Open Trivia DB — List Categories

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, idempotentHint=true, openWorldHint=true, and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds genuine behavioral context beyond that: it enumerates the exact fixed return set (24 categories with their numeric IDs 9–32), confirms the tool takes no parameters, and states 'free unlimited' usage, signaling no rate-limit or auth constraints. No contradiction exists between the read-only listing behavior and the annotations.

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 core purpose is front-loaded in the first sentence, followed by the parameter-count statement, the ground-truth enumeration, downstream usage, and licensing. The full 24-category enumeration is long but earns its place as embedded reference data an agent can use without a lookup. It is slightly redundant with the existing output schema but stays structured and free of filler.

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 zero-parameter, fixed-list read-only tool with rich annotations and an output schema, the description is complete. It covers what is returned (the 24 categories and IDs), how to consume the result (feed IDs into opentdb.trivia.questions), the source/license, and that usage is unrestricted. There is no missing information an agent would need to select and invoke this tool correctly.

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?

This tool effectively has zero real parameters (the single placeholder is a dummy with 100% schema description coverage), which warrants the 0-params baseline of 4. The description reinforces the no-parameter behavior and adds meaning by documenting what the output supplies — the numeric IDs — which is the value an agent needs. The placeholder parameter is already well-documented in the schema.

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 states a specific verb and resource: 'List all 24 trivia categories available in the Open Trivia Database with their numeric IDs.' It clearly distinguishes this from its siblings opentdb.trivia.questions (which retrieves questions) and opentdb.trivia.category_count (which counts per-category questions), so an agent can separate them without inspecting schemas.

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 gives explicit downstream guidance: 'Use returned IDs as the ''category'' parameter in opentdb.trivia.questions.' This establishes the tool's role in the workflow. It does not, however, state when NOT to use it or contrast it with the closely related opentdb.trivia.category_count/global_count siblings, so it stops short of a full when/when-not specification.

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