Tools & MCP~18 min

Designing Effective Tools: Descriptions, Schemas, and Error Handling

Write tool descriptions and JSON Schemas that prevent misuse, and return errors the model can recover from.

What you will be able to do

✓Explain why a thorough tool description is the highest-leverage factor in correct tool use
✓Tighten an input_schema with types, enums, required fields, and per-parameter descriptions to reduce malformed calls
✓Scope tools to be narrow and single-purpose, separating and flagging destructive actions
✓Signal and structure tool failures with is_error and specific, recoverable error messages

4 concepts·5 hands-on exercises·3-question check