---
title: "Agent Skills"
canonical: "https://canmyagentuse.com/specs/agent-skills"
contentKind: "specification"
locale: "en"
description: "Open directory convention for reusable agent instructions, references, assets, and optional scripts centered on SKILL.md."
llmSummary: "Agent Skills are portable directories centered on SKILL.md. Discovery, progressive loading, resource use, script execution, and install scopes are distinct compatibility features."
publishedAt: "2026-08-28T00:00:00.000Z"
updatedAt: "2026-08-28T00:00:00.000Z"
verifiedAt: null
tags: ["skills","instructions","packaging"]
---

# Agent Skills

Agent Skills are portable directories centered on SKILL.md. Discovery, progressive loading, resource use, script execution, and install scopes are distinct compatibility features.

- HTML: https://canmyagentuse.com/specs/agent-skills
- JSON: https://canmyagentuse.com/api/v1/specs/agent-skills.json
- Markdown: https://canmyagentuse.com/specs/agent-skills.md

An Agent Skill is a directory whose `SKILL.md` provides metadata and instructions. Optional references, assets, and scripts can extend the package.

The catalog separates discovery from progressive loading, resource resolution, script execution, and scope precedence. Recognizing a skill directory does not establish identical lifecycle or trust behavior across hosts.

## Revision identity

- Authority: Agent Skills maintainers
- Revision: living
- Maturity: open standard
- Structure: SKILL.md with YAML frontmatter and directory conventions
- Canonical specification: https://agentskills.io/specification
- Roles: skill-author, consuming-agent, host