---
title: Skills & skillsets
description: A skill is one focused ability; a skillset is a complete, installable agent configuration built from skills and more.
status: verified
sidebar:
  order: 1
---

Two words carry the whole model: **skill** and **skillset**.

## Skill

A **skill** is one focused ability an agent can use — a directory containing a
`SKILL.md` (frontmatter plus markdown instructions), sometimes with helper
scripts. Skills are small and composable, and move individually too:
`sks upload-skill` publishes one, and `sks download-skill` pulls one into a
skillset's manifest.

## Skillset

A **skillset** is a complete, installable agent configuration. It bundles:

- **Skills** — the abilities above
- **Instructions** — an `AGENTS.md` that becomes the agent's native
  instructions file on install
- **Subagents** — specialized sub-agents the main agent can call
- **Slash commands** — custom commands
- **MCP servers** — tool servers to connect

A skillset is described by a `nori.json` manifest (`name` and `version`
required — layout in [Authoring skills](/skillsets/guides/authoring/)) and,
once downloaded, lives in your library under `~/.nori/profiles/<name>/`.

## Portability

The value of the bundle is that one skillset works across every supported
agent. You author it once; the client
[translates](/skillsets/concepts/translation-and-agents/) it into each agent's
own on-disk format. That's what makes a skillset portable rather than tied to
one tool.

## Next steps

- [Translation & agents](/skillsets/concepts/translation-and-agents/) — how one
  skillset becomes each agent's native files
- [The registry](/skillsets/concepts/the-registry/) — where skillsets are
  shared and versioned
- [Authoring skills](/skillsets/guides/authoring/) — the `SKILL.md` contract
  and skillset layout