====== Common Tool Definitions ======

Pre-built function/tool JSON schemas for AI agents. Each tool is shown in both OpenAI and Anthropic format. Copy-paste ready.

**Last updated:** March 2026

===== web_search =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "web_search",
    "description": "Search the web for current information on any topic.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "query": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "The search query"
        },
        "num_results": {
          "type": "integer",
          "description": "Number of results to return (default: 5)",
          "default": 5
        }
      },
      "required": ["query"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "web_search",
  "description": "Search the web for current information on any topic.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "query": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "The search query"
      },
      "num_results": {
        "type": "integer",
        "description": "Number of results to return (default: 5)",
        "default": 5
      }
    },
    "required": ["query"]
  }
}
</code>

===== read_file =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "read_file",
    "description": "Read the contents of a file at the given path.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "path": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Absolute or relative file path to read"
        },
        "offset": {
          "type": "integer",
          "description": "Line number to start reading from (0-indexed)"
        },
        "limit": {
          "type": "integer",
          "description": "Maximum number of lines to read"
        }
      },
      "required": ["path"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "read_file",
  "description": "Read the contents of a file at the given path.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "path": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Absolute or relative file path to read"
      },
      "offset": {
        "type": "integer",
        "description": "Line number to start reading from (0-indexed)"
      },
      "limit": {
        "type": "integer",
        "description": "Maximum number of lines to read"
      }
    },
    "required": ["path"]
  }
}
</code>

===== write_file =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "write_file",
    "description": "Write or overwrite a file with the given content.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "path": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "File path to write to"
        },
        "content": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Content to write to the file"
        },
        "mode": {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": ["overwrite", "append"],
          "description": "Write mode (default: overwrite)",
          "default": "overwrite"
        }
      },
      "required": ["path", "content"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "write_file",
  "description": "Write or overwrite a file with the given content.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "path": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "File path to write to"
      },
      "content": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Content to write to the file"
      },
      "mode": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": ["overwrite", "append"],
        "description": "Write mode (default: overwrite)",
        "default": "overwrite"
      }
    },
    "required": ["path", "content"]
  }
}
</code>

===== execute_code =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "execute_code",
    "description": "Execute code in a sandboxed environment and return the output.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "language": {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": ["python", "javascript", "bash"],
          "description": "Programming language to execute"
        },
        "code": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Source code to execute"
        },
        "timeout": {
          "type": "integer",
          "description": "Execution timeout in seconds (default: 30)",
          "default": 30
        }
      },
      "required": ["language", "code"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "execute_code",
  "description": "Execute code in a sandboxed environment and return the output.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "language": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": ["python", "javascript", "bash"],
        "description": "Programming language to execute"
      },
      "code": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Source code to execute"
      },
      "timeout": {
        "type": "integer",
        "description": "Execution timeout in seconds (default: 30)",
        "default": 30
      }
    },
    "required": ["language", "code"]
  }
}
</code>

===== http_request =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "http_request",
    "description": "Make an HTTP request to a URL and return the response.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "method": {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": ["GET", "POST", "PUT", "PATCH", "DELETE"],
          "description": "HTTP method"
        },
        "url": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Full URL to request"
        },
        "headers": {
          "type": "object",
          "description": "HTTP headers as key-value pairs",
          "additionalProperties": { "type": "string" }
        },
        "body": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Request body (for POST/PUT/PATCH)"
        }
      },
      "required": ["method", "url"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "http_request",
  "description": "Make an HTTP request to a URL and return the response.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "method": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": ["GET", "POST", "PUT", "PATCH", "DELETE"],
        "description": "HTTP method"
      },
      "url": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Full URL to request"
      },
      "headers": {
        "type": "object",
        "description": "HTTP headers as key-value pairs",
        "additionalProperties": { "type": "string" }
      },
      "body": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Request body (for POST/PUT/PATCH)"
      }
    },
    "required": ["method", "url"]
  }
}
</code>

===== database_query =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "database_query",
    "description": "Execute a read-only SQL query against the database.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "query": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "SQL query to execute (SELECT only)"
        },
        "database": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Database name or connection identifier"
        },
        "limit": {
          "type": "integer",
          "description": "Max rows to return (default: 100)",
          "default": 100
        }
      },
      "required": ["query"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "database_query",
  "description": "Execute a read-only SQL query against the database.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "query": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "SQL query to execute (SELECT only)"
      },
      "database": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Database name or connection identifier"
      },
      "limit": {
        "type": "integer",
        "description": "Max rows to return (default: 100)",
        "default": 100
      }
    },
    "required": ["query"]
  }
}
</code>

===== calculator =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "calculator",
    "description": "Evaluate a mathematical expression and return the result.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "expression": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Mathematical expression to evaluate (e.g., '2 * (3 + 4)')"
        }
      },
      "required": ["expression"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "calculator",
  "description": "Evaluate a mathematical expression and return the result.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "expression": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Mathematical expression to evaluate (e.g., '2 * (3 + 4)')"
      }
    },
    "required": ["expression"]
  }
}
</code>

===== send_email =====

==== OpenAI Format ====

<code json>
{
  "type": "function",
  "function": {
    "name": "send_email",
    "description": "Send an email to the specified recipient.",
    "parameters": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "to": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Recipient email address"
        },
        "subject": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Email subject line"
        },
        "body": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Email body content (plain text or HTML)"
        },
        "cc": {
          "type": "array",
          "items": { "type": "string" },
          "description": "CC recipients"
        },
        "reply_to": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Reply-to email address"
        }
      },
      "required": ["to", "subject", "body"]
    }
  }
}
</code>

==== Anthropic Format ====

<code json>
{
  "name": "send_email",
  "description": "Send an email to the specified recipient.",
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "to": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Recipient email address"
      },
      "subject": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Email subject line"
      },
      "body": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Email body content (plain text or HTML)"
      },
      "cc": {
        "type": "array",
        "items": { "type": "string" },
        "description": "CC recipients"
      },
      "reply_to": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Reply-to email address"
      }
    },
    "required": ["to", "subject", "body"]
  }
}
</code>

===== Format Differences Cheat Sheet =====

^ Aspect ^ OpenAI Format ^ Anthropic Format ^
| Wrapper | ''{"type":"function","function":{...}}'' | Top-level object |
| Schema key | ''parameters'' | ''input_schema'' |
| JSON Schema | Standard JSON Schema | Standard JSON Schema |
| Tool choice | ''tool_choice: "auto"'' | ''tool_choice: {"type":"auto"}'' |
| Tool result | ''role: "tool"'' message | ''tool_result'' content block |