---
title: Skills
description: A Skill is a reusable set of instructions that teaches the agent how to handle a specific kind of work.
updated: 2026-09-12
canonical: https://turnpanel.com/docs/skills
markdown: https://turnpanel.com/docs/skills.md
llms: https://turnpanel.com/llms.txt
---

# Skills

A Skill is a reusable set of instructions that teaches the agent how to handle a specific kind of work.

## What a Skill contains

A Skill is an instruction pack built around a SKILL.md file. It can also include reference files, assets, and helper programs. TurnPanel shows the Skill’s name and description to the agent, then loads the full instructions only when they are relevant.


## Skill or Script?

- Use a Skill when the agent must follow a procedure and make decisions along the way.
- Use a Script when Python can perform the steps directly without agent judgment.


## Control

Skills can come with TurnPanel, be created locally, or be installed. Disabling a Skill hides it from the agent without deleting it. A Skill teaches the agent what to do, but does not give it extra access.