List Alza categories

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

Annotations already declare readOnly, openWorld, and idempotent behavior. The description adds meaningful traversal semantics: one level at a time, top-level without arguments, and drill-down by passing a parent id. This goes beyond the annotations and makes the interaction model clear.

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?

Two concise sentences carry all essential information with no wasted words. The primary purpose and default behavior are front-loaded, and the linkage to search_products is stated efficiently.

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 single-optional-parameter read-only tool with an output schema, the description is complete. It explains what the tool does, how to navigate the tree, what happens without arguments, and how results should be used downstream.

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?

The input schema fully documents parent_id with 100% coverage, including its optionality and drill-down behavior. The description reinforces the same concept but does not add new parameter-level detail beyond what the schema already provides, so the baseline score applies.

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?

States a specific verb and resource: 'Browse the Alza category tree one level at a time.' It clearly distinguishes this tool from product search and other siblings by explaining that it returns category ids for use with search_products. The no-arguments top-level behavior is also specified, removing ambiguity.

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?

Provides clear usage context: use it to narrow a product search by finding a category id, then pass that id to search_products. It does not explicitly say when not to use it or list alternative tools, but the context is strong enough for typical routing decisions.

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