---
title: Language Model
slug: /components-models
---
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Language model components in Langflow generate text using a specified Large Language Model (LLM).
These components accept inputs like chat messages, files, and instructions in order to generate a text response.
Langflow includes a **Language Model** core component that has built-in support for many LLMs.
Alternatively, you can use any [additional language model](#additional-language-models) in place of the **Language Model** core component.
## Use language model components in flows
Use language model components anywhere you would use an LLM in a flow.
One of the most common use cases of language model components is to chat with LLMs in your flows.
The following example uses a language model component in a chatbot flow similar to the **Basic Prompting** template.
1.
:::tip My preferred provider or model isn't listed
If you want to use a provider or model that isn't built-in to Langflow's global **Models**, you can replace the **Language Model** component with any [additional language model component](#additional-language-models).
Browse [**Bundles**](/components-bundle-components) or **Search** for your preferred provider to find additional language models.
Alternatively, you can use Ollama to host your preferred model, and then configure your Ollama service in Langflow's global **Models**.
Or, create your own custom component to support any provider and model of your choice, and then use your custom component in place of the **Language Model** core component. As a shortcut, use an existing language model component as the basis for your custom component.
:::
2. Add the **Language Model** core component to your flow, and then select your model from the **Language Model** field.
Optionally, to configure API keys and enable or disable models, click **Manage Model Providers** to open the **Model Providers** pane.
3. In the [component inspection panel](/concepts-components#component-menus), enable the **System Message** parameter.
4. Add a [**Prompt Template** component](/components-prompts) to your flow.
5. In the **Template** field, enter some instructions for the LLM, such as `You are an expert in geography who is tutoring high school students`.
6. Connect the **Prompt Template** component's output to the **Language Model** component's **System Message** input.
7. Add [**Chat Input** and **Chat Output** components](/chat-input-and-output) to your flow.
These components are required for direct chat interaction with an LLM.
8. Connect the **Chat Input** component to the **Language Model** component's **Input**, and then connect the **Language Model** component's **Message** output to the **Chat Output** component.
9. Open the **Playground**, and ask a question to chat with the LLM and test the flow, such as `What is the capital of Utah?`.
Result
The following response is an example of an OpenAI model's response.
Your actual response may vary based on the model version at the time of your request, your template, and input.
```
The capital of Utah is Salt Lake City. It is not only the largest city in the state but also serves as the cultural and economic center of Utah. Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Mormon pioneers and is known for its proximity to the Great Salt Lake and its role in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For more information, you can refer to sources such as the U.S. Geological Survey or the official state website of Utah.
```
10. Optional: Try a different model or provider to see how the response changes.
If you enabled multiple models in Langflow's global **Model Providers** pane, select a different model in the **Language Model** field. To open the **Model Providers** pane, click your profile icon, select **Settings**, and then click **Model Providers**.
Then, open the **Playground**, ask the same question as you did before, and then compare the content and format of the responses.
This helps you understand how different models handle the same request so you can choose the best model for your use case.
You can also learn more about different models in each model provider's documentation.
Result
The following response is an example of an Anthropic model's response.
Your actual response may vary based on the model version at the time of your request, your template, and input.
Note that this response is shorter and includes sources, whereas the previous OpenAI response was more encyclopedic and didn't cite sources.
```
The capital of Utah is Salt Lake City. It is also the most populous city in the state. Salt Lake City has been the capital of Utah since 1896, when Utah became a state.
Sources:
Utah State Government Official Website (utah.gov)
U.S. Census Bureau
Encyclopedia Britannica
```
Some components use a language model component to perform LLM-driven actions.
Typically, these components prepare data for further processing by downstream components, rather than emitting direct chat output.
For an example, see the [**Smart Transform** component](/smart-transform).
A component must accept a `LanguageModel` input to use a language model component as a driver, and you must set the language model component's output type to `LanguageModel`.
For more information, see [Language Model output types](#language-model-output-types).
If you don't want to use the **Agent** component's built-in LLM, you can use a language model component to connect your preferred model:
1. Add a language model component to your flow.
You can use the **Language Model** core component or browse [**Bundles**](/components-bundle-components) to find additional language models.
Components in bundles may not have `language model` in the name.
For example, Azure OpenAI LLMs are provided through the [**Azure OpenAI** component](/bundles-azure#azure-openai).
2. Select your preferred model from the **Language Model** dropdown. The model must be configured globally in the **Models** pane.
3. Change the language model component's output type from **Model Response** to **Language Model**.
The output port changes to a `LanguageModel` port.
This is required to connect the language model component to the **Agent** component.
For more information, see [Language Model output types](#language-model-output-types).
4. Add an **Agent** component to the flow.
5. Connect the language model component's output to the **Agent** component's **Language Model** input.
The **Agent** component now inherits the language model settings from the connected language model component instead of using any of the built-in models.
## Language model parameters
The following parameters are for the **Language Model** core component.
Other language model components can have additional or different parameters.
import PartialParams from '@site/docs/_partial-hidden-params.mdx';
| Name | Type | Description |
|------|------|-------------|
| provider | String | Input parameter. The model provider to use. Options depend on your global **Models** configuration. |
| model_name | String | Input parameter. The name of the model to use. Options depend on the selected provider and your global **Models** configuration. |
| input_value | String | Input parameter. The input text to send to the model. |
| system_message | String | Input parameter. A system message that helps set the behavior of the assistant. |
| stream | Boolean | Input parameter. Whether to stream the response. Default: `false`. |
| temperature | Float | Input parameter. Controls randomness in responses. Range: `[0.0, 1.0]`. Default: `0.1`. |
| model | LanguageModel | Output parameter. Alternative output type to the default `Message` output. Produces an instance of Chat configured with the specified parameters. See [Language Model output types](#language-model-output-types). |
## Language model output types
Language model components, including the core component and bundled components, can produce two types of output:
* **Model Response**: The default output type emits the model's generated response as [`Message` data](/data-types#message).
Use this output type when you want the typical LLM interaction where the LLM produces a text response based on given input.
* **Language Model**: Change the language model component's output type to [`LanguageModel`](/data-types#languagemodel) when you need to attach an LLM to another component in your flow, such as an **Agent** or **Smart Transform** component.
With this configuration, the language model component supports an action completed by another component, rather than a direct chat interaction.
For an example, the **Smart Transform** component uses an LLM to create a function from natural language input.
## Additional language models
If your provider or model isn't supported by the **Language Model** core component, additional language model components are available in [**Bundles**](/components-bundle-components).
You can use these components in the same way that you use the core **Language Model** component, as explained in [Use language model components in flows](#use-language-model-components-in-flows).
## Pair models with vector stores
import PartialVectorRagBlurb from '@site/docs/_partial-vector-rag-blurb.mdx';
Example: Vector search flow
import PartialVectorRagFlow from '@site/docs/_partial-vector-rag-flow.mdx';