Get Tool Schema
get_tool_schemaGet a callable tool's input schema or a browser tool's page and summary.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | Yes |
get_tool_schemaGet a callable tool's input schema or a browser tool's page and summary.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | Yes |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnly, idempotent, non-destructive and non-open-world, so safety is covered. The description adds nothing beyond that: no behavior for unknown tool names, no note on whether 'page and summary' is a different return shape, no indication of response format.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
A single front-loaded sentence with no padding. It is efficient, though the compound 'or' clause trades a little clarity for that brevity.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
With no output schema, the description carries the burden of explaining the return value, and its vague reference to 'page and summary' does not clearly describe what an agent receives. Combined with an undocumented required parameter, it is thin for a lookup/discovery tool.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The single 'name' parameter has 0% schema description coverage, and the description says nothing about it — not whether it is a tool identifier, whether it must come from search_tools, or how a browser tool name differs from a callable tool name.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The verb 'Get' and resource 'tool's input schema' are concrete, and the read-only nature separates it from call_tool. However the second half, 'or a browser tool's page and summary', introduces an unrelated, unexplained capability that muddies what the tool actually returns.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
No guidance on when to prefer this over search_tools or call_tool, and no prerequisites such as needing a valid tool name found via search. The implied 'inspect before calling' workflow must be inferred.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Add one secure layer between your agents and this server.