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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and destructiveHint=false, covering the safety profile. The description adds that results are scoped to a workspace, but it does not disclose further behavioral traits such as default workspace fallback, pagination behavior, or result limits. There is 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?

The description is compact and front-loaded with the primary action. The two sentences are efficient, though the workspace-by-ID-or-name sentence is partially redundant with the schema descriptions.

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?

For a read-only list operation with rich schema descriptions, annotations, and an output schema, the description covers the core invocation semantics: scope, filters, and workspace selection. The main gap is not disambiguating from similar list/search sibling tools, but the structured data fills most other gaps.

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 100%, so the baseline is 3; the schema already documents every parameter. The description adds a useful grouping of filters and the id/name workspace choice, but it omits page and document_tags from the prose without adding meaning beyond what the schema provides.

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 opens with a specific verb and object: 'List notes in a workspace,' and enumerates filter dimensions. However, it does not explicitly distinguish list_notes from sibling tools like search_notes or list_documents, which could also return notes in a workspace.

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?

There is no guidance about when to choose list_notes over search_notes, list_documents, or search_documents. The description only lists filter options and mentions workspace-by-ID-or-name resolution; it does not name alternatives or state when this tool should or should not be used.

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