DNS Record Details

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, idempotentHint=true, and destructiveHint=false, so the description's tagline "Read operation" merely restates structured data. It adds nothing about lookup failures, whether zone_id is needed alongside the record ID, or what the returned record contains.

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?

It is appropriately short and the core purpose is front-loaded. The second sentence ("Read operation.") is redundant given the annotations and does not earn its place, which keeps this from a 5.

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?

With no output schema, the description should say more about the returned record shape and the zone_id/dns_record_id relationship. Safety behavior is covered by annotations, but the identification and response contract remains thin for a lookup 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?

Schema description coverage is only 50%, and both zone_id and dns_record_id carry empty descriptions. The description provides no compensating detail about how these identifiers relate, whether zone_id is optional, or what include_shadow_metadata changes, leaving key parameters unexplained in both schema and prose.

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 specific verb and resource ("Retrieves details for a specific DNS record in the zone"), which contrasts with the list_dns_records sibling by emphasizing a single record. The scope is clear, though the description never names the alternative to make the distinction explicit.

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?

There is no when-to-use guidance and no mention of alternatives such as list_dns_records or get_zone. The word "specific" weakly implies the caller must already have an ID, but nothing tells the agent when this tool is the right choice.

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