diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/deps/requirements.py b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/deps/requirements.py
index fcc4158d272e..fba3ecb4830c 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/deps/requirements.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/deps/requirements.py
@@ -307,11 +307,19 @@ def resource_requirements_from_list(requirements: Iterable[Dict[str, Any]]) -> L
 
 
 class SecretOrVariable:
-    def __init__(self, type: str, name: str, inject_as_env: str, label: str = "") -> None:
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        type: str,
+        name: str,
+        inject_as_env: str,
+        label: str = "",
+        description: str = "",
+    ) -> None:
         self.type = type
         self.name = name
         self.inject_as_env = inject_as_env
         self.label = label
+        self.description = description
         if self.type not in {"secret", "variable"}:
             raise ValueError(f"Invalid credential type '{self.type}'")
         if not self.inject_as_env:
@@ -323,6 +331,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
             "name": self.name,
             "inject_as_env": self.inject_as_env,
             "label": self.label,
+            "description": self.description,
         }
 
     @classmethod
@@ -332,6 +341,7 @@ def from_element(cls, elem) -> "SecretOrVariable":
             name=elem.get("name"),
             inject_as_env=elem.get("inject_as_env"),
             label=elem.get("label", ""),
+            description=elem.get("description", ""),
         )
 
     @classmethod
@@ -340,7 +350,8 @@ def from_dict(cls, dict: Dict[str, Any]) -> "SecretOrVariable":
         name = dict["name"]
         inject_as_env = dict["inject_as_env"]
         label = dict.get("label", "")
-        return cls(type=type, name=name, inject_as_env=inject_as_env, label=label)
+        description = dict.get("description", "")
+        return cls(type=type, name=name, inject_as_env=inject_as_env, label=label, description=description)
 
 
 class CredentialsRequirement:
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/xsd/galaxy.xsd b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/xsd/galaxy.xsd
index 66c032ccb163..33e18c59b975 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/xsd/galaxy.xsd
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/xsd/galaxy.xsd
@@ -798,6 +798,11 @@ environment of the tool process as an environment variable.
         <xs:documentation xml:lang="en">The label for the variable.</xs:documentation>
       </xs:annotation>
     </xs:attribute>
+    <xs:attribute name="description" type="xs:string">
+      <xs:annotation>
+        <xs:documentation xml:lang="en">The description for the variable.</xs:documentation>
+      </xs:annotation>
+    </xs:attribute>
   </xs:complexType>
   <xs:complexType name="CredentialsSecret">
     <xs:annotation>
@@ -821,6 +826,11 @@ environment of the tool process as an environment variable.
         <xs:documentation xml:lang="en">The label for the secret.</xs:documentation>
       </xs:annotation>
     </xs:attribute>
+    <xs:attribute name="description" type="xs:string">
+      <xs:annotation>
+        <xs:documentation xml:lang="en">The description for the secret.</xs:documentation>
+      </xs:annotation>
+    </xs:attribute>
   </xs:complexType>
   <xs:simpleType name="HelpFormatType">
     <xs:annotation>