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xAI Agent Tools API Offers Two Types of Citation Information

The xAI agent tools API provides both a comprehensive list of all sources encountered during a search process and markdown-style inline citations embedded directly in the response text.

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Source · Sep 7, 2026, 10:28 PM · On Illumora · Sep 7, 2026, 10:53 PM

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The xAI agent tools API offers two distinct methods for handling citations in agentic tool responses. These methods provide traceability for the information sources an agent uses during its search process.

Key Points

  • The xAI agent tools API provides two types of citation information: "All Citations" and "Inline Citations."
  • "All Citations" is a complete list of all sources an agent encountered, returned by default as a citations attribute on the response object.
  • This comprehensive list of URLs is automatically collected from successful tool executions and offers full traceability.
  • Not every URL in the "All Citations" list is necessarily referenced directly in the final answer, as the agent may deem some sources irrelevant.
  • "Inline Citations" are markdown-style links, such as [[1]](https://x.ai/news), inserted directly into the response text where the model references sources.
  • Enabling inline citations does not guarantee their presence in every answer; the model decides when and where to include them based on context.
  • Inline citation behavior differs between the Responses API and the xAI Python SDK (gRPC chat API).

Context

According to xAI documentation, the agent tools API is designed to provide transparency regarding the sources used by its agents. This functionality is available with Grok 4.6. The documentation also notes that Grok Bot requires cloud data storage, and accounts using Legacy Privacy Mode must update their data settings before Grok Bot can operate.

Why It Matters

Builders can use xAI's citation features to understand the provenance of information generated by agents, which is crucial for verifying accuracy and building trust in AI-powered applications. The distinction between all sources encountered and those directly cited allows for both broad transparency and specific attribution within responses.

What To Do

  • Review the xAI documentation on citations to understand the implementation details for both "All Citations" and "Inline Citations."
  • Test the citations attribute on response objects to access the comprehensive list of URLs from agent searches.
  • Experiment with enabling inline citations in agent responses to observe how the model integrates source attribution into the text.
  • Note the differences in inline citation behavior between the Responses API and the xAI Python SDK if developing across platforms.

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