A REST API action allows your AI agent in Astra to automatically send data to another system when something specific happens in a conversation. This article explains what a REST API action is, how it works in simple terms, and when you might want to use it.

A REST API action lets your AI agent send information to an external system at the right moment, without any manual effort.

In simple terms, it helps Astra “talk” to other tools by securely sending them data when a defined event occurs in a conversation. This keeps your systems in sync and removes the need for manual exports, copy-pasting, or follow-ups.

REST stands for Representational State Transfer. A REST API is a common way for different systems to communicate with each other over the internet.

If a tool supports a REST API, you can usually connect it using a REST API action.

A REST API action is triggered by a specific event or condition in a conversation. When that trigger occurs, the AI agent sends data to an external system using an API request.

At a high level, the flow looks like this:

This all happens automatically in the background.

You can use a REST API action to integrate with almost any system that supports a REST API, including:

As long as the system has an API endpoint and accepts REST requests, it can be connected.

Teams commonly use REST API actions for tasks like:

Using a REST API action helps you:

If you want your AI agent to do more than just chat, REST API actions are a powerful way to extend its capabilities.