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taylorwilsdon

Google Workspace MCP Server - Control Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Chat, Forms & Drive

Send Gmail Message

send_gmail_message

Send emails via Gmail, including replies, forwards, and attachments, with alias and threading support. Simplify messaging through the Google Workspace MCP.

Instructions

Sends an email using the user's Gmail account. Supports new emails, replies, and forwards, with optional attachments. Supports Gmail's "Send As" feature to send from configured alias addresses.

To forward an existing message, pass forward_message_id. The original subject, body (quoted with a "Forwarded message" header), and attachments are carried over. In forward mode, body (if any) is prepended as a note and subject is optional. Threading, reply, and signature options do not apply when forwarding.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
ccNoOptional CC email address.
toNoRecipient email address. Optional when replying with reply_all=True, which derives it from the thread.
bccNoOptional BCC email address.
bodyNoEmail body content (plain text or HTML). Required when sending. When forwarding, this is an optional note prepended above the quoted original.
subjectNoEmail subject. Required when sending; optional when forwarding (defaults to 'Fwd: <original subject>').
from_nameNoOptional sender display name (e.g., 'Peter Hartree'). If provided, the From header will be formatted as 'Name <email>'.
reply_allNoWhether to derive reply-all recipients from the thread: To = the sender being replied to, Cc = the other participants, excluding the authenticated account and from_email. Requires thread_id. Explicit to/cc win; when cc is omitted the sender being replied to is added to the derived Cc if they are not already in To. Defaults to false.
thread_idNoOptional Gmail thread ID to reply within.
from_emailNoOptional 'Send As' alias email address. Must be configured in Gmail settings (Settings > Accounts > Send mail as). If not provided, uses the authenticated user's email.
referencesNoOptional chain of Message-IDs for proper threading.
attachmentsNoOptional list of attachments. Each can have: "url" (fetch from URL — works with MCP attachment URLs from get_drive_file_download_url / get_gmail_attachment_content), OR "path" (file path, auto-encodes), OR "content" (standard base64, not urlsafe) + "filename". Optional "mime_type". Optional "content_id" (string) makes the attachment inline-rendered: it lands in a multipart/related part with `Content-ID: <content_id>` and `Content-Disposition: inline`, and the HTML body can reference it via `<img src="cid:<content_id>">` (RFC 2392). Without `content_id` the attachment is a regular multipart/mixed attachment. Example: [{"url": "https://host/attachments/abc-123", "filename": "report.pdf"}]
body_formatNoFormat of the body content (and of the prepended note when forwarding). Use 'plain' for plaintext or 'html' for HTML content.plain
in_reply_toNoOptional RFC Message-ID of the message being replied to (e.g., '<message123@gmail.com>').
quote_originalNoWhether to include the message being replied to as a quoted original. Only has an effect when thread_id is provided. Defaults to false.
include_signatureNoWhether to append the Gmail signature from Settings > Signature when available. Defaults to true.
user_google_emailYesThe user's Google email address. Required for authentication.
forward_message_idNoSet to a Gmail message ID to forward that message instead of composing a new one. The original subject, body, and (optionally) attachments are carried over; 'body' becomes an optional note prepended to the forward.
include_forwarded_attachmentsNoWhen forwarding, whether to include the original message's attachments. Ignored unless forward_message_id is set.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
resultYes
Behavior5/5

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

The description richly details behaviors beyond the annotations: forward mode carries over subject/body/attachments, reply_all derivation rules, attachment inline rendering via content_id, and signature defaults. It also discloses that certain options are ignored in forwarding scenarios. This is far beyond the minimal annotation hints.

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 longer than average but information-dense and well-structured. It front-loads the core purpose, then explains mode-specific details and parameter behavior. Each sentence adds meaningful context, though the length is slightly high for a tool description.

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

Completeness5/5

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

Given 18 parameters, a complete input schema, and an output schema, the description covers all major modes (new, reply, forward) and their specific behaviors. Edge cases like forward attachments, inline content IDs, and signature behavior are addressed. The tool is fully comprehensible without external information.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema already provides 100% parameter descriptions, so the baseline is 3. The description adds extra semantic clarity around parameter interactions (e.g., 'body becomes an optional note prepended to the forward', 'reply_all derives recipients from the thread'), which enriches understanding beyond the schema alone.

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

Purpose5/5

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

The description opens with a specific verb and resource: 'Sends an email using the user's Gmail account.' It clearly enumerates supported capabilities (new emails, replies, forwards, attachments, Send As), which distinguishes it from sibling tools like draft_gmail_message (which creates a draft rather than sending).

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives clear usage context for forward mode ('To forward an existing message, pass forward_message_id') and explains mode-specific behavior (e.g., threading/reply/signature options do not apply when forwarding). It does not explicitly contrast with sibling tools like draft_gmail_message, but the use cases are well implied.

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

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