for access first. |
Plug-in in action
Ask "What is 12313 x 13232?" Without a plug-in, the model may return an incorrect answer. With the Calculator plug-in, it delegates the calculation and returns the exact result: 162,925,616.
| Without a plug-in | With a plug-in |
|---|---|
| The model attempts the calculation on its own and may produce an incorrect answer. | The model calls the Calculator tool and returns the exact result. |
 |
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Custom plug-ins
Create custom plug-ins for features specific to your use case.
For instructions, see Create custom plug-ins.
Supported models
| Model | Model identifier |
|---|---|
| Qwen-Turbo | qwen-turbo |
| Qwen-Plus | qwen-plus |
| Qwen-Max | qwen-max |
| Qwen VL-Max | qwen-vl-max |
| Qwen VL-Plus | qwen-vl-plus |
| Qwen2-57B-A14B-Instruct | qwen2-57b-a14b-instruct |
| Qwen2-72B-Instruct | qwen2-72b-instruct |
Open-source Qwen2 models do not support Image Generation. Check the console for the latest compatibility.
For the complete model catalog, see List of models.
What's next
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Official plug-ins -- Browse available plug-ins and their capabilities
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Create custom plug-ins -- Build plug-ins tailored to your use case
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Agent applications -- Build applications where the LLM autonomously selects and calls tools
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Workflow applications -- Design applications with predefined tool execution sequences