mhlb_get_cart_tabs

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

Annotations already provide readOnlyHint=true, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds that the tool returns valid filter values and the default selection, and positions it as a pre-filter step. However, it does not describe the response shape or how the optional parameters affect the result, so some behavioral detail is still missing.

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 two compact sentences with no filler. The primary purpose is front-loaded, and the usage instruction is short and relevant. Every sentence earns its place.

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 tool with no output schema and fully described optional parameters, the description conveys what the tool returns (periods, status tabs, default selection) and when to call it. The only minor gap is the implicit response shape, but the conceptual return contents are sufficiently clear.

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 all three parameters (period, tabName, studentId) are already documented in the schema. The description does not add parameter-level detail beyond framing the tool's purpose, which matches the baseline for full schema coverage.

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 names a specific action ('Get the valid filter values') on a specific resource (mhlb_get_cart), and details the contents: ordering periods and status tabs, including the default selection. This clearly distinguishes it from sibling mhlb_get_cart, which presumably retrieves the cart itself.

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 phrase 'Call this before filtering the cart' gives a clear and actionable context for when the tool should be used. It does not explicitly name alternatives or exclusions, but the relationship to mhlb_get_cart makes the intended workflow obvious.

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