Polarion MCP Server

getBacklinkedWorkItems

Read-only

Retrieve work items that link back to a specified work item. Returns only incoming backlinks from other work items, excluding external links, to trace dependencies.

Instructions

Returns the incoming links from other Work Items (also known as backlinks). Does not pertain to External links.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description
`fields`	No	Sparse fieldset selector: an object keyed by resource type (e.g. `workitems`) whose value is a comma-separated list of attribute names to return (e.g. `id,title,status`), reducing payload size. Omit to return the default field set.
`include`	No	Comma-separated list of related resource types to embed in the response (e.g. `author,attachments`) so they don't require a separate follow-up call. Omit to return only the primary resource.
`revision`	No	A specific repository revision (e.g. `1234`) to read the resource as it existed at that revision instead of the current HEAD. Omit to use the latest revision.
`projectId`	Yes	The Polarion project ID (its URL segment, e.g. `myproject`), case-sensitive. Required to scope the request to one project; call getProjects to list valid IDs.
`page_size_`	No	Maximum number of items to return in this page (e.g. `100`). Use together with `page[number]` to paginate through a large result set.
`workItemId`	Yes	The Work Item's ID within its project (e.g. `WI-123`), not the combined `project/id` path used in some link payloads.
`page_number_`	No	1-based page number to fetch when the result set is paginated (e.g. `2` for the second page). Combine with `page[size]`; omit to fetch the first page.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description
`data`	No
`meta`	No
`links`	No
`included`	No	Related entities might be returned, see <a href="https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/230235217/PL20250606201928474.polarion_help_sc.xid2134849/xid2134871" target="_blank">REST API User Guide</a>.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed7 schema fields changedv1.2.0Sep 17, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / fields / description

Previous value: -"Filter returned resource fields. See <a href=\"https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/230235217/PL20250606201928474.polarion_help_sc.xid2134849/xid2134871\" target=\"_blank\">REST API User Guide</a> for details."New value: +"Sparse fieldset selector: an object keyed by resource type (e.g. `workitems`) whose value is a comma-separated list of attribute names to return (e.g. `id,title,status`), reducing payload size. Omit to return the default field set."

changedInput schema / properties / include / description

Previous value: -"Include related entities. See <a href=\"https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/230235217/PL20250606201928474.polarion_help_sc.xid2134849/xid2134871\" target=\"_blank\">REST API User Guide</a> for details."New value: +"Comma-separated list of related resource types to embed in the response (e.g. `author,attachments`) so they don't require a separate follow-up call. Omit to return only the primary resource."

changedInput schema / properties / page_number_ / description

Previous value: -"Specify the page number to be returned. Counting starts from 1. See <a href=\"https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/230235217/PL20250606201928474.polarion_help_sc.xid2134849/xid2134871\" target=\"_blank\">REST API User Guide</a> for details."New value: +"1-based page number to fetch when the result set is paginated (e.g. `2` for the second page). Combine with `page[size]`; omit to fetch the first page."

changedInput schema / properties / page_size_ / description

Previous value: -"Limit the number of entities returned in a single response. See <a href=\"https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/230235217/PL20250606201928474.polarion_help_sc.xid2134849/xid2134871\" target=\"_blank\">REST API User Guide</a> for details."New value: +"Maximum number of items to return in this page (e.g. `100`). Use together with `page[number]` to paginate through a large result set."

changedInput schema / properties / projectId / description

Previous value: -"The Project ID."New value: +"The Polarion project ID (its URL segment, e.g. `myproject`), case-sensitive. Required to scope the request to one project; call getProjects to list valid IDs."

changedInput schema / properties / revision / description

Previous value: -"The revision ID."New value: +"A specific repository revision (e.g. `1234`) to read the resource as it existed at that revision instead of the current HEAD. Omit to use the latest revision."

changedInput schema / properties / workItemId / description

Previous value: -"The Work Item ID."New value: +"The Work Item's ID within its project (e.g. `WI-123`), not the combined `project/id` path used in some link payloads."

Changed1 schema field changedv1.1.0Sep 11, 2026

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "data": {
+      "items": {
+        "properties": {
+          "attributes": {
+            "properties": {
+              "revision": {
+                "example": "1234",
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "role": {
+                "example": "relates_to",
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "suspect": {
+                "type": "boolean"
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "id": {
+            "example": "MyProjectId/MyWorkItemId/parent/MyProjectId/MyLinkedWorkItemId",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "links": {
+            "properties": {
+              "self": {
+                "example": "server-host-name/application-path/projects/MyProjectId/workitems/MyWorkItemId/linkedworkitems/parent/MyProjectId/MyLinkedWorkItemId?revision=1234",
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "meta": {
+            "properties": {
+              "errors": {
+                "items": {
+                  "properties": {
+                    "detail": {
+                      "description": "Human-readable explanation specific to this occurrence of the problem.",
+                      "example": "Unexpected token, BEGIN_ARRAY expected, but was : BEGIN_OBJECT (at $.data)",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    },
+                    "source": {
+                      "properties": {
+                        "parameter": {
+                          "description": "String indicating which URI query parameter caused the error.",
+                          "example": "revision",
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        "pointer": {
+                          "description": "JSON Pointer to the associated entity in the request document.",
+                          "example": "$.data",
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        "resource": {
+                          "description": "Resource causing the error.",
+                          "properties": {
+                            "id": {
+                              "example": "MyProjectId/id",
+                              "type": "string"
+                            },
+                            "type": {
+                              "example": "type",
+                              "type": "string"
+                            }
+                          },
+                          "type": "object"
+                        }
+                      },
+                      "type": "object"
+                    },
+                    "status": {
+                      "description": "HTTP status code applicable to this problem.",
+                      "example": "400",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    },
+                    "title": {
+                      "description": "Short, human-readable summary of the problem.",
+                      "example": "Bad Request",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                "type": "array"
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "relationships": {
+            "properties": {
+              "sourceWorkItem": {
+                "properties": {
+                  "data": {
+                    "properties": {
+                      "id": {
+                        "example": "MyProjectId/MyWorkItemId",
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "revision": {
+                        "example": "1234",
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "type": {
+                        "enum": [
+                          "workitems"
+                        ],
+                        "type": "string"
+                      }
+                    },
+                    "type": "object"
+                  }
+                },
+                "type": "object"
+              },
+              "workItem": {
+                "properties": {
+                  "data": {
+                    "properties": {
+                      "id": {
+                        "example": "MyProjectId/MyWorkItemId",
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "revision": {
+                        "example": "1234",
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "type": {
+                        "enum": [
+                          "workitems"
+                        ],
+                        "type": "string"
+                      }
+                    },
+                    "type": "object"
+                  }
+                },
+                "type": "object"
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "revision": {
+            "example": "1234",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "type": {
+            "enum": [
+              "linkedworkitems"
+            ],
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "included": {
+      "description": "Related entities might be returned, see <a href=\"https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/230235217/PL20250606201928474.polarion_help_sc.xid2134849/xid2134871\" target=\"_blank\">REST API User Guide</a>.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "links": {
+      "properties": {
+        "first": {
+          "example": "server-host-name/application-path/projects/MyProjectId/workitems/MyWorkItemId/linkedworkitems/parent/MyProjectId?page%5Bsize%5D=10&page%5Bnumber%5D=1",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "last": {
+          "example": "server-host-name/application-path/projects/MyProjectId/workitems/MyWorkItemId/linkedworkitems/parent/MyProjectId?page%5Bsize%5D=10&page%5Bnumber%5D=9",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "next": {
+          "example": "server-host-name/application-path/projects/MyProjectId/workitems/MyWorkItemId/linkedworkitems/parent/MyProjectId?page%5Bsize%5D=10&page%5Bnumber%5D=6",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "prev": {
+          "example": "server-host-name/application-path/projects/MyProjectId/workitems/MyWorkItemId/linkedworkitems/parent/MyProjectId?page%5Bsize%5D=10&page%5Bnumber%5D=4",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "self": {
+          "example": "server-host-name/application-path/projects/MyProjectId/workitems/MyWorkItemId/linkedworkitems/parent/MyProjectId?page%5Bsize%5D=10&page%5Bnumber%5D=5",
+          "type": "string"
+        }
+      },
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "meta": {
+      "properties": {
+        "totalCount": {
+          "format": "int32",
+          "type": "integer"
+        }
+      },
+      "type": "object"
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}

AddedSep 7, 2026

TDQS

A3.6/5.0

Behavior3/5

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

The annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, lowering the burden on the description. The description adds useful semantic context about link directionality and external-link exclusion, but it does not disclose other behavioral details such as pagination defaults or revision handling, which are left to the schema.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is two short sentences that state the operation, define the key term, and provide an exclusion. The action is front-loaded and every word contributes signal.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With a detailed input schema, a full output schema, and readOnly/openWorld annotations, the description only needs to establish the semantic scope, which it does. It lacks an explicit pointer to sibling tools for other link directions, but no critical invocation information is missing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the input schema already documents all seven parameters. The description adds no parameter-level meaning beyond restating the link direction, so the baseline 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly identifies a specific verb ('Returns') and resource ('incoming links from other Work Items') and defines 'backlinks'. It also distinguishes the tool from external-link endpoints, though it does not explicitly contrast it with the similarly named sibling getLinkedWorkItems.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The statement 'Does not pertain to External links' provides a useful negative boundary, telling the agent not to use this tool for external-link lookups. However, it does not explicitly state when to prefer this tool over getLinkedWorkItems or other relationship endpoints, so the positive selection criteria are only implied.

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

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