Error Handling in Tools
Build resilient AI agents through robust error handling and graceful degradation
Your Progress
0 / 5 completedKey Takeaways: Master Error Handling
You've learned how to build resilient AI agents that gracefully handle failures. Here's a summary of the essential concepts and best practices.
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Error Types
- •Network errors (timeouts, connection failures)
- •Validation errors (invalid parameters)
- •Authorization errors (permission denied)
- •Resource errors (rate limits, unavailable)
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Error Categories
- •Transient: Temporary issues → Retry
- •Permanent: Won't resolve → Fail fast
- •Validation: Bad input → Return error
- •Recoverable: Alternative exists → Use fallback
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Recovery Strategies
- •Retry with exponential backoff for transient errors
- •Circuit breaker to prevent cascading failures
- •Fallback chains for service degradation
- •Graceful degradation for non-critical failures
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Implementation
- •Try-catch blocks around all tool calls
- •Log errors with full context (tool, params, attempt)
- •Set maximum retry limits (3-5 attempts)
- •Add jitter to prevent thundering herd
Interactive: Best Practices Checklist
Check off practices you'll implement in your agents (0/15 completed)
Always categorize errors before deciding how to handle them
Implement exponential backoff with jitter for retries
Set maximum retry limits to prevent infinite loops
Use circuit breakers for external service dependencies
Define fallback strategies for critical functionality
Log all errors with full context (tool name, params, attempt number)
Distinguish between transient and permanent errors
Fail fast for validation and permanent errors
Return partial results when possible (graceful degradation)
Monitor error rates and set up alerts for anomalies
Test error scenarios in staging before production
Document error handling behavior for your team
Use structured logging for easier debugging
Consider user experience when errors occur
Plan for the worst, hope for the best
Real-World Impact
See how proper error handling drives business value
E-commerce Checkout
Without Error Handling:
Payment gateway timeout → Lost sale
With Error Handling:
Retry 3x with backoff → 95% success rate
Business Impact:
+$2M annual revenue
API-based Analytics
Without Error Handling:
Primary API down → No data for 2 hours
With Error Handling:
Fallback to cached data → Continuous service
Business Impact:
Zero downtime for users
AI Image Generation
Without Error Handling:
Model error → Complete failure
With Error Handling:
Graceful degradation → Return text description
Business Impact:
Better UX, user stays engaged
What's Next?
You've mastered error handling! Now learn about Tool Libraries & Registries to discover pre-built tools and libraries that accelerate development.
Level 2Tool Use