Parse PDF

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

The annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, idempotentHint=true, destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is clear. The description adds the behavioral trait that no OCR is performed and scanned PDFs return empty markdown with a warning, which is valuable context beyond annotations. It also clarifies that the input is base64-encoded local PDF bytes, but that's already in schema.

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 one sentence, front-loaded with the main action ('Parse a local PDF...to markdown') and then a brief caveat. No wasted words.

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 the tool has 6 parameters and no output schema, the description covers the core functionality and a key limitation. However, it doesn't describe the response structure or that other output formats (json, summary) require a server LLM, though that's in the schema. The description is adequate for a simple parse tool but leaves some gap regarding output shape.

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 provides descriptions for all 6 parameters (100% coverage), so the description doesn't need to add much. The description does reference contentBase64 and the markdown output, implicitly mapping to formats, but it doesn't explain the formats, jsonSchema, or maxLength parameters – though those are well-documented in the schema. Thus, the description adds minimal additional parameter semantics.

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 tool parses a local PDF (base64 in contentBase64) to markdown, which is a specific verb with resource and output format. It distinguishes itself from sibling tools by specifying 'local PDF' rather than URLs, aligning with crw_scrape/crw_crawl. The 'No OCR' caveat further defines its scope.

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 provides clear context for when to use it: when you have a local PDF as base64 and want markdown. It explicitly states a when-not scenario: scanned PDFs return empty markdown with a warning, which tells the agent to avoid using it for those. However, it doesn't name alternative tools for OCR or other formats, so it falls just short of explicit alternatives guidance.

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