get_city_by_id

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

With no annotations present, the description must fully disclose behavioral traits like idempotency, error handling (e.g., behavior on missing ID), or any side effects. However, it only states the action without any such detail, leaving the agent uninformed about critical behaviors.

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 extremely concise (one sentence), which is efficient but may be too brief given the complexity of the input schema (7 parameters). It could be slightly more informative without losing conciseness.

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?

Given 7 parameters, no output schema, and no annotations, the description fails to provide essential context such as the role of include, select, filters, or pagination parameters, or what the response typically contains. This leaves the agent underinformed for effective tool selection and invocation.

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 coverage is 100% with descriptive names and descriptions for all 7 parameters. The tool description adds no additional semantic value beyond the schema, so it meets the baseline expectation without improvement.

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 'Get a city by ID' clearly states the action (get) and resource (city by ID), making the purpose straightforward. However, it does not differentiate from numerous sibling tools with similar patterns like get_country_by_id, which would require additional context to avoid ambiguity.

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 is provided on when to use this tool versus alternatives such as search_cities_by_name or other get_by_id tools. The context signals indicate a high number of sibling tools, making this omission notable.

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