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describe_tool

Get complete details, input schema, and parameters for any available tool. Use it to understand required arguments and options before making a call.

Instructions

📖 Get full details for a specific tool. Deep dive into any tool.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
liteNoIf true, return simplified schema with examples.
actionNoFor a consolidated router (knowledge, dialectic, observe, agent, ...): narrow the returned schema to the parameters this one action uses.
agent_idNoUNIQUE agent identifier; optional when session-bound (auto-injected).
tool_nameYesExact name of the tool to describe.
include_schemaNoFull mode only (lite=false): include the tool's inputSchema (default true).
continuity_tokenNoOwnership proof from onboard()/identity(), for same-live-process rebinds only. Not a cross-process resume credential.
client_session_idNoIn-session binding id from start_session()/identity(); pass it on same-process calls. Not a cross-process proof.
include_full_descriptionNoFull mode only (lite=false): include the full description; false keeps the first line (default true).

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. First observed

TDQS

B3.1/5.0
Behavior2/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It only says 'get full details' and does not explicitly state whether this is a read-only metadata lookup, what output shape to expect, or how lite/full modes affect behavior.

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

Conciseness4/5

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

The description is very short, front-loaded, and free of bloat. The second sentence mostly reinforces the first, so it is concise but not maximally information-dense.

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

Completeness2/5

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

The tool has 8 parameters, no annotations, and no output schema, yet the description only provides a one-line summary. It does not describe return values, the meaning of 'full details', or the lite/full behavior, leaving too much for the agent to infer.

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 each parameter already has a meaningful description, so the baseline is 3. The tool description itself adds no parameter-level semantics beyond implying 'full details' by default.

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

Purpose4/5

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

The description clearly states the action ('Get full details') and the resource ('a specific tool'), so an agent can understand what the tool does. It is not a tautology, but it does not explicitly differentiate itself from sibling tools beyond the obvious semantic scope.

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?

'Deep dive into any tool' implies the tool should be used when an agent needs detailed information about a tool. However, there are no explicit when-to-use or when-not-to-use instructions, and no alternatives are named.

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