Confirm a thought's findings to mark it as verified and enable its selection in the decision tree.
Mark a thought as verified after confirming its findings. Required before a thought can be selected.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| treeId | Yes | The ID of the tree | |
| thoughtId | Yes | The ID of the thought to verify | |
| verificationNotes | No | Notes explaining how/why the thought was verified |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v1.6.5Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries the burden of behavioral disclosure. It clearly communicates that this is a state-changing 'mark as verified' operation and that it is a prerequisite for selection. However, it leaves some behavioral details implicit: it does not mention reversibility, what happens when called on an already verified thought, or any side effects beyond the verified flag. The core state change is disclosed, but not deeply.
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 exactly two sentences with no wasted words. The primary action is front-loaded ('Mark a thought as verified'), and the requirement about selection is placed immediately after, making the purpose crisp and scannable. It is an appropriate size for this tool.'
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 simple three-parameter tool with a fully descriptive schema, the description supplies the essential semantic context: the verification action is a deliberate post-confirmation state change that gates selection. It does not document return values or edge cases, but with no output schema and low complexity, that is not a critical gap. The description and schema together give an agent enough to call the tool correctly.
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 parameter meanings are already fully documented. The description adds no specific parameter-level information beyond what the parameters' descriptions already provide. This matches the baseline of 3 when the schema does the heavy lifting.
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 uses a specific verb and resource: 'Mark a thought as verified' makes the primary action unambiguous. It adds meaningful context by stating the purpose ('after confirming its findings') and the consequence ('Required before a thought can be selected'), which clearly separates this from vague or tautological tool descriptions.This is a well-defined state transition rather than just a restatement of the name.
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?
The description clearly states when the tool is relevant (after findings are confirmed and before a thought may be selected), which gives the agent a usable precondition. It does not explicitly name alternatives or exclusions, but the surrounding sibling tools do not present a direct alternative verification path.Condition is enough to guide basic selection.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.