# What is an Action?

* An Action is instruction or operation to be performed. It may store a result in a Variable.

{% embed url="<https://media.langstack.com/documentation/media/images/code/training_manual/chapter_2/ch2whatisanaction_image1.png>" %}

* Actions are created in the Code tab of the Langstack Application template in an Action box.
* Actions can be of two types: Basic Action and Container Action.

{% embed url="<https://media.langstack.com/documentation/media/images/code/training_manual/chapter_2/ch2whatisanaction_basicaction.png>" %}
Basic action
{% endembed %}

{% embed url="<https://media.langstack.com/documentation/media/images/code/training_manual/chapter_2/ch2whatisanaction_containeraction.png>" %}
Container action
{% endembed %}

* Container Actions can contain other Actions, and the variables defined within cover the scope of the Container Action.
* Actions can be added into an Action box or a container type Action.
* Actions cannot be added outside an Action box.

[Click here](/welcome/get-started/learn-langstack/basics-and-essentials/what-is-an-action/actions-in-langstack-applications.md) to see the complete list of available Actions and their types.


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```

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