Add descriptions to alert types (#81850)

* Initial attempt at adding descriptions to alert types * Fix typecheck failures * Fix i18n check * Fix failing jest test * Fix i18n check again * Apply changes for Uptime * Update x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/alerting/register_apm_alerts.ts Co-authored-by: Casper Hübertz <casper@formgeist.com> * Update x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/alerting/register_apm_alerts.ts Co-authored-by: Casper Hübertz <casper@formgeist.com> * Fix jest test * Update geo threshold description * Update description of some alert types based on feedback from Gail * Update description of some alert types based on feedback from Gail * Fix i18n * Fix i18n * Fix ESLint * Update some copy * Update uptime alert description * Fix typos Co-authored-by: Casper Hübertz <casper@formgeist.com>
2025-04-23 09:19:04 -04:00 · 2020-11-03 14:09:41 -05:00 · 2020-11-03 14:09:41 -05:00 · eb43158bdd
commit eb43158bdd
parent ca53f774ba
39 changed files with 132 additions and 4 deletions
--- a/x-pack/examples/alerting_example/public/alert_types/always_firing.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/examples/alerting_example/public/alert_types/always_firing.tsx
@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export function getAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
  return {
    id: 'example.always-firing',
    name: 'Always Fires',
+    description: 'Alert when called',
    iconClass: 'bolt',
    alertParamsExpression: AlwaysFiringExpression,
    validate: (alertParams: AlwaysFiringParamsProps['alertParams']) => {
--- a/x-pack/examples/alerting_example/public/alert_types/astros.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/examples/alerting_example/public/alert_types/astros.tsx
@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ export function getAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
  return {
    id: 'example.people-in-space',
    name: 'People Are In Space Right Now',
+    description: 'Alert when people are in space right now',
    iconClass: 'globe',
    alertParamsExpression: PeopleinSpaceExpression,
    validate: (alertParams: PeopleinSpaceParamsProps['alertParams']) => {
--- a/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/alerting/register_apm_alerts.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/alerting/register_apm_alerts.ts
@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ export function registerApmAlerts(
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.apm.alertTypes.errorCount', {
      defaultMessage: 'Error count threshold',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.apm.alertTypes.errorCount.description', {
+      defaultMessage:
+        'Alert when the number of errors in a service exceeds a defined threshold.',
+    }),
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: lazy(() => import('./ErrorCountAlertTrigger')),
    validate: () => ({
@ -41,6 +45,13 @@ export function registerApmAlerts(
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.apm.alertTypes.transactionDuration', {
      defaultMessage: 'Transaction duration threshold',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate(
+      'xpack.apm.alertTypes.transactionDuration.description',
+      {
+        defaultMessage:
+          'Alert when the duration of a specific transaction type in a service exceeds a defined threshold.',
+      }
+    ),
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: lazy(
      () => import('./TransactionDurationAlertTrigger')
@ -68,6 +79,13 @@ export function registerApmAlerts(
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.apm.alertTypes.transactionErrorRate', {
      defaultMessage: 'Transaction error rate threshold',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate(
+      'xpack.apm.alertTypes.transactionErrorRate.description',
+      {
+        defaultMessage:
+          'Alert when the rate of transaction errors in a service exceeds a defined threshold.',
+      }
+    ),
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: lazy(
      () => import('./TransactionErrorRateAlertTrigger')
@ -95,6 +113,13 @@ export function registerApmAlerts(
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.apm.alertTypes.transactionDurationAnomaly', {
      defaultMessage: 'Transaction duration anomaly',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate(
+      'xpack.apm.alertTypes.transactionDurationAnomaly.description',
+      {
+        defaultMessage:
+          'Alert when the overall transaction duration of a service is considered anomalous.',
+      }
+    ),
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: lazy(
      () => import('./TransactionDurationAnomalyAlertTrigger')
--- a/x-pack/plugins/infra/public/alerting/inventory/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/infra/public/alerting/inventory/index.ts
@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ export function createInventoryMetricAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.infra.metrics.inventory.alertFlyout.alertName', {
      defaultMessage: 'Inventory',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.infra.metrics.inventory.alertFlyout.alertDescription', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the inventory exceeds a defined threshold.',
+    }),
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: React.lazy(() => import('./components/expression')),
    validate: validateMetricThreshold,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/infra/public/alerting/log_threshold/log_threshold_alert_type.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/infra/public/alerting/log_threshold/log_threshold_alert_type.ts
@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ export function getAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.infra.logs.alertFlyout.alertName', {
      defaultMessage: 'Log threshold',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.infra.logs.alertFlyout.alertDescription', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the log aggregation exceeds the threshold.',
+    }),
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: React.lazy(() => import('./components/expression_editor/editor')),
    validate: validateExpression,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/infra/public/alerting/metric_threshold/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/infra/public/alerting/metric_threshold/index.ts
@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ export function createMetricThresholdAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.infra.metrics.alertFlyout.alertName', {
      defaultMessage: 'Metric threshold',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.infra.metrics.alertFlyout.alertDescription', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the metrics aggregation exceeds the threshold.',
+    }),
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: React.lazy(() => import('./components/expression')),
    validate: validateMetricThreshold,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/common/constants.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/common/constants.ts
@ -260,31 +260,52 @@ export const LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS = {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.clusterHealth.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Cluster health',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.clusterHealth.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the health of the cluster changes.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_ELASTICSEARCH_VERSION_MISMATCH]: {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.elasticsearchVersionMismatch.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Elasticsearch version mismatch',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate(
+      'xpack.monitoring.alerts.elasticsearchVersionMismatch.description',
+      {
+        defaultMessage: 'Alert when the cluster has multiple versions of Elasticsearch.',
+      }
+    ),
  },
  [ALERT_KIBANA_VERSION_MISMATCH]: {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.kibanaVersionMismatch.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Kibana version mismatch',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.kibanaVersionMismatch.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the cluser has multiple versions of Kibana.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_LICENSE_EXPIRATION]: {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.licenseExpiration.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'License expiration',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.licenseExpiration.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the cluster license is about to expire.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_LOGSTASH_VERSION_MISMATCH]: {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.logstashVersionMismatch.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Logstash version mismatch',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.logstashVersionMismatch.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the cluster has multiple versions of Logstash.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_NODES_CHANGED]: {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.nodesChanged.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Nodes changed',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.nodesChanged.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when adding, removing, or restarting a node.',
+    }),
  },
 };

@ -296,6 +317,9 @@ export const ALERT_DETAILS = {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.cpuUsage.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'CPU Usage',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.cpuUsage.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the CPU load for a node is consistently high.',
+    }),
    paramDetails: {
      threshold: {
        label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.cpuUsage.paramDetails.threshold.label', {
@ -329,6 +353,9 @@ export const ALERT_DETAILS = {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.diskUsage.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Disk Usage',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.diskUsage.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when the disk usage for a node is consistently high.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE]: {
    paramDetails: {
@ -348,6 +375,9 @@ export const ALERT_DETAILS = {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.memoryUsage.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Memory Usage (JVM)',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.memoryUsage.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when a node reports high memory usage.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_MISSING_MONITORING_DATA]: {
    paramDetails: {
@ -367,6 +397,9 @@ export const ALERT_DETAILS = {
    label: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.missingData.label', {
      defaultMessage: 'Missing monitoring data',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.missingData.description', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when monitoring data is missing.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_THREAD_POOL_SEARCH_REJECTIONS]: {
    paramDetails: {
@ -388,6 +421,10 @@ export const ALERT_DETAILS = {
      defaultMessage: 'Thread pool {type} rejections',
      values: { type: 'search' },
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.searchThreadPoolRejections.description', {
+      defaultMessage:
+        'Alert when the number of rejections in the search thread pool exceeds the threshold.',
+    }),
  },
  [ALERT_THREAD_POOL_WRITE_REJECTIONS]: {
    paramDetails: {
@ -409,6 +446,10 @@ export const ALERT_DETAILS = {
      defaultMessage: 'Thread pool {type} rejections',
      values: { type: 'write' },
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.monitoring.alerts.writeThreadPoolRejections.description', {
+      defaultMessage:
+        'Alert when the number of rejections in the write thread pool exceeds the threshold.',
+    }),
  },
 };

--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/cpu_usage_alert/cpu_usage_alert.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/cpu_usage_alert/cpu_usage_alert.tsx
@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export function createCpuUsageAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
  return {
    id: ALERT_CPU_USAGE,
    name: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_CPU_USAGE].label,
+    description: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_CPU_USAGE].description,
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: (props: Props) => (
      <Expression {...props} paramDetails={ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_CPU_USAGE].paramDetails} />
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/disk_usage_alert/index.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/disk_usage_alert/index.tsx
@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export function createDiskUsageAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
  return {
    id: ALERT_DISK_USAGE,
    name: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_DISK_USAGE].label,
+    description: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_DISK_USAGE].description,
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: (props: Props) => (
      <Expression {...props} paramDetails={ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_DISK_USAGE].paramDetails} />
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/legacy_alert/legacy_alert.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/legacy_alert/legacy_alert.tsx
@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export function createLegacyAlertTypes(): AlertTypeModel[] {
    return {
      id: legacyAlert,
      name: LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[legacyAlert].label,
+      description: LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[legacyAlert].description,
      iconClass: 'bell',
      alertParamsExpression: () => (
        <Fragment>
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/memory_usage_alert/index.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/memory_usage_alert/index.tsx
@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export function createMemoryUsageAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
  return {
    id: ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE,
    name: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE].label,
+    description: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE].description,
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: (props: Props) => (
      <Expression {...props} paramDetails={ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE].paramDetails} />
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/missing_monitoring_data_alert/missing_monitoring_data_alert.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/missing_monitoring_data_alert/missing_monitoring_data_alert.tsx
@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export function createMissingMonitoringDataAlertType(): AlertTypeModel {
  return {
    id: ALERT_MISSING_MONITORING_DATA,
    name: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MISSING_MONITORING_DATA].label,
+    description: ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MISSING_MONITORING_DATA].description,
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: (props: any) => (
      <Expression
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/thread_pool_rejections_alert/index.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/alerts/thread_pool_rejections_alert/index.tsx
@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ interface ThreadPoolTypes {

 interface ThreadPoolRejectionAlertDetails {
  label: string;
+  description: string;
  paramDetails: CommonAlertParamDetails;
 }

@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ export function createThreadPoolRejectionsAlertType(
  return {
    id: alertType,
    name: threadPoolAlertDetails.label,
+    description: threadPoolAlertDetails.description,
    iconClass: 'bell',
    alertParamsExpression: (props: Props) => (
      <>
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/base_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/base_alert.ts
@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import { appendMetricbeatIndex } from '../lib/alerts/append_mb_index';
 export class BaseAlert {
  public type!: string;
  public label!: string;
+  public description!: string;
  public defaultThrottle: string = '1d';
  public defaultInterval: string = '1m';
  public rawAlert: Alert | undefined;
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/cluster_health_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/cluster_health_alert.ts
@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ const WATCH_NAME = 'elasticsearch_cluster_status';
 export class ClusterHealthAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_CLUSTER_HEALTH;
  public label = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_CLUSTER_HEALTH].label;
+  public description = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_CLUSTER_HEALTH].description;
  public isLegacy = true;

  protected actionVariables = [
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/cpu_usage_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/cpu_usage_alert.ts
@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ interface CpuUsageParams {
 export class CpuUsageAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_CPU_USAGE;
  public label = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_CPU_USAGE].label;
+  public description = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_CPU_USAGE].description;

  protected defaultParams: CpuUsageParams = {
    threshold: 85,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/disk_usage_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/disk_usage_alert.ts
@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import { appendMetricbeatIndex } from '../lib/alerts/append_mb_index';
 export class DiskUsageAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_DISK_USAGE;
  public label = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_DISK_USAGE].label;
+  public description = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_DISK_USAGE].description;

  protected defaultParams = {
    threshold: 80,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/elasticsearch_version_mismatch_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/elasticsearch_version_mismatch_alert.ts
@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ const WATCH_NAME = 'elasticsearch_version_mismatch';
 export class ElasticsearchVersionMismatchAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_ELASTICSEARCH_VERSION_MISMATCH;
  public label = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_ELASTICSEARCH_VERSION_MISMATCH].label;
+  public description = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_ELASTICSEARCH_VERSION_MISMATCH].description;
  public isLegacy = true;

  protected actionVariables = [
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/kibana_version_mismatch_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/kibana_version_mismatch_alert.ts
@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ const WATCH_NAME = 'kibana_version_mismatch';
 export class KibanaVersionMismatchAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_KIBANA_VERSION_MISMATCH;
  public label = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_KIBANA_VERSION_MISMATCH].label;
+  public description = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_KIBANA_VERSION_MISMATCH].description;
  public isLegacy = true;

  protected actionVariables = [
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/license_expiration_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/license_expiration_alert.ts
@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ const WATCH_NAME = 'xpack_license_expiration';
 export class LicenseExpirationAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_LICENSE_EXPIRATION;
  public label = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_LICENSE_EXPIRATION].label;
+  public description = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_LICENSE_EXPIRATION].description;
  public isLegacy = true;
  protected actionVariables = [
    {
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/logstash_version_mismatch_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/logstash_version_mismatch_alert.ts
@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ const WATCH_NAME = 'logstash_version_mismatch';
 export class LogstashVersionMismatchAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_LOGSTASH_VERSION_MISMATCH;
  public label = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_LOGSTASH_VERSION_MISMATCH].label;
+  public description = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_LOGSTASH_VERSION_MISMATCH].description;
  public isLegacy = true;

  protected actionVariables = [
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/memory_usage_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/memory_usage_alert.ts
@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import { parseDuration } from '../../../alerts/common/parse_duration';
 export class MemoryUsageAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE;
  public label = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE].label;
+  public description = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MEMORY_USAGE].description;

  protected defaultParams = {
    threshold: 85,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/missing_monitoring_data_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/missing_monitoring_data_alert.ts
@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ export class MissingMonitoringDataAlert extends BaseAlert {

  public type = ALERT_MISSING_MONITORING_DATA;
  public label = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MISSING_MONITORING_DATA].label;
+  public description = ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_MISSING_MONITORING_DATA].description;

  protected defaultParams: MissingDataParams = {
    duration: DEFAULT_DURATION,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/nodes_changed_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/server/alerts/nodes_changed_alert.ts
@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const WATCH_NAME = 'elasticsearch_nodes';
 export class NodesChangedAlert extends BaseAlert {
  public type = ALERT_NODES_CHANGED;
  public label = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_NODES_CHANGED].label;
+  public description = LEGACY_ALERT_DETAILS[ALERT_NODES_CHANGED].description;
  public isLegacy = true;

  protected actionVariables = [
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/components/builtin_alert_types/geo_threshold/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/components/builtin_alert_types/geo_threshold/index.ts
@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ export function getAlertType(): AlertTypeModel<GeoThresholdAlertParams, AlertsCo
    name: i18n.translate('xpack.triggersActionsUI.geoThreshold.name.trackingThreshold', {
      defaultMessage: 'Tracking threshold',
    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.triggersActionsUI.geoThreshold.descriptionText', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when an entity enters or leaves a geo boundary.',
+    }),
    iconClass: 'globe',
    alertParamsExpression: lazy(() => import('./query_builder')),
    validate: validateExpression,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/components/builtin_alert_types/threshold/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/components/builtin_alert_types/threshold/index.ts
@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
 */
 import { lazy } from 'react';
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';

 import { AlertTypeModel } from '../../../../types';
 import { validateExpression } from './validation';
@ -13,7 +14,12 @@ import { AlertsContextValue } from '../../../context/alerts_context';
 export function getAlertType(): AlertTypeModel<IndexThresholdAlertParams, AlertsContextValue> {
  return {
    id: '.index-threshold',
-    name: 'Index threshold',
+    name: i18n.translate('xpack.triggersActionsUI.indexThresholdAlert.nameText', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Index threshold',
+    }),
+    description: i18n.translate('xpack.triggersActionsUI.indexThresholdAlert.descriptionText', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Alert when an aggregated query meets the threshold.',
+    }),
    iconClass: 'alert',
    alertParamsExpression: lazy(() => import('./expression')),
    validate: validateExpression,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alert_form/alert_add.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alert_form/alert_add.test.tsx
@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ describe('alert_add', () => {
      id: 'my-alert-type',
      iconClass: 'test',
      name: 'test-alert',
+      description: 'test',
      validate: (): ValidationResult => {
        return { errors: {} };
      },
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alert_form/alert_edit.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alert_form/alert_edit.test.tsx
@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ describe('alert_edit', () => {
      id: 'my-alert-type',
      iconClass: 'test',
      name: 'test-alert',
+      description: 'test',
      validate: (): ValidationResult => {
        return { errors: {} };
      },
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alert_form/alert_form.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alert_form/alert_form.test.tsx
@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ describe('alert_form', () => {
    id: 'my-alert-type',
    iconClass: 'test',
    name: 'test-alert',
+    description: 'test',
    validate: (): ValidationResult => {
      return { errors: {} };
    },
@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ describe('alert_form', () => {
    id: 'non-edit-alert-type',
    iconClass: 'test',
    name: 'non edit alert',
+    description: 'test',
    validate: (): ValidationResult => {
      return { errors: {} };
    },
@ -241,6 +243,7 @@ describe('alert_form', () => {
          id: 'same-consumer-producer-alert-type',
          iconClass: 'test',
          name: 'test-alert',
+          description: 'test',
          validate: (): ValidationResult => {
            return { errors: {} };
          },
@ -251,6 +254,7 @@ describe('alert_form', () => {
          id: 'other-consumer-producer-alert-type',
          iconClass: 'test',
          name: 'test-alert',
+          description: 'test',
          validate: (): ValidationResult => {
            return { errors: {} };
          },
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alerts_list/components/alerts_list.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/alerts_list/components/alerts_list.test.tsx
@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ const alertTypeRegistry = alertTypeRegistryMock.create();
 const alertType = {
  id: 'test_alert_type',
  name: 'some alert type',
+  description: 'test',
  iconClass: 'test',
  validate: (): ValidationResult => {
    return { errors: {} };
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/type_registry.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/type_registry.test.ts
@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const getTestAlertType = (id?: string, name?: string, iconClass?: string) => {
  return {
    id: id || 'test-alet-type',
    name: name || 'Test alert type',
+    description: 'Test description',
    iconClass: iconClass || 'icon',
    validate: (): ValidationResult => {
      return { errors: {} };
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/types.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/types.ts
@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ export interface AlertTypeParamsExpressionProps<
 export interface AlertTypeModel<AlertParamsType = any, AlertsContextValue = any> {
  id: string;
  name: string | JSX.Element;
+  description: string;
  iconClass: string;
  validate: (alertParams: AlertParamsType) => ValidationResult;
  alertParamsExpression:
--- a/x-pack/plugins/uptime/common/translations.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/uptime/common/translations.ts
@ -32,4 +32,7 @@ export const MonitorStatusTranslations = {
  name: i18n.translate('xpack.uptime.alerts.monitorStatus.clientName', {
    defaultMessage: 'Uptime monitor status',
  }),
+  description: i18n.translate('xpack.uptime.alerts.monitorStatus.description', {
+    defaultMessage: 'Alert when a monitor is down or an availability threshold is breached.',
+  }),
 };
--- a/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/tests/monitor_status.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/tests/monitor_status.test.ts
@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ describe('monitor status alert type', () => {
      Object {
        "alertParamsExpression": [Function],
        "defaultActionMessage": "Monitor {{state.monitorName}} with url {{{state.monitorUrl}}} is {{state.statusMessage}} from {{state.observerLocation}}. The latest error message is {{{state.latestErrorMessage}}}",
+        "description": "Alert when a monitor is down or an availability threshold is breached.",
        "iconClass": "uptimeApp",
        "id": "xpack.uptime.alerts.monitorStatus",
        "name": <FormattedMessage
--- a/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/duration_anomaly.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/duration_anomaly.tsx
@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { CLIENT_ALERT_TYPES } from '../../../common/constants/alerts';
 import { DurationAnomalyTranslations } from './translations';
 import { AlertTypeInitializer } from '.';

-const { name, defaultActionMessage } = DurationAnomalyTranslations;
+const { name, defaultActionMessage, description } = DurationAnomalyTranslations;
 const DurationAnomalyAlert = React.lazy(() => import('./lazy_wrapper/duration_anomaly'));

 export const initDurationAnomalyAlertType: AlertTypeInitializer = ({
@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export const initDurationAnomalyAlertType: AlertTypeInitializer = ({
    <DurationAnomalyAlert core={core} plugins={plugins} params={params} />
  ),
  name,
+  description,
  validate: () => ({ errors: {} }),
  defaultActionMessage,
  requiresAppContext: true,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/monitor_status.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/monitor_status.tsx
@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { AlertTypeInitializer } from '.';
 import { CLIENT_ALERT_TYPES } from '../../../common/constants/alerts';
 import { MonitorStatusTranslations } from '../../../common/translations';

-const { defaultActionMessage } = MonitorStatusTranslations;
+const { defaultActionMessage, description } = MonitorStatusTranslations;

 const MonitorStatusAlert = React.lazy(() => import('./lazy_wrapper/monitor_status'));

@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export const initMonitorStatusAlertType: AlertTypeInitializer = ({
      defaultMessage="Uptime monitor status"
    />
  ),
+  description,
  iconClass: 'uptimeApp',
  alertParamsExpression: (params: any) => (
    <MonitorStatusAlert core={core} plugins={plugins} params={params} />
--- a/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/tls.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/tls.tsx
@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { CLIENT_ALERT_TYPES } from '../../../common/constants/alerts';
 import { TlsTranslations } from './translations';
 import { AlertTypeInitializer } from '.';

-const { name, defaultActionMessage } = TlsTranslations;
+const { name, defaultActionMessage, description } = TlsTranslations;
 const TLSAlert = React.lazy(() => import('./lazy_wrapper/tls_alert'));
 export const initTlsAlertType: AlertTypeInitializer = ({ core, plugins }): AlertTypeModel => ({
  id: CLIENT_ALERT_TYPES.TLS,
@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export const initTlsAlertType: AlertTypeInitializer = ({ core, plugins }): Alert
    <TLSAlert core={core} plugins={plugins} params={params} />
  ),
  name,
+  description,
  validate: () => ({ errors: {} }),
  defaultActionMessage,
  requiresAppContext: false,
--- a/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/translations.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/uptime/public/lib/alert_types/translations.ts
@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ Aging Certificates: {agingCommonNameAndDate}
  name: i18n.translate('xpack.uptime.alerts.tls.clientName', {
    defaultMessage: 'Uptime TLS',
  }),
+  description: i18n.translate('xpack.uptime.alerts.tls.description', {
+    defaultMessage: 'Alert when the TLS certificate of an Uptime monitor is about to expire.',
+  }),
 };

 export const DurationAnomalyTranslations = {
@ -55,4 +58,7 @@ Response times as high as {slowestAnomalyResponse} have been detected from locat
  name: i18n.translate('xpack.uptime.alerts.durationAnomaly.clientName', {
    defaultMessage: 'Uptime Duration Anomaly',
  }),
+  description: i18n.translate('xpack.uptime.alerts.durationAnomaly.description', {
+    defaultMessage: 'Alert when the Uptime monitor duration is anaomalous.',
+  }),
 };
--- a/x-pack/test/functional_with_es_ssl/fixtures/plugins/alerts/public/plugin.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional_with_es_ssl/fixtures/plugins/alerts/public/plugin.ts
@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export class AlertingFixturePlugin implements Plugin<Setup, Start, AlertingExamp
    triggersActionsUi.alertTypeRegistry.register({
      id: 'test.always-firing',
      name: 'Test Always Firing',
+      description: 'Always fires',
      iconClass: 'alert',
      alertParamsExpression: () => React.createElement('div', null, 'Test Always Firing'),
      validate: () => {
@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ export class AlertingFixturePlugin implements Plugin<Setup, Start, AlertingExamp
    triggersActionsUi.alertTypeRegistry.register({
      id: 'test.noop',
      name: 'Test Noop',
+      description: `Doesn't do anything`,
      iconClass: 'alert',
      alertParamsExpression: () => React.createElement('div', null, 'Test Noop'),
      validate: () => {