diff --git a/.upgradenotes/MDL-87799-2026012915562005.yml b/.upgradenotes/MDL-87799-2026012915562005.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ef8677018df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.upgradenotes/MDL-87799-2026012915562005.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+issueNumber: MDL-87799
+notes:
+  core:
+    - message: >-
+        New `\core\attribute\description` attribute, previously
+        `\core_sms\description`, for representing a language string in code
+        attributes
+      type: improved
diff --git a/public/sms/classes/description.php b/public/lib/classes/attribute/description.php
similarity index 89%
rename from public/sms/classes/description.php
rename to public/lib/classes/attribute/description.php
index 343cd5f96e5..d65a9ba4e85 100644
--- a/public/sms/classes/description.php
+++ b/public/lib/classes/attribute/description.php
@@ -14,15 +14,17 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-namespace core_sms;
+namespace core\attribute;
+
+use core\lang_string;
 
 /**
  * A language string attribute used for a description.
  *
- * @package    core_sms
+ * @package    core
  * @copyright  2024 Andrew Lyons <andrew@nicols.co.uk>
  * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
 #[\Attribute]
-class description extends \lang_string {
+class description extends lang_string {
 }
diff --git a/public/lib/db/renamedclasses.php b/public/lib/db/renamedclasses.php
index 9b286aa665f..ef387f93044 100644
--- a/public/lib/db/renamedclasses.php
+++ b/public/lib/db/renamedclasses.php
@@ -45,4 +45,6 @@ $renamedclasses = [
     // Since Moodle 5.1.
     'core_xml_parser' => 'core\\xml_parser',
     'xml_format_exception' => 'core\\exception\\xml_format_exception',
+    // Since Moodle 5.2.
+    'core_sms\\description' => 'core\\attribute\\description',
 ];
diff --git a/public/sms/classes/message_status.php b/public/sms/classes/message_status.php
index 5e014994081..1ed05b321d8 100644
--- a/public/sms/classes/message_status.php
+++ b/public/sms/classes/message_status.php
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 namespace core_sms;
 
 use core\attribute_helper;
+use core\attribute\description;
 
 /**
  * The general status of a message. Gateways are able to provide more specific statuses to supplement these.
diff --git a/public/sms/tests/message_status_test.php b/public/sms/tests/message_status_test.php
index d9641be2080..11431886959 100644
--- a/public/sms/tests/message_status_test.php
+++ b/public/sms/tests/message_status_test.php
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 namespace core_sms;
 
+use core\lang_string;
 
 /**
  * Tests for sms
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ final class message_status_test extends \advanced_testcase {
 
     public function test_description(): void {
         foreach (message_status::cases() as $case) {
-            $this->assertInstanceOf(\lang_string::class, $case->description());
+            $this->assertInstanceOf(lang_string::class, $case->description());
         }
     }
 }