Built-in Tools Guide

Last Updated: 2025-10-25

Comprehensive guide to using Responses API built-in tools.

Available Tools

Tool	Purpose	Use Case
Code Interpreter	Execute Python code	Data analysis, calculations, charts
File Search	RAG without vector stores	Search uploaded files
Web Search	Real-time web info	Current events, fact-checking
Image Generation	DALL-E integration	Create images from descriptions
MCP	Connect external tools	Stripe, databases, custom APIs

Code Interpreter

Execute Python code server-side:

const response = await openai.responses.create({
  model: 'gpt-5',
  input: 'Calculate mean, median, mode of: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50',
  tools: [{ type: 'code_interpreter' }],
});

Features:

Sandboxed Python environment
Automatic chart generation
File processing support
Timeout: 30s (use background: true for longer)

File Search

RAG without building vector stores:

// 1. Upload file
const file = await openai.files.create({
  file: fs.createReadStream('./document.pdf'),
  purpose: 'assistants',
});

// 2. Search
const response = await openai.responses.create({
  model: 'gpt-5',
  input: 'What does the document say about pricing?',
  tools: [{ type: 'file_search', file_ids: [file.id] }],
});

Supported formats:

PDFs, Word docs, text files
Markdown, HTML, code files
Max: 512MB per file

Web Search

Real-time web information:

const response = await openai.responses.create({
  model: 'gpt-5',
  input: 'What are the latest AI news?',
  tools: [{ type: 'web_search' }],
});

Features:

No cutoff date limitations
Automatic source citations
Real-time data access

Image Generation

DALL-E integration:

const response = await openai.responses.create({
  model: 'gpt-5',
  input: 'Create an image of a futuristic cityscape at sunset',
  tools: [{ type: 'image_generation' }],
});

// Find image in output
response.output.forEach(item => {
  if (item.type === 'image_generation_call') {
    console.log('Image URL:', item.output.url);
  }
});

Models: DALL-E 3 (default)

Combining Tools

const response = await openai.responses.create({
  model: 'gpt-5',
  input: 'Find current Bitcoin price and calculate what $1000 would be worth',
  tools: [
    { type: 'web_search' },       // Get price
    { type: 'code_interpreter' }, // Calculate
  ],
});

Model automatically uses the right tool for each subtask.

Official Docs: https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/responses

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