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

Annotations already mark the tool as read-only and idempotent. The description adds behavioral detail beyond the schema: results come with pre-extracted passages and the grounded summary has quotes checked against sources. No contradiction with annotations.

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?

Two sentences with no filler: the first states the core purpose and output shape, the second gives targeted parameter guidance. Every sentence earns its place and the key information is front-loaded.

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?

The description adequately explains how to invoke the tool for common cases, including depth and summarization behavior. It does not detail the response format or compare with extract_url, but the annotations and schema fill enough gaps for a search 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 50%, and the description adds meaningful semantics to search_depth and include_answer. However, it does not explain topic, max_results, or domain filtering parameters, leaving the agent to rely on schema defaults for those.

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?

The description states a specific verb and resource: 'Search the live web and get ranked results with the relevant passages already extracted from each page.' This clearly distinguishes the tool from the sibling extract_url, which focuses on URL extraction rather than live search.

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?

Provides explicit parameter guidance: 'Use search_depth advanced for research questions, basic for a quick lookup' and 'Set include_answer to get a grounded summary.' This gives actionable context, though it does not mention when to prefer web_search over extract_url.

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