Get snapshot cost estimate

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

Annotations already declare readOnly, idempotent, non-destructive, and open-world, so the safety profile is covered structurally. The description usefully reinforces 'without creating it' but adds nothing about what the returned estimate contains, whether it is a quote vs. a guaranteed charge, or any auth/rate-limit context.

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?

Two short sentences, zero filler, with the action and its non-mutating nature front-loaded.

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 simple read-only pricing tool with full schema coverage and no output schema, the description conveys what it returns (a price preview) and how it is invoked. Only the shape/granularity of the estimate is left implicit, which is acceptable given the absence of an output schema.

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 description coverage is 100%, so the three parameters (name, type, volumeId) are fully documented in the schema. 'Takes the same arguments as create_snapshot' adds the useful insight that the arg set mirrors creation, but no per-parameter meaning beyond the schema.

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?

Specific verb+resource: 'Preview the price of a snapshot' states exactly what the tool returns, and 'without creating it' distinguishes it from a create operation. It does not, however, distinguish itself from the other get_cost_estimate_* siblings in the list.

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?

'Preview ... without creating it' implies the when-to-use condition (pricing before provisioning) and implicitly routes agents away from a create call. No explicit when-not or named alternative is given, but the context is clear.

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