search_books

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

With no annotations, the description must carry the transparency burden. It discloses pagination ('Returns paginated results') but falsely claims support for filtering by 'series'—no such parameter exists in the schema. This misleading statement reduces trust and transparency.

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 concise sentences. It front-loads the primary purpose and lists capabilities, with no unnecessary fluff. Despite the inaccuracy, the structure is efficient.

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?

Given 13 optional parameters and no output schema, the description is too sparse. It does not explain how filters combine, default sort/pagination, or what the return payload looks like. The false 'series' claim further undermines completeness.

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%, setting a baseline of 3, but the description adds no meaningful per-parameter detail beyond what the schema already provides. Worse, it mentions a nonexistent 'series' filter, which could mislead agents into attempting an invalid parameter. This inaccurate addition lowers the score.

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 clearly starts with 'Search and filter books in your BookLore library,' identifying the specific verb and resource. It distinguishes this from sibling tools like get_book and update_book_rating by focusing on search/filter rather than single-item operations.

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 implies use for broad search and filtering tasks, which is clear from context. However, it does not explicitly state when to prefer this over alternatives or provide exclusions, so it stops at 'clear context, no exclusions' level.

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