agents

---
name: agents
description: Build voice AI agents with ElevenLabs. Use when creating voice assistants, customer service bots, interactive voice characters, or any real-time voice conversation experience, and when configuring an agent's tools, workflows, or procedures, including creating, editing, compiling, and publishing procedure drafts on an agent branch over the SDKs or REST API.
license: MIT
---

# ElevenLabs Agents Platform

Build voice AI agents with natural conversations, multiple LLM providers, custom tools, and easy web embedding.

> **Setup:** See [Installation Guide](references/installation.md) for CLI and SDK setup.

## Quick Start with CLI

The ElevenLabs CLI is the recommended way to create and manage agents:

```bash
# Install CLI and authenticate
npm install -g @elevenlabs/cli
elevenlabs auth login

# Initialize project and create an agent
elevenlabs agents init
elevenlabs agents add "My Assistant" --template complete

# Push to ElevenLabs platform
elevenlabs agents push
```

**Available templates:** `complete`, `minimal`, `voice-only`, `text-only`, `customer-service`, `assistant`

### Python

```python
from elevenlabs import ElevenLabs

client = ElevenLabs()

agent = client.conversational_ai.agents.create(
    name="My Assistant",
    conversation_config={
        "agent": {
            "first_message": "Hello! How can I help?",
            "language": "en",
            "prompt": {
                "prompt": "You are a helpful assistant. Be concise and friendly.",
                "llm": "gemini-2.0-flash",
                "temperature": 0.7
            }
        },
        "tts": {"voice_id": "JBFqnCBsd6RMkjVDRZzb"}
    }
)
```

### JavaScript

```javascript
import { ElevenLabsClient } from "@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js";
const client = new ElevenLabsClient();

const agent = await client.conversationalAi.agents.create({
  name: "My Assistant",
  conversationConfig: {
    agent: {
      firstMessage: "Hello! How can I help?",
      language: "en",
      prompt: {
        prompt: "You are a helpful assistant.",
        llm: "gemini-2.0-flash",
        temperature: 0.7
      }
    },
    tts: { voiceId: "JBFqnCBsd6RMkjVDRZzb" }
  }
});
```

### cURL

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/convai/agents/create" \
  -H "xi-api-key: $ELEVENLABS_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "My Assistant", "conversation_config": {"agent": {"first_message": "Hello!", "language": "en", "prompt": {"prompt": "You are helpful.", "llm": "gemini-2.0-flash"}}, "tts": {"voice_id": "JBFqnCBsd6RMkjVDRZzb"}}}'
```

## Starting Conversations

### Temporary LiveKit WebSocket Pin

Until the ElevenLabs LiveKit server supports `/rtc/v1`, browser clients using WebRTC can fail or stall during the underlying LiveKit WebSocket handshake with `livekit-client` versions newer than `2.16.1`. For React, Next.js, Electron, or other `@elevenlabs/client` / `@elevenlabs/react` integrations that use `connectionType: "webrtc"` or hit `wss://livekit.rtc.elevenlabs.io/rtc/v1`, add this temporary pin to `package.json`:

```json
{
  "overrides": {
    "livekit-client": "2.16.1"
  }
}
```

Use the pin when the app logs `/rtc/v1` 404s, `v1 RTC path not found`, or `could not establish pc connection` during session startup. This is a LiveKit server compatibility workaround for WebRTC sessions, not the ElevenLabs `connectionType: "websocket"` transport. Remove it after the upstream LiveKit server or SDK issue is fixed.

**Authenticated WebRTC:** Request a session token from your backend. The response includes both
the token and the conversation ID:
```python
session = client.conversational_ai.conversations.get_webrtc_token(
    agent_id="your-agent-id",
)
print(session.token, session.conversation_id)
```

**Server-side (Python):** Get signed URL for client connection:
```python
signed_url = client.conversational_ai.conversations.get_signed_url(
    agent_id="your-agent-id",
    environment="staging",
)
```

**Client-side (JavaScript):**
```javascript
import { Conversation } from "@elevenlabs/client";

const conversation = await Conversation.startSession({
  agentId: "your-agent-id",
  environment: "staging",
  overrides: { asr: { keywords: ["ElevenLabs", "TechCorp"] } },
  onMessage: (msg) => console.log("Agent:", msg.message),
  onUserTranscript: (t) => console.log("User:", t.message),
  onPing: (event) => console.log("Estimated latency:", event.ping_ms),
  onError: (e) => console.error(e)
});
```

**React Hook:** Wrap hook consumers in `ConversationProvider`. Prefer granular hooks such as
`useConversationControls` and `useConversationStatus` for session controls and UI state;
`useConversation` remains available as the convenience all-in-one hook. Pass provider-level
callbacks such as `onError` when you want React to handle conversation errors in one place.
```typescript
import {
  ConversationProvider,
  useConversationControls,
  useConversationStatus,
} from "@elevenlabs/react";

function Agent({ signedUrl }: { signedUrl: string }) {
  const { startSession, endSession } = useConversationControls();
  const { status } = useConversationStatus();

  if (status === "connected") {
    return <button onClick={endSession}>End conversation</button>;
  }

  return (
    <button onClick={() => startSession({ signedUrl })}>
      Start conversation
    </button>
  );
}

function App({ signedUrl }: { signedUrl: string }) {
  return (
    <ConversationProvider
      onError={(error) => console.error("Conversation error:", error)}
      onPing={(event) => console.log("Estimated latency:", event.ping_ms)}
    >
      <Agent signedUrl={signedUrl} />
    </ConversationProvider>
  );
}
```

## Configuration

| Provider | Models |
|----------|--------|
| OpenAI | `gpt-5.6-sol`, `gpt-5.6-terra`, `gpt-5.6-luna`, `gpt-5.5`, `gpt-5.5-2026-04-23`, `gpt-5.4`, `gpt-5.4-mini`, `gpt-5.4-nano`, `gpt-5.4-2026-03-05`, `gpt-5.4-mini-2026-03-17`, `gpt-5.4-nano-2026-03-17`, `gpt-5`, `gpt-5-mini`, `gpt-5-nano`, `gpt-4.1`, `gpt-4.1-mini`, `gpt-4.1-nano`, `gpt-4o`, `gpt-4o-mini`, `gpt-4-turbo` |
| Anthropic | `claude-opus-4-7`, `claude-sonnet-4-6`, `claude-sonnet-4-5`, `claude-sonnet-4`, `claude-haiku-4-5`, `claude-3-7-sonnet`, `claude-3-5-sonnet`, `claude-3-haiku` |
| Google | `gemini-3.7-flash`, `gemini-3.6-flash`, `gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview`, `gemini-3.1-pro-preview`, `gemini-3-pro-preview`, `gemini-3-flash-preview`, `gemini-2.5-flash`, `gemini-2.5-flash-lite`, `gemini-2.0-flash`, `gemini-2.0-flash-lite` |
| ElevenLabs | `glm-45-air-fp8`, `qwen3-30b-a3b`, `qwen36-35b-a3b`, `qwen35-35b-a3b`, `qwen35-397b-a17b`, `gpt-oss-120b` |
| Custom | `custom-llm` (bring your own endpoint) |

Use `GET /v1/convai/llm/list` to inspect the current model catalog, including deprecation state, token/context limits, capability flags such as image-input support, and model-specific reasoning effort support.

**Popular voices:** `JBFqnCBsd6RMkjVDRZzb` (George), `EXAVITQu4vr4xnSDxMaL` (Sarah), `onwK4e9ZLuTAKqWW03F9` (Daniel), `XB0fDUnXU5powFXDhCwa` (Charlotte)

**Turn eagerness:** `patient` (waits longer for user to finish), `normal`, or `eager` (responds quickly)

See [Agent Configuration](references/agent-configuration.md) for all options.

## System Prompt Structure

Section the prompt with markdown headings — the model prioritizes and interprets instructions more reliably ([prompting guide](https://elevenlabs.io/docs/eleven-agents/best-practices/prompting-guide)):

```
# Personality   – named character, 2-3 traits
# Environment   – where they work, who they talk to
# Tone          – vocal style as 4-5 bullets
# Goal          – what success looks like (numbered for multi-step flows)
```

Keep instructions short and action-based. Mark critical steps with "This step is important." For critical refusal/safety rules, include concise instructions in the prompt and also configure independent custom Guardrails via `platform_settings.guardrails` (see [Guardrails](#guardrails)).

## Tools

Extend agents with webhook, client, or built-in system tools. Tools are defined inside `conversation_config.agent.prompt`:

Workspace environment variables can resolve per-environment server tool URLs, headers, and auth connections, and runtime system variables such as `{{system__conversation_history}}` can pass full conversation context into tool calls when needed.

```python
"prompt": {
    "prompt": "You are a helpful assistant that can check the weather.",
    "llm": "gemini-2.0-flash",
    "tools": [
        # Webhook: server-side API call
        {"type": "webhook", "name": "get_weather", "description": "Get weather",
         "api_schema": {"url": "https://api.example.com/weather", "method": "POST",
             "request_body_schema": {"type": "object", "properties": {"location": {"type": "string"}}, "required": ["location"]}}},
        # Client: runs in the browser
        {"type": "client", "name": "show_product", "description": "Display a product",
         "parameters": {"type": "object", "properties": {"productId": {"type": "string"}}, "required": ["productId"]}}
    ],
    "built_in_tools": {
        "end_call": {},
        "transfer_to_number": {"transfers": [{"transfer_destination": {"type": "phone", "phone_number": "+1234567890"}, "condition": "User asks for human support"}]},
        "start_procedure": {}
    }
}
```

**Client tools** run in browser:
```javascript
clientTools: {
  show_product: async ({ productId }) => {
    document.getElementById("product").src = `/products/${productId}`;
    return { success: true };
  }
}
```

See [Client Tools Reference](references/client-tools.md) for complete documentation.

### Built-in System Tools

Set under `conversation_config.agent.prompt.built_in_tools`. `{}` enables defaults; provide `description` to customize; omit to disable.

| Tool | Enable for |
|------|------------|
| `end_call` | All agents |
| `language_detection` | Multilingual agents |
| `transfer_to_number` | Phone-based human escalation |
| `transfer_to_agent` | Multi-agent workflows |
| `start_procedure` | Procedure-guided conversations (see [Procedures](#procedures)) |
| `end_procedure` | Completing active procedures |
| `skip_turn` | Tutoring / coaching (silent listening) |
| `voicemail_detection` | Outbound calling |
| `play_keypad_touch_tone` | IVR navigation |

`run_subagent` is a system tool for delegating a task to another configured agent. Add it to
`conversation_config.agent.prompt.tools` with `params.system_tool_type: "run_subagent"` and an
`agents` array. Each entry requires `agent_id` and `description`; `branch_id` and a JSON-schema
`parameters` object are optional.

`knowledge_base` is a system tool for letting the model choose how to inspect attached knowledge.
Add it to `conversation_config.agent.prompt.tools` with `type: "system"`, a `name`, and
`params.system_tool_type: "knowledge_base"`. Use `enabled_strategies` to expose any combination of
`cat`, `keyword`, `semantic`, and `ls`:

```json
{
  "type": "system",
  "name": "knowledge_base",
  "description": "Search the attached knowledge base.",
  "params": {
    "system_tool_type": "knowledge_base",
    "enabled_strategies": ["semantic", "keyword"]
  }
}
```

### Integration Tools

Pre-built connectors managed by the platform. Create a connection with credentials, then attach via `tool_ids`:

| Integration | Use case |
|-------------|----------|
| `calcom` | Scheduling appointments |
| `salesforce` | CRM lookups, case creation |
| `hubspot` | CRM, marketing, contacts |
| `zendesk` | Support ticketing |

Three-step flow: `POST /v1/convai/api-integrations/{id}/connections` → `GET /v1/convai/api-integrations/{id}/tools` → `POST /v1/convai/tools` with `api_integration_id` and `api_integration_connection_id`. Attach to the agent with `"prompt": {"tool_ids": ["tool_xxxx"]}`. Inline `tools` and `tool_ids` can coexist — prefer an integration over a duplicate custom webhook.

### Public-API Webhook Examples

No-auth APIs useful for prototypes (URLs must be HTTPS):

| Tool | URL | Purpose |
|------|-----|---------|
| `get_weather` | `https://wttr.in/{location}?format=j1` | Current weather |
| `search_wikipedia` | `https://en.wikipedia.org/api/rest_v1/page/summary/{topic}` | Topic summary |
| `get_exchange_rate` | `https://open.er-api.com/v6/latest/{base_currency}` | FX rates |

## Workflows

Route conversations through discrete steps with branching logic. Define under the agent's top-level `workflow` field. Reference: [Agent Workflows](https://elevenlabs.io/docs/eleven-agents/customization/agent-workflows).

**Node types:** `start` (ID must be `"start_node"`), `end`, `override_agent` (subagent step with `label` + `additional_prompt`), `dispatch_tool` (executes a tool with success/failure routing), `agent_transfer`, `transfer_to_number`.

**Edge types:** `unconditional`, `llm` (natural-language condition), `expression` (deterministic data check). Tool nodes have separate success/failure edges.

**Scope tools per step** with `additional_tool_ids` on a node — prevents the wrong tool firing at the wrong step. Set `additional_tool_ids: []` on conversational routing nodes such as greeting and `classify_intent` so they only converse:

```json
{
  "type": "override_agent",
  "label": "Book Appointment",
  "additional_prompt": "Discuss preferred dates and doctors. Show the booking form once agreed.",
  "entry_behavior": "wait_for_user",
  "additional_tool_ids": ["show_booking_form", "display_appointment_card"],
  "position": {"x": 0, "y": 400}
}
```

Include `position` (`{x, y}`) on every node so the editor renders cleanly. Start at `y=0`, put `end` at the bottom, and space branches horizontally at `x=-150` and `x=150`; suggested spacing is 200px vertical between levels and 300px horizontal between branches. Keep workflows to 4-7 nodes and always have a path to `end`.

Use `entry_behavior` on `override_agent` nodes to choose whether a sub-agent speaks immediately (`generate_immediately`), waits for user input (`wait_for_user`), or lets the platform decide (`auto`).

For nested agent transfers, set `enable_nesting` on a `standalone_agent` node and
`return_when_nested` on an `end` node that should return control to the parent workflow.

## Procedures

Reusable instruction blocks an agent runs when a trigger matches. A procedure is `free_form` (markdown guidance the agent adapts, and the only type that can reference knowledge base documents) or `deterministic` (ordered, typed steps for flows that must run consistently). Procedures are in Alpha. See [Using the Procedure API](references/using-procedure-api.md) for the full REST and SDK flow, and [Writing Procedures](references/writing-procedures.md) for the step schema and authoring rules.

Procedures live on an agent branch, and every write stages a per-user draft:

| Operation | Call |
|-----------|------|
| List, create, read, update, discard, remove | `/v1/convai/agents/{agent_id}/branches/{branch_id}/procedures...` (`procedures.*` and `procedures.drafts.*` in the SDKs) |
| Compile | `POST .../procedures/compile` (`procedures.compile`) |
| Publish | `PATCH /v1/convai/agents/{agent_id}?branch_id=...` (`agents.update`) |

Semantics worth knowing before writing any of these calls:

- Nothing reaches the live agent until you publish. Publishing is not a procedure endpoint; one PATCH on the agent versions every changed procedure draft on the branch.
- `GET .../procedures/{procedure_id}` reads branch HEAD and returns `404` until that procedure's first publish. Read the `/draft` variant to see a procedure you just created; do not retry the create.
- Compile only when structured (`deterministic`) procedures changed. Compilation turns them into workflow nodes, so the publish must carry the `workflow` that compile returned. Free-form-only changes publish without compiling, because the agent loads free-form procedures from their published versions.
- Compile validates structured content and is the only way to check it. On `400` it returns `errors` keyed by procedure ID with the offending field `path`; repair the draft and compile again rather than publishing.
- A draft update replaces the whole body. Read the draft first, then resend `name`, `type`, and `trigger` alongside the new `content`.
- `content` is markdown for a `free_form` procedure, and a JSON-encoded object with a `trigger` and a `steps` array for a `deterministic` one. Serialize it; do not hand-escape quotes.
- Routing is driven by the `trigger` text, not the procedure name. Write concrete, non-overlapping triggers that cover the phrasings a user would actually say.
- Procedure APIs require `elevenlabs` (Python) or `@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js` at `2.60.0` or newer.

## Guardrails

Layered safety enforcement that runs independently of the LLM — configured under `platform_settings.guardrails`, not in the system prompt. Reference: [Guardrails](https://elevenlabs.io/docs/eleven-agents/best-practices/guardrails).

```json
"platform_settings": {
  "guardrails": {
    "version": "1",
    "focus": {"is_enabled": true},
    "prompt_injection": {"is_enabled": true},
    "content": {"config": {"harassment": {"is_enabled": true, "threshold": 0.5}}},
    "custom": {
      "config": {
        "configs": [{
          "is_enabled": true,
          "name": "No medical diagnoses",
          "prompt": "Block the agent from providing medical diagnoses or treatment advice.",
          "execution_mode": "blocking",
          "model": "gemini-2.5-flash-lite",
          "history_message_count": 1,
          "trigger_action": {"type": "retry", "feedback": "Reason: {{trigger_reason}}"}
        }]
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**Types:** `focus` (on-topic), `prompt_injection` (manipulation defense), `content` (category filters), `custom` (LLM-evaluated domain rules). Content categories include `harassment`, `profanity`, `sexual`, `violence`, `self_harm`, and `medical_and_legal_information` — threshold range `0.0`–`1.0` (default `0.3`). Custom rules use `execution_mode: "blocking"` with a `model`, `history_message_count`, and `trigger_action` (e.g., `retry` with feedback). Custom guardrails evaluate in parallel and fail-open.

**Per vertical:** healthcare/finance/legal → enable `medical_and_legal_information`; education/youth → `sexual`/`violence`/`self_harm`/`profanity`; support/sales → `harassment`/`profanity`. All agents benefit from `focus` + `prompt_injection` + 2-4 custom rules.

## Testing Agents

Three test types via `POST /v1/convai/agent-testing/create`, then attached with PATCH on the agent. Reference: [Agent Testing](https://elevenlabs.io/docs/eleven-agents/customization/agent-testing).

| Type | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `llm` | Scenario test — does the agent respond appropriately to a message? |
| `tool` | Tool-call test — right tool, right parameters? |
| `simulation` | Multi-turn flow with a simulated user persona |

```json
// Tool-call test (snake_case throughout; chat_history role is "user" or "agent")
{
  "name": "Books with correct doctor and date",
  "type": "tool",
  "chat_history": [
    {"role": "user", "message": "Dr. Smith on March 5 at 2pm", "time_in_call_secs": 10}
  ],
  "tool_call_parameters": {
    "referenced_tool": {"id": "show_booking_form", "type": "client"},
    "parameters": [
      {"path": "doctor_name", "eval": {"type": "llm", "description": "Should reference Dr. Smith"}},
      {"path": "date", "eval": {"type": "regex", "pattern": "2025-03-05|March 5"}}
    ]
  }
}
```

Eval strategies: `exact`, `regex`, `llm`. Prompt evaluation criteria can use binary scoring or
numeric scoring with `scoring_mode: "numeric_uniform"`, `max_score`, and `score_instructions`;
numeric scores are normalized into the aggregate conversation success percentage. Attach via PATCH:

```bash
curl -s -X PATCH "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/convai/agents/{agent_id}" \
  -H "xi-api-key: $ELEVENLABS_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"platform_settings": {"testing": {"attached_tests": [{"test_id": "test_xxxx"}]}}}'
```

Run selected tests with `POST /v1/convai/agents/{agent_id}/run-tests`. The request
body requires `tests` and accepts `repeat_count` from `1` to `50` for repeated runs.
Simulation tests can define up to 30 `success_conditions` prompts; all criteria are
evaluated and merged into the final result.
Simulation tests can also define `tool_mock_overrides`, keyed by tool ID, to replace shared response
mocks for one test. Each override is an array of mocks with a required `mock_result`; set
`is_error: true` to exercise a tool-failure path. Overrides only apply to tools enabled for mocking
through `tool_mock_config`.
For completed conversations, rerun one evaluation criterion with `POST /v1/convai/conversations/{conversation_id}/analysis/evaluations/run` and a request body containing `evaluation_id`.

## Widget Embedding

```html
<elevenlabs-convai agent-id="your-agent-id"></elevenlabs-convai>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/@elevenlabs/convai-widget-embed" async type="text/javascript"></script>
```

Customize with attributes: `avatar-image-url`, `action-text`, `start-call-text`, `end-call-text`.

See [Widget Embedding Reference](references/widget-embedding.md) for all options.

## Outbound Calls

Make outbound phone calls using your agent via Twilio or Exotel integration:

The examples below use Twilio. See the reference for Exotel REST usage.

### Python

```python
response = client.conversational_ai.twilio.outbound_call(
    agent_id="your-agent-id",
    agent_phone_number_id="your-phone-number-id",
    to_number="+1234567890",
    call_recording_enabled=True
)
print(f"Call initiated: {response.conversation_id}")
```

### JavaScript

```javascript
const response = await client.conversationalAi.twilio.outboundCall({
  agentId: "your-agent-id",
  agentPhoneNumberId: "your-phone-number-id",
  toNumber: "+1234567890",
  callRecordingEnabled: true,
});
```

### cURL

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/convai/twilio/outbound-call" \
  -H "xi-api-key: $ELEVENLABS_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"agent_id": "your-agent-id", "agent_phone_number_id": "your-phone-number-id", "to_number": "+1234567890", "call_recording_enabled": true}'
```

See [Outbound Calls Reference](references/outbound-calls.md) for provider-specific endpoints, configuration overrides, and dynamic variables.

## Managing Agents

### Using CLI (Recommended)

```bash
# List agents and check status
elevenlabs agents list
elevenlabs agents status

# Import agents from platform to local config
elevenlabs agents pull                      # Import all agents
elevenlabs agents pull --agent <agent-id>   # Import specific agent

# Push local changes to platform
elevenlabs agents push              # Upload configurations
elevenlabs agents push --dry-run    # Preview changes first

# Add tools
elevenlabs tools add-webhook "Weather API"
elevenlabs tools add-client "UI Tool"
```

### Project Structure

The CLI creates a project structure for managing agents:

```
your_project/
├── agents.json       # Agent definitions
├── tools.json        # Tool configurations
├── tests.json        # Test configurations
├── agent_configs/    # Individual agent configs
├── tool_configs/     # Individual tool configs
└── test_configs/     # Individual test configs
```

### SDK Examples

```python
# List
agents = client.conversational_ai.agents.list()

# Get
agent = client.conversational_ai.agents.get(agent_id="your-agent-id")

# Update (partial - only include fields to change)
client.conversational_ai.agents.update(agent_id="your-agent-id", name="New Name")
client.conversational_ai.agents.update(agent_id="your-agent-id",
    conversation_config={
        "agent": {"prompt": {"prompt": "New instructions", "llm": "claude-sonnet-4"}}
    })

# Delete
client.conversational_ai.agents.delete(agent_id="your-agent-id")
```

See [Agent Configuration](references/agent-configuration.md) for all configuration options and SDK examples.

## Error Handling

```python
try:
    agent = client.conversational_ai.agents.create(...)
except Exception as e:
    print(f"API error: {e}")
```

Common errors: **401** (invalid key), **404** (not found), **422** (invalid config), **429** (rate limit)

## References

- [Installation Guide](references/installation.md) - SDK setup and migration
- [Agent Configuration](references/agent-configuration.md) - All config options and CRUD examples
- [Client Tools](references/client-tools.md) - Webhook, client, and system tools
- [Using the Procedure API](references/using-procedure-api.md) - Procedure REST and SDK flow, compile and publish
- [Writing Procedures](references/writing-procedures.md) - Trigger and content authoring, step schema
- [Widget Embedding](references/widget-embedding.md) - Website integration
- [Outbound Calls](references/outbound-calls.md) - Phone call integrations