# Actions

Actions are configured on [Object Types](/documentation-and-resources/components-and-data/object-types.md) and send a data record along to a Contextual [Agent](/documentation-and-resources/components-and-data/agents.md) for further processing. Unlike [Triggers](/documentation-and-resources/components-and-data/object-types/object-type-details/triggers.md) that happen automatically when a record is added, updated or deleted, Actions are run in one of two ways.

**Manual Action Execution**

Once you've defined an Action on the Object Type, it will show up in the overflow menu alongside every record. In the screenshot below you see an Action named 'Classify Question' that can be executed on a given record.

<figure><img src="/files/G8G8vXIK85FsT3th3bL0" alt=""><figcaption><p>Actions Appear in the Record Overflow Menu (the 3 dots)</p></figcaption></figure>

**Automatic Action Execution**

All Actions can also be executed using the Contextual [Tenant API](/documentation-and-resources/components-and-data/object-types/records/records-and-your-tenant-api.md). This could be driven by an external system.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.contextual.io/documentation-and-resources/components-and-data/object-types/object-type-details/actions.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.