read_urlFetch a public http/https URL and return its main content as clean Markdown — ideal for giving an agent readable web content for research or RAG. Private/internal hosts are blocked.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| url | Yes | The http/https URL to read. |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations exist, so the description carries the transparency burden. It discloses output format and the host restriction, but does not mention potential limitations like size caps, redirects, or JavaScript rendering.
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?
The description is a single concise paragraph with no fluff, efficiently conveying purpose and key constraints.
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?
For a single-parameter tool, the description is complete: it explains what it does, output format, and restrictions. It could mention error behavior or rate limits, but these are not essential for basic usage.
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?
Schema already describes the url parameter, and the description reinforces it by specifying 'public http/https URL', adding clarity about acceptable URL schemes and accessibility.
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?
Clearly states the action (fetch URL) and output (clean Markdown), distinguishing it from sibling tools like url_to_pdf and url_to_screenshot. Also specifies 'main content', which differentiates from raw HTML scraping.
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?
Provides a clear use case ('research or RAG') and a blocking constraint (private/internal hosts). Does not explicitly contrast with alternatives like scrape_page, but the stated purpose implies when to use this tool.
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.
Most tools have clearly distinct purposes, such as extracting PDF text versus filling forms or rendering URLs to PDF versus screenshots. The only mild overlap is read_url and scrape_page, both fetching a URL, but their outputs are explicitly differentiated as clean Markdown versus raw HTML with metadata.
Names mostly follow a verb_noun pattern like extract_pdf_text, fill_pdf_form, and rotate_pdf. A few conversion tools use 'to' constructions (images_to_pdf, markdown_to_pdf, url_to_pdf) and some pluralize objects (merge_pdfs, select_pages), creating minor inconsistency but no real confusion.
With 15 tools, the set is at the upper edge of the ideal range and every tool serves a distinct, useful function within the PDF and URL processing domain. The count feels justified rather than excessive.
The PDF tooling covers creation from images and Markdown, text extraction, form filling and reading, merging, splitting, rotating, selecting pages, and watermarking. URL handling covers reading as Markdown, scraping raw HTML/metadata, generating PDFs, and taking screenshots, providing well-rounded coverage for the stated domain.