# Needle AI integration on Definable

> Needle provides retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) tools that enable semantic search across your data, facilitating the development of AI agents and applications.

## What this connects

Needle provides retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) tools that enable semantic search across your data, facilitating the development of AI agents and applications.

Vendor: https://needle.app

## Tools available

**16** tools available. First 12:

- `NEEDLE_ADD_FILES_TO_COLLECTION` — Add files to a collection — Tool to add files to a collection by providing file URLs. Use when you need to add one or more files to an existing collection. URLs can be public or private (generated via the Files API).
- `NEEDLE_ADD_FILES_TO_LOCAL_CONNECTOR` — Add Files to Local Connector — Tool to add files to a local connector by providing file metadata. Use when you need to add external files to a connector using their URLs.
- `NEEDLE_CREATE_COLLECTION` — Create Collection — Tool to create a new collection. Use after confirming the collection name.
- `NEEDLE_CREATE_LOCAL_CONNECTOR` — Create Local Connector — Tool to create a local connector that monitors specified folders on a device. Use when setting up file indexing from a local machine into Needle collections.
- `NEEDLE_DELETE_FILES_FROM_COLLECTION` — Delete files from a collection — Tool to delete files from a specific collection by providing file IDs. Use after confirming valid file IDs to remove from the collection.
- `NEEDLE_DELETE_FILES_FROM_LOCAL_CONNECTOR` — Delete files from local connector — Tool to delete files from a local connector by filename or file IDs. Use when you need to remove files from a connector's local storage.
- `NEEDLE_GET_COLLECTION` — Get Collection — Tool to retrieve details for a specific collection by its ID. Use when you need to get collection metadata including name, creation date, and search query count.
- `NEEDLE_GET_COLLECTION_STATS` — Get collection stats — Tool to retrieve statistics for a specific collection by its ID. Use when you need document count, index size, and timestamps after confirming the collection exists. Zero document count is a valid response for empty collections, not an error.
- `NEEDLE_GET_FILE_DOWNLOAD_URL` — Get File Download URL — Tool to get a short-lived signed private download URL for a Needle file. Use when you need to retrieve file content but the public storage URL requires authentication. The returned URL should be used immediately as it expires quickly.
- `NEEDLE_GET_FILE_UPLOAD_URL` — Get File Upload URL — Tool to get signed URLs for uploading local files to Needle. Use when you need to upload files to a collection. The upload URLs are valid for a short time, so upload files immediately after receiving the URLs. Multiple content types can be specified to generate multiple upload URLs in a single request.
- `NEEDLE_GET_LOCAL_CONNECTOR` — Get local connector — Tool to retrieve details of a local connector by its ID. Use when you need information about a specific local connector's configuration, device details, and associated folders.
- `NEEDLE_LIST_COLLECTION_FILES` — List Collection Files — Tool to list all files within a specific collection by its ID. Returns file metadata (including file URLs) only — not document text content; fetch file URLs separately to access content. Use when you have a collection ID and need to retrieve its files. Supports pagination.

## Auth

Auth schemes: `API_KEY`.

## How agents use Needle

Inside a Definable workflow, Needle is one of the tools the **Distributor specialist** can call. Example coordination patterns:

- **Researcher → Needle** — the Researcher (GPT-5.5) pulls context from Needle (records, threads, documents), synthesises findings, and briefs the rest of the team.
- **Writer → Distributor → Needle** — the Writer (Claude Opus 4.7) drafts copy in brand voice, the Verifier passes it, then the Distributor writes the result into Needle (create record, post message, draft email).
- **Designer / Engineer → Distributor → Needle** — the Designer ships an asset or the Engineer ships a code change, the Distributor delivers it via Needle (attach file, open PR comment, post status).

The Verifier checks every Needle call. On rate limit, schema drift, or auth refresh it self-heals and retries — the workflow completes without manual intervention.

## Categories

- artificial intelligence — https://definable.ai/apps/category/artificial-intelligence/
- developer tools — https://definable.ai/apps/category/developer-tools/

## Related

- HTML page: https://definable.ai/apps/needle/
- Same category (artificial intelligence): https://definable.ai/apps/category/artificial-intelligence/
- All integrations: https://definable.ai/apps/
- Workflow (multi-agent loop): https://definable.ai/workflow/
- Apps llms.txt index: https://definable.ai/llms-apps.txt