Tools reference

This page lists every tool in Darwin AI, grouped by family. It is a reference for agency developers and curious site owners. You do not need to learn tool names to use Darwin AI: the chat and your agents choose the tools.

Tools, modes and levels

A tool is one thing Darwin AI can work on, such as content, menus or theme files. Each tool has one or more modes: the specific operations it can do. For example, content_read has an info mode (facts about one post) and a search mode (find posts by keyword).

Tool names follow one pattern: the thing, then a verb.

Verb	Means
_read	Looks only. Changes nothing.
_create_or_update	Creates or edits content, files or records.
_manage	Changes the state of something that already exists, such as activating a plugin or changing a post's status.
_trash_or_reset	Removes things, and puts back what was removed.

A few tools keep their own names: get_info, send_report and the migrate_ tools. Two helpers, batch and op, are always available (see below).

Levels. Every mode needs a permission level: Inspector, Editor, Builder, Manager or Owner. The table column Level shows the lowest level that can use the tool's changing modes, with exceptions named. A pass at a lower level is refused, and the refusal names the level needed. The levels are explained in Passes (handoffs) and access levels.

Dry runs. Every mode that changes something accepts a dry run, which reports the exact plan and changes nothing. See Safety nets.

Plugin-specific tools appear only when that plugin is active on the site. Rank Math's redirection, 404, sitemap and IndexNow tools appear only while that Rank Math module is switched on.

Browsing tools in wp-admin. In the Darwin AI panel, click the Tools (spanner) button. The Tools window lists every tool on your site, filtered by level, with a Search tools and modes… box. It only describes tools; it never runs them.

Content

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
content_read	info, bundle, content, meta, list, search, scan, rendered, references, templates, terms	Read only	Read posts, pages and custom post types: facts, body, meta, the page as visitors get it, searches, site-wide text scans, and every place a post is referenced.
content_create_or_update	post, bulk, duplicate, template, type, replace	Editor	Create or update posts of any type (up to 100 at once, validated first), duplicate a post with its terms and meta, set its template, move posts to another type, and replace text across posts with recovery.
content_manage	status	Editor	Change the status of many posts at once. Never moves anything to the bin.
content_trash_or_reset	trash, restore, revert, revert_edit, delete, empty_trash, recovery	Editor; delete, empty_trash and recovery need Owner	Bin and restore posts, revert to a WordPress revision or a pre-edit snapshot, delete permanently, and manage the snapshot store.

Media

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
media_read	list, details, references, scan	Read only	Browse the media library, see one file in full, find where a file is used, and scan for unused files.
media_create_or_update	upload, details, edit, rename, replace, regenerate	Editor; SVG uploads need Builder	Upload files (duplicates detected), set alt text and captions, crop, resize, rotate or flip images, rename or replace the file behind an attachment, and regenerate image sizes.
media_trash_or_reset	detach, delete	Editor; delete needs Owner	Detach files from a post, or delete them permanently after checking where they are used.

Menus

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
menu_read	list, items	Read only	List menus and theme menu locations, and show one menu's items as a tree.
menu_create_or_update	menu, items, location	Editor	Create or rename a menu, replace its items (checked as a whole first), and assign it to a theme location.
menu_trash_or_reset	delete, clear	Owner	Delete a menu, or empty it while keeping it in place.

Widgets

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
widget_read	areas, widget, types, scan	Read only	Widget areas (sidebars, headers and footers of classic themes) and their widgets, the widget types available, and a site-wide map of what renders.
widget_create_or_update	widget, place	Builder	Add or change a widget, and set which widgets an area holds and in what order.
widget_trash_or_reset	deactivate, restore, delete	Builder; delete needs Owner	Move widgets to the inactive area with settings kept, put them back, or delete them for good.

Site settings

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
site_read	info, settings, environment, hooks, users	Read only (settings, environment and hooks need Editor; users needs Manager)	Site identity and content types, WordPress settings, server versions and limits, the code attached to any hook, and user lookup.
site_create_or_update	front_page, settings, admin_email	Editor for front_page; Manager for settings; Owner for admin_email	Set the front page and posts page, change general, reading, discussion and permalink settings, and change the administration email.

Theme files

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
theme_read	info, tree, file, search, lint, backups	Read only (most modes need Editor)	The active theme's facts, files, contents and search, syntax checks, and the backups taken before writes. Can also read the parent theme.
theme_create_or_update	write, patch, scaffold, child	Builder; writing or replacing PHP needs Owner	Write or patch theme files (backed up and syntax-checked), add starter files in the house style, and create a child theme.
theme_trash_or_reset	delete, restore	Builder; restoring a PHP file needs Owner	Delete theme files with a backup, or restore one from a backup. Core theme files are protected.

Darwin AI only writes to the active theme, never a parent theme, because a theme update would wipe the changes.

MU-plugins

Must-use plugins are code files WordPress loads on every request, before normal plugins, with no on/off switch in wp-admin.

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
mu_plugin_read	info, tree, file, search, lint, backups	Read only (most modes need Editor)	See which must-use plugins load, read and search them, check syntax, and list backups.
mu_plugin_create_or_update	write, patch	Owner	Write or patch a must-use plugin, syntax-checked and backed up.
mu_plugin_manage	disable, enable	Owner	Switch one off by renaming it, or back on after a syntax check.
mu_plugin_trash_or_reset	delete, restore	Owner	Delete files with a backup, or restore one.

Plugins

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
plugin_read	list, details, tree, file, search, lint	Read only (Editor)	Installed plugins with versions and pending updates, and their files, for understanding how a plugin works. Plugin files are never edited.
plugin_manage	activate, deactivate, install	Owner	Activate a plugin with a front-end health check and automatic deactivation if the site breaks, deactivate one, or install one from a zip after inspecting it.
plugin_trash_or_reset	delete	Owner	Delete an inactive plugin, running its own uninstall routine. There is no undo except reinstalling.

Uploads

These tools handle files in the uploads folder that the media library does not own (orphan files). Files the library owns are refused and pointed to the media tools.

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
uploads_read	files, tree, file, search, backups	Read only (files is Inspector; others Editor)	List a folder with each file marked as library-owned or orphan, read and search text files, and list backups.
uploads_create_or_update	write, move	Editor	Write an orphan file (backed up first) or move one, with its generated sizes, to another folder.
uploads_trash_or_reset	delete, restore	Editor for restore; delete needs Owner	Delete orphan files, each backed up first, or restore one.

Safe updates

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
update_read	plan, runs, run	Read only (Editor)	Pending plugin, theme and WordPress updates after a fresh check, with warnings and snapshot size, and the reports of past runs.
update_manage	start, check, browse, apply, verify, finish, rollback, splash	Owner	Run a safe update step by step: checks before, splash page, snapshot, update, checks after, automatic rollback, finish. Also a manual rollback within 7 days.
update_trash_or_reset	purge	Owner	Delete kept update runs and their snapshots before their 7 days are up.

This is the only way Darwin AI applies pending updates. See Safe update.

Migration

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
migrate_export	posts	Editor (read only)	Turn posts into portable packages another Darwin AI site can recreate: content, terms, author, parent, ACF values, media as links.
migrate_import	posts, media	Editor	Recreate exported posts here, with media downloaded and links, terms and authors matched, all checked before anything is written. Safe to run again.
migrate_pull	posts	Owner	Export from another Darwin AI site and import here in one call, using a lease for that site.

Visual checks and design

Several of these work with the harness: a page of your site that the agent opens in a browser, which Darwin AI then uses to measure the page as visitors see it.

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
render_read	open, status, check, target, release, shot, diff, references, result	Read only	Open the harness, check a page at several widths for problems visitors would meet, show one element for a screenshot, and compare screenshots with stored references.
render_create_or_update	reference, mockup	Builder	Store a screenshot or a design mockup under a name, to compare later builds against.
render_trash_or_reset	references, mockups, session	Builder	Delete stored references or mockups, or close the harness session.
diff_read	content, structure, design, pixel, all	Read only	Compare a page with its mockup or another page, section by section: wording, structure, design at three widths, and pixels.
helper_read	pixel_diff, figma_html	Read only	Heavy work done on the server: compare two screenshots, or turn a Figma frame into a static page. Touches nothing on the site.

Agent discovery and reporting

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
get_info	start, knowledge, tools, tool_desc, mode_desc, skills, helpers, commands	Read only	How an agent learns the site: the knowledge base, the tool and skill lists, and the full description of any mode.
send_report	submit	Inspector	Report a tool error or missing feature to Darwin Labs. Off until an administrator switches reporting on. See Privacy.

batch and op

batch runs up to 10 tool calls in one request, in order. Each call is checked, recorded in History and counted against the lease exactly as if sent alone. A batch is not all-or-nothing: calls before a failure have already happened. Agents are told never to put the dry run and the real run of the same change in one batch.

op checks on a long-running operation, such as a harness check, using the ID its first answer gave. It is free: it does not count against the lease's calls.

Elementor

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
elementor_read	outline, element, elements, pages, templates, site_parts, css, diff, page_settings, kit, classes, defaults, catalogue, patterns, reuse, typography, types, widget_schema, dynamic_tags, experiments, submissions	Read only (some modes need Editor; submissions needs Manager)	Inspect pages and their elements, compare declared styles with the CSS Elementor compiled, the Kit, global classes, templates, theme parts and form submissions.
elementor_create_or_update	author, update, page_settings, conditions, template, kit, classes, defaults, variables, submission	Editor; kit and classes need Builder; defaults, variables and submission need Manager	Build Elementor content from a structured outline, patch, move and reorder elements, set display conditions, and edit the Kit, global classes and design tokens.
elementor_manage	experiments, convert, rebuild	Manager	Switch Elementor experiments, turn a classic page into an Elementor one, and rebuild the theme-builder conditions.
elementor_trash_or_reset	delete, flush, revert, template	Editor; template needs Owner	Remove elements, regenerate compiled CSS, revert a page to an Elementor revision, or bin or delete a library template.

Darwin Components for Elementor

When Darwin Components for Elementor is active alongside Elementor, it adds no separate tools. Instead, its widgets join the Elementor building catalogue, so agents can use them like core elements: animated button, animated heading and cached loop grid (a loop grid with filters, search and caching).

Rank Math

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
rankmath_seo_read	post, term, settings, schema, audit, inspect, status	Read only (settings and status need Editor)	SEO data for a post or term as stored and as it resolves, settings, schema, site-wide audits, and the SEO tags actually served.
rankmath_seo_create_or_update	post, bulk, term, schema, settings	Editor; settings needs Manager	Set SEO fields on one post, many posts or a term, narrow schema text edits, and typed settings.
rankmath_seo_manage	modules	Manager	Switch Rank Math modules on or off.
rankmath_seo_trash_or_reset	post, term, revert_edit, recovery	Editor; recovery needs Owner	Reset SEO fields to the templates, or revert an SEO edit from its snapshot.
rankmath_redirection_read	list, match	Read only	List redirections, and see which one a given address would hit.
rankmath_redirection_create_or_update	rule	Editor	Create or update a batch of redirections.
rankmath_redirection_trash_or_reset	trash, restore	Editor	Move redirections to Rank Math's bin, or restore them.
rankmath_notfound_read	log	Read only (Editor)	The 404 log: addresses visitors hit that do not exist.
rankmath_notfound_trash_or_reset	clear	Editor	Clear 404 log entries.
rankmath_sitemap_read	config	Read only	Sitemap settings, and whether a post appears in the public sitemap.
rankmath_sitemap_trash_or_reset	cache	Manager	Clear Rank Math's sitemap caches (not a CDN).
rankmath_indexnow_read	status	Read only (Editor)	IndexNow settings and submission history.
rankmath_indexnow_create_or_update	types	Manager	Choose which post types are sent to IndexNow automatically.
rankmath_indexnow_manage	submit	Manager	Notify IndexNow about named changed pages on this site.
rankmath_indexnow_trash_or_reset	reset	Manager	Change the IndexNow key or clear its history.

Not supported: Rank Math analytics, and general schema editing. Schema edits are limited to the headline and description of an existing Article or WebPage schema.

WooCommerce

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
woo_store_read	status, settings, selling	Read only (Editor)	Store state, settings, and whether the shop can take payment and ship.
woo_catalog_read	products, product, taxonomy	Read only	Products with prices, stock and problems, and categories, tags and attributes.
woo_catalog_create_or_update	product, variations, stock	Editor	Create or update products, build variations, and set stock, through WooCommerce so prices and stock status stay correct.
woo_catalog_trash_or_reset	product, delete	Editor; delete needs Owner	Bin a product, or delete it permanently. Past orders keep their line items.
woo_order_read	orders, order	Manager (read only)	Orders with their customer details. This is personal data, so it needs Manager.
woo_order_manage	status, note	Manager	Move an order to another status, or add a note (private or emailed to the customer).

Deliberately not included: refunds and anything that moves money, creating or editing customers, webhooks, and payment-gateway credentials.

ACF (Advanced Custom Fields)

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
acf_read	groups, group, types, values, post_types, taxonomies, options_pages	Read only	Field groups and their fields, field types, the values on a post, user, term or options page, and ACF post types, taxonomies and options pages.
acf_create_or_update	group, group_patch, post_type, taxonomy, options_page, values	Editor	Create or edit field groups, ACF post types, taxonomies and options pages (Pro), and write field values.
acf_trash_or_reset	group, post_type, taxonomy, options_page, values	Editor	Delete a field group, post type, taxonomy or options page (stored data is kept), or clear field values.

Defender

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
security_read	status, tweaks, lockouts, scan, lists, audit, twofa	Read only (status, tweaks, lockouts and scan need Editor; lists, audit and twofa need Manager)	Defender's security posture, recommendations, lockouts, scan results, IP lists, audit log and two-factor state.
security_create_or_update	lists, settings	Manager	Add or remove IPs on the allowlist and blocklist, and switch six modules on or off with their options.
security_manage	unlock, scan	Manager	Unlock a locked-out IP, or start or cancel a scan.

Left to you on Defender's own screens: two-factor enforcement, masked login, security headers, applying recommendations and ignoring scan issues.

LiteSpeed Cache

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
cache_read	status	Read only (Editor)	Whether page caching can work on this server, the object cache, the optimisation settings, and what Darwin AI clears after its changes.
cache_trash_or_reset	post, url, all, assets, object	Editor	Purge one post, one address, everything, the generated CSS and JS, or the object cache.

Darwin AI already purges the cache after its own changes, so these tools are mainly for changes made elsewhere. Optimisation settings (minify, combine, lazy-load, image optimisation, CDN and so on) are read only: change them on LiteSpeed Cache's own screens.

WP Mail Logging

Tool	Modes	Level	What it is for
mail_read	list, details, stats	Read only (list and details need Manager)	Read the log of email the site sent: totals and failures, a filtered list, or one message in full.

This tool is read only. Recipients, message bodies and headers are personal data, so they are left out unless the agent asks for them, and need Manager.

Skills

A skill is a step-by-step recipe that tells an agent which tools to use, in what order, for a job that is not obvious. Plugin skills are offered only when that plugin is active.

Skill	Purpose
core.page-build-flow	The start of any page job: a local mockup first, your approval, then the build on the site, compared section by section.
core.theme-page-from-mockup	Turn an approved mockup into a coded child-theme page template, and compare until it matches.
core.theme-setup	Create the child theme in the Darwin Labs layout, then add one file per feature.
core.safe-update	Update plugins, themes and WordPress safely, with checks and a way back.
core.stale-content	Find which layer (storage, caches, browser) is showing visitors an old version.
elementor.page-orchestration	Build a large Elementor page with several agents, each owning a group of sections.
elementor.section-worker	The worker's side of that: build and verify one group of sections in its own template.
elementor.visual-verification	Prove an Elementor page from the data first, then by looking.
elementor.query-filter	Refine what a loop grid or carousel shows with a custom query.
elementor.dynamic-tag	Register a custom dynamic tag.
elementor.computed-field	Give display conditions a calculated value to compare against.
elementor.atomic-form-handlers	Custom handling for an Elementor Pro v4 form: your own email, a honeypot, custom actions.
rankmath.seo-audit-fix	Run a site-wide SEO audit and fix only the factual gaps, with recovery.
rankmath.redirect-migration	Redirect dead addresses from the 404 log to live pages, safely.
woocommerce.build-a-product	Create, price, stock and publish a product that can actually be bought.
woocommerce.running-the-shop	Handle orders and statuses, and the personal data behind them.
acf.seamless-media-render	A post type whose posts show their attached file (PDF, image, video) at the post's own address.
defender.posture-hardening	Switch on Defender modules and prove each one is really enforcing.
defender.lockout-diagnosis	Work out why a visitor is refused, and let them back in the right way.
defender.bot-blocking	Block scrapers by user agent and prove the block works.