Cloudflare: Get dns record

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

The readOnlyHint annotation already tells the agent this is a safe, non-mutating read, so the description's burden is reduced. It adds "with its full details," implying a complete record payload rather than a partial view, but says nothing about error behavior for a missing/invalid id, permissions, or cross-account scoping.

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 filler or redundant restatement of the title. It is efficient, though its brevity comes at the cost of the guidance the other dimensions need.

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?

Three required, fully undocumented parameters and no output schema leave the description carrying too little: the site/zone_id relationship, id format expectations, and the returned record shape are all absent. For a lookup tool whose only annotation is readOnlyHint, this is not enough to call it correctly with confidence.

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 0% for three required parameters, and the description only accounts for one of them implicitly via "by id" (record_id). It gives no meaning to site or zone_id, nor why both a site and a zone_id are required for the same lookup — a genuinely confusing point left unexplained.

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 description states a specific verb and resource ("Fetch a single DNS record by id") and signals single-record scope, which implicitly contrasts with the list/create/update/delete siblings. It is clear what the tool returns conceptually (one record, full details), though it never names an alternative explicitly.

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?

Beyond the phrase "by id" implying that a record identifier must already be known, there is no when-to-use guidance, no exclusions, and no mention of when to prefer cloudflare_list_dns_records or another sibling. The agent must infer the routing decision entirely.

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