> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.spara.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.spara.com/agents/channels.md).

# Channels

A **channel** is one way an [Agents](/agents/agents.md) engages buyers. Spara offers five:

* [Chat](/agents/channels/chat.md): website chat that qualifies visitors, surfaces content, and books meetings in real time.
* [Email](/agents/channels/email.md): automated reply handling and outreach cadences.
* [Phone](/agents/channels/phone.md): incoming and outgoing AI phone calls.
* [SMS](/agents/channels/sms.md): text-message conversations.
* [Product Demo](/agents/channels/product-demo.md): a live, voice-narrated product walkthrough with synchronized visuals.

An Agent can have several channels (even several of the same type), each activated by its own trigger. Together they let one Agent meet a buyer wherever they are.

<figure><img src="/files/P2NLv4cjBGpFCyhE5nAw" alt=""><figcaption><p>A channel's Overview tab summarizes what makes it up.</p></figcaption></figure>

## How channels are built

However different the channels look to a buyer, every channel is configured and run the same way: the same editor, the same draft-and-publish lifecycle, the same testing and optimization tools. Those shared building blocks are covered under [Configuring Channels](/agents/channels/configuring.md):

* [AI Instructions](/agents/channels/configuring/ai-instructions.md): the prompt that defines how a channel behaves.
* [Abilities](/agents/channels/configuring/abilities.md): tools it can use mid-conversation.
* [Testing](/agents/channels/configuring/testing.md): validate a draft before going live.
* [Ask Spara AI](/agents/channels/configuring/ask-spara-ai.md): analyze and rewrite instructions.
* [Saving & Publishing](/agents/channels/configuring/saving-and-publishing.md): drafts and the single live version.
* [A/B Testing](/agents/channels/configuring/a-b-testing.md): split traffic across variants to optimize conversion.

## Starting criteria

Every channel has a **trigger** that determines when it activates: a Chat channel might appear only on certain pages, a Phone channel answers a specific phone number, an Email channel replies from a connected inbox. Triggers are also how Spara groups channels for [A/B Testing](/agents/channels/configuring/a-b-testing.md): variants that share a trigger split its traffic.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## 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, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.spara.com/agents/channels.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

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.