get_email_routing_settings

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It only says 'Get', which is essentially restating the tool's name, and does not describe what the settings include, what response to expect, required permissions, or any edge conditions such as whether the zone must have email routing configured.

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 with no wasted words and no unnecessary repetition of schema fields. It is well-structured and front-loaded for a simple one-parameter getter.

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 one-parameter getter with no output schema and no annotations, this is minimally viable but leaves gaps: it does not clarify what the returned settings contain, how it relates to list_email_routing_rules/list_email_routing_addresses, or what conditions apply. An agent could probably call it correctly, but would lack expected context.

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 schema already documents zone_id as 'The zone ID'. The description adds only 'for a zone', which mirrors the existing parameter rather than providing new semantic detail.

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?

States a clear operation ('Get') on a specific resource ('email routing settings') scoped to a zone. It is not confused with unrelated tools, but it does not explicitly differentiate from siblings such as list_email_routing_rules or list_email_routing_addresses.

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 given on when to choose this tool over related alternatives, nor any prerequisites such as whether email routing must be enabled. The only contextual hint is the phrase 'for a zone', which is already implied by the required zone_id parameter.

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