Elements List Workbook Controls

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, destructiveHint=false and openWorldHint=true, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds only domain context (what a control element is); it says nothing about pagination, result volume, or any auth/scope constraints beyond what the annotations imply.

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?

A single front-loaded imperative sentence with zero filler; the scoping term 'control elements' arrives early. It is efficiently sized, though its brevity is also what leaves the sibling-routing gap unaddressed.

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 one-parameter read-only tool with an output schema and annotations, the essentials are present. However, given how many near-identical element-listing siblings exist, the description is not complete enough to reliably route an agent to this tool over elements_list_workbook_elements or elements_list_workbook_page_elements.

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 0% for the single workbook_id parameter, but the description's phrase 'in a workbook' implicitly anchors the input to a workbook. With one self-evident identifier and no enums, the description does enough to link the parameter to purpose without adding format details.

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?

Specific verb ('List') plus a precise resource ('control elements (filters, parameters) in a workbook'), and the parenthetical defines the domain term 'control element', which separates it from sibling listers like elements_list_workbook_columns or elements_list_workbook_sources. It does not explicitly name which sibling to prefer, so it stops short of a 5.

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 never states when to use this tool versus the crowded family of alternatives (elements_list_workbook_elements, elements_list_workbook_page_elements, elements_list_workbook_queries). An agent must infer the distinction from the phrase 'filters, parameters' alone, with no exclusions or routing guidance.

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