AI engineering glossary · Agents tools MCP
What is tool error handling?
Tool error handling: Returning a clear, readable error message to the model when a tool fails, so the model can retry, change arguments or explain the problem, instead of crashing the whole loop. Good messages say what went wrong and what would fix it.
Tool error handling: an example
The tool returns 'Error: customer_id 991 not found. IDs are 6 digits.' and the agent asks the user for the right ID.
Related terms
More Agents tools MCP terms
- Tool overload
- Tool registry
- Tool retrieval
- Tool selection
- Toolformer
- Tracing
- Trajectory evaluation
- Verifier
Where you learn it
Tool error handling is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.