List Books

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden but offers minimal behavioral disclosure. It mentions 'advanced filtering and sorting' but doesn't describe pagination behavior (implied by offset/count parameters), rate limits, authentication requirements, error conditions, or what 'available books' means (e.g., published vs. all).

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?

Extremely concise single sentence with zero wasted words. Front-loaded with core purpose ('List available books') followed by key capabilities. Every word 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 4-parameter tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description is insufficient. It doesn't explain what constitutes 'available books', how results are structured, error handling, or practical usage patterns. The mention of 'advanced filtering' is vague without examples of filter criteria.

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 parameters are fully documented in the schema. The description adds marginal value by mentioning 'advanced filtering and sorting' which aligns with the 'filter' and 'sort' parameters, but doesn't provide additional semantic context beyond what's in the schema descriptions.

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 states the verb ('List') and resource ('books') with additional context about capabilities ('advanced filtering and sorting'). It distinguishes from siblings like 'get_book' (singular) and 'search_content' (broader search), but doesn't explicitly differentiate from 'get_shelves' or other list-like tools.

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?

No guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'search_content' or 'get_shelves'. The description mentions 'advanced filtering and sorting' but doesn't specify when this is preferable to simpler list operations or broader searches available among siblings.

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