AI & Agentforce
Topics, instructions, and actions
Map a business request to the agent responsibilities and tools that fulfil it.
By Vishal Verma · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Agentforce terminology and configuration can vary by builder and release. Topics, or subagents in newer experiences, define specialized responsibilities. Instructions guide behavior. Actions expose approved tools.
Example: spare parts availability
- Responsibility: handle parts availability questions.
- Instructions: collect the part number and quantity, clarify missing details, and never invent stock information.
- Action: call the availability service with validated inputs.
- Response: explain the returned stock information and limitations.
Use clear action descriptions and input and output definitions. Enforce business rules in the underlying implementation. Natural language instructions alone should not be the security boundary.
Practice ambiguous requests, unavailable services, invalid quantities, and users without the required access.