# Agent.getInstructions()

The `.getInstructions()` method retrieves the instructions configured for an agent, resolving them if they're a function. These instructions guide the agent's behavior and define its capabilities and constraints.

## Usage example

```typescript
await agent.getInstructions();
```

## Parameters

### options?:

{ requestContext?: RequestContext }

Optional configuration object containing request context.

## Returns

### instructions:

SystemMessage | Promise\<SystemMessage>

The instructions configured for the agent. SystemMessage can be: string | string\[] | CoreSystemMessage | CoreSystemMessage\[] | SystemModelMessage | SystemModelMessage\[]. Returns either directly or as a promise that resolves to the instructions.

## Extended usage example

```typescript
await agent.getInstructions({
  requestContext: new RequestContext(),
});
```

### Options parameters

### requestContext?:

RequestContext

Request Context for dependency injection and contextual information.

## Related

- [Agents overview](https://mastra.ai/docs/agents/overview/llms.txt)
- [Request Context](https://mastra.ai/docs/server/request-context/llms.txt)