carbon_vehicle_emissions

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden for behavioral disclosure. It only says 'estimate', but does not disclose whether the tool requires authentication, whether it is a read-only operation, or what the output format is.

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 sentence, which is concise but underspecified. It fails to convey essential information about parameters or usage, making it too minimal to be useful.

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 4 parameters with no schema descriptions, no output schema, and no annotations, the description is severely incomplete. It does not provide enough context for an agent to correctly invoke the tool.

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?

The input schema has 100% description coverage (0% described), and the description does not explain any of the 4 parameters (distance_value, distance_unit, vehicle_model_id, api_key). The agent has no semantic understanding of what to provide.

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 'Estimate carbon emissions for a vehicle journey' clearly states the tool's action (estimate) and resource (carbon emissions for vehicle journey), distinguishing it from sibling tools like carbon_electricity_emissions and carbon_flight_emissions.

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 other carbon estimation tools. The description does not mention alternatives or prerequisites such as needing a vehicle model ID or API key.

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