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explain_query

Read-onlyIdempotent

Analyze a SQL query's execution plan and return plain-English performance recommendations. What runs, per dialect: postgres — EXPLAIN (FORMAT JSON), an ESTIMATED plan; the query is NOT executed and there are no measured timings (ANALYZE would execute it). mysql 8.0.18+ — EXPLAIN ANALYZE, which DOES execute the query to obtain real timings. mysql <8.0.18 — EXPLAIN FORMAT=JSON (estimated). mssql — SET SHOWPLAN_XML ON (estimated, not executed). Costs and row counts on an estimated plan are the planner's guesses: report them as estimates, not as observed behaviour. [BUILD tier]

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
sqlYesThe SELECT query to analyze
connectionNoTarget connection name from this tenant's inventory. Call `list_connections` to see every name + dialect, then match semantically to the user's intent (e.g. 'analytics' → a connection named `*-analytics-*`; 'prod' → a connection with `prod-` prefix). If the user didn't specify, use the tenant's default (first added). Do not invent names — resolve from `list_connections` output.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
dataNo
metaNo
displayNo
summaryNo
insightsNo

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed4 schema fields changed
    • changedOutput schema / properties / data / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": true,
-    "properties": {
-      "original_sql": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "plan": {}
-    },
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": true,
-    "properties": {
-      "code": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "details": {
-        "additionalProperties": {},
-        "type": "object"
-      },
-      "error": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "internal_code": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "message": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "retry_after_s": {
-        "type": "number"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "error"
-    ],
-    "type": "object"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": true,
+    "properties": {
+      "original_sql": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "plan": {}
+    },
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": true,
+    "properties": {
+      "code": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "details": {
+        "additionalProperties": {},
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "error": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "internal_code": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "message": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "retry_after_s": {
+        "type": "number"
+      },
+      "retryable": {
+        "type": "boolean"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "error"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  }
+]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / meta / properties / maskedCells
      Added value: +{
+  "type": "number"
+}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / meta / properties / maskedColumns
      Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / meta / properties / rowCapReached
      Added value: +{
+  "type": "boolean"
+}
  2. Changed1 schema field changed
    • changedOutput schema / properties / data / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": true,
-    "properties": {
-      "original_sql": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "plan": {}
-    },
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": true,
-    "properties": {
-      "code": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "details": {
-        "additionalProperties": {},
-        "type": "object"
-      },
-      "error": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "internal_code": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "message": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "retry_after_s": {
-        "type": "number"
-      }
-    },
-    "type": "object"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": true,
+    "properties": {
+      "original_sql": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "plan": {}
+    },
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": true,
+    "properties": {
+      "code": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "details": {
+        "additionalProperties": {},
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "error": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "internal_code": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "message": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "retry_after_s": {
+        "type": "number"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "error"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  }
+]
  3. Changed2 schema fields changed
    • addedInput schema / properties / connection / maxLength
      Added value: +256
    • addedInput schema / properties / sql / maxLength
      Added value: +50000
  4. Changed2 schema fields changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / display / properties / map
      Added value: +{
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "properties": {
+    "label": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "lat": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "lon": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "title": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}
    • changedOutput schema / properties / display / properties / type / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "enum": [
-      "table",
-      "chart",
-      "metric",
-      "code",
-      "text",
-      "list"
-    ],
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "enum": [
+      "table",
+      "chart",
+      "metric",
+      "code",
+      "text",
+      "list",
+      "map"
+    ],
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  }
+]
  5. Changed1 schema field changed
    • changedOutput schema / (root)
      Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "properties": {
+    "data": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "additionalProperties": true,
+          "properties": {
+            "original_sql": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "plan": {}
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        {
+          "additionalProperties": true,
+          "properties": {
+            "code": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "details": {
+              "additionalProperties": {},
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "error": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "internal_code": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "message": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "retry_after_s": {
+              "type": "number"
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "display": {
+      "additionalProperties": true,
+      "properties": {
+        "chart": {
+          "additionalProperties": true,
+          "properties": {
+            "chartType": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "color": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "title": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "x": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "xLabel": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "y": {
+              "anyOf": [
+                {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                {
+                  "items": {
+                    "type": "string"
+                  },
+                  "type": "array"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "yLabel": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        "code": {
+          "additionalProperties": true,
+          "properties": {
+            "executable": {
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "language": {
+              "anyOf": [
+                {
+                  "enum": [
+                    "sql",
+                    "json",
+                    "bash",
+                    "typescript"
+                  ],
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "title": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        "metric": {
+          "additionalProperties": true,
+          "properties": {
+            "label": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "status": {
+              "anyOf": [
+                {
+                  "enum": [
+                    "good",
+                    "warning",
+                    "critical"
+                  ],
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "trend": {
+              "anyOf": [
+                {
+                  "enum": [
+                    "up",
+                    "down",
+                    "neutral"
+                  ],
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "trendValue": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "unit": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "value": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "number"
+              ]
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        "type": {
+          "anyOf": [
+            {
+              "enum": [
+                "table",
+                "chart",
+                "metric",
+                "code",
+                "text",
+                "list"
+              ],
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "insights": {
+      "items": {
+        "additionalProperties": true,
+        "properties": {
+          "column": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "message": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "severity": {
+            "anyOf": [
+              {
+                "enum": [
+                  "info",
+                  "warning",
+                  "critical"
+                ],
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              {
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            ]
+          },
+          "value": {}
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "severity",
+          "message"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "meta": {
+      "additionalProperties": true,
+      "properties": {
+        "cacheHit": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        },
+        "connection": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "dialect": {
+          "anyOf": [
+            {
+              "enum": [
+                "postgres",
+                "mysql",
+                "mssql"
+              ],
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          ]
+        },
+        "executionTimeMs": {
+          "type": [
+            "number",
+            "string"
+          ]
+        },
+        "plan": {},
+        "rowCount": {
+          "$ref": "#/properties/meta/properties/executionTimeMs"
+        },
+        "tool": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "truncated": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        }
+      },
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "summary": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}
  6. First observed

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Goes well beyond the readOnlyHint/idempotentHint annotations by disclosing that MySQL 8.0.18+ uses EXPLAIN ANALYZE which DOES execute the query, while other dialects only produce estimated plans. It also warns that estimated cost/row counts are planner guesses, not observed behavior — exactly the kind of caveat an agent needs.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Front-loads purpose in the first sentence, then structures the dialect nuances as a compact enumerated list. Every clause carries operational information; nothing is filler.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

An output schema exists, so return values need not be described. Combined with 100% schema coverage and rich behavioral caveats, the definition gives an agent everything required to call it correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, and the schema already documents both `sql` and the `connection` resolution workflow. The description adds no parameter-level meaning, so the baseline 3 applies.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and resource ('Analyze a SQL query's execution plan') plus the deliverable ('plain-English performance recommendations'), which cleanly separates it from optimize_query and query_sql. The per-dialect breakdown reinforces exactly what the tool does.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description explains per-dialect behavior in depth but never names when to choose this over siblings like optimize_query or query_sql, nor any preconditions. Usage is implied (you want plan-level performance insight) rather than explicitly routed.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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