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MCPServer

The MCPServer class provides the functionality to expose your existing Mastra tools and Agents as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. This allows any MCP client (like Cursor, Windsurf, or Claude Desktop) to connect to these capabilities and make them available to an agent.

Note that if you only need to use your tools or agents directly within your Mastra application, you don't necessarily need to create an MCP server. This API is specifically for exposing your Mastra tools and agents to external MCP clients.

It supports both stdio (subprocess) and SSE (HTTP) MCP transports.

ConstructorDirect link to Constructor

To create a new MCPServer, you need to provide some basic information about your server, the tools it will offer, and optionally, any agents you want to expose as tools.

import { openai } from "@ai-sdk/openai";
import { Agent } from "@mastra/core/agent";
import { createTool } from "@mastra/core/tools";
import { MCPServer } from "@mastra/mcp";
import { z } from "zod";
import { dataProcessingWorkflow } from "../workflows/dataProcessingWorkflow";

const myAgent = new Agent({
name: "MyExampleAgent",
description: "A generalist to help with basic questions."
instructions: "You are a helpful assistant.",
model: openai("gpt-4o-mini"),
});

const weatherTool = createTool({
id: "getWeather",
description: "Gets the current weather for a location.",
inputSchema: z.object({ location: z.string() }),
execute: async ({ context }) => `Weather in ${context.location} is sunny.`,
});

const server = new MCPServer({
name: "My Custom Server",
version: "1.0.0",
tools: { weatherTool },
agents: { myAgent }, // this agent will become tool "ask_myAgent"
workflows: {
dataProcessingWorkflow, // this workflow will become tool "run_dataProcessingWorkflow"
}
});

Configuration PropertiesDirect link to Configuration Properties

The constructor accepts an MCPServerConfig object with the following properties:

name:

string
A descriptive name for your server (e.g., 'My Weather and Agent Server').

version:

string
The semantic version of your server (e.g., '1.0.0').

tools:

ToolsInput
An object where keys are tool names and values are Mastra tool definitions (created with `createTool` or Vercel AI SDK). These tools will be directly exposed.

agents?:

Record<string, Agent>
An object where keys are agent identifiers and values are Mastra Agent instances. Each agent will be automatically converted into a tool named `ask_<agentIdentifier>`. The agent **must** have a non-empty `description` string property defined in its constructor configuration. This description will be used in the tool's description. If an agent's description is missing or empty, an error will be thrown during MCPServer initialization.

workflows?:

Record<string, Workflow>
An object where keys are workflow identifiers and values are Mastra Workflow instances. Each workflow is converted into a tool named `run_<workflowKey>`. The workflow's `inputSchema` becomes the tool's input schema. The workflow **must** have a non-empty `description` string property, which is used for the tool's description. If a workflow's description is missing or empty, an error will be thrown. The tool executes the workflow by calling `workflow.createRunAsync()` followed by `run.start({ inputData: <tool_input> })`. If a tool name derived from an agent or workflow (e.g., `ask_myAgent` or `run_myWorkflow`) collides with an explicitly defined tool name or another derived name, the explicitly defined tool takes precedence, and a warning is logged. Agents/workflows leading to subsequent collisions are skipped.

id?:

string
Optional unique identifier for the server. If not provided, a UUID will be generated. This ID is considered final and cannot be changed by Mastra if provided.

description?:

string
Optional description of what the MCP server does.

repository?:

Repository
Optional repository information for the server's source code.

releaseDate?:

string
Optional release date of this server version (ISO 8601 string). Defaults to the time of instantiation if not provided.

isLatest?:

boolean
Optional flag indicating if this is the latest version. Defaults to true if not provided.

packageCanonical?:

'npm' | 'docker' | 'pypi' | 'crates' | string
Optional canonical packaging format if the server is distributed as a package (e.g., 'npm', 'docker').

packages?:

PackageInfo[]
Optional list of installable packages for this server.

remotes?:

RemoteInfo[]
Optional list of remote access points for this server.

resources?:

MCPServerResources
An object defining how the server should handle MCP resources. See Resource Handling section for details.

prompts?:

MCPServerPrompts
An object defining how the server should handle MCP prompts. See Prompt Handling section for details.

Exposing Agents as ToolsDirect link to Exposing Agents as Tools

A powerful feature of MCPServer is its ability to automatically expose your Mastra Agents as callable tools. When you provide agents in the agents property of the configuration:

  • Tool Naming: Each agent is converted into a tool named ask_<agentKey>, where <agentKey> is the key you used for that agent in the agents object. For instance, if you configure agents: { myAgentKey: myAgentInstance }, a tool named ask_myAgentKey will be created.

  • Tool Functionality:

    • Description: The generated tool's description will be in the format: "Ask agent <AgentName> a question. Original agent instructions: <agent description>".
    • Input: The tool expects a single object argument with a message property (string): { message: "Your question for the agent" }.
    • Execution: When this tool is called, it invokes the generate() method of the corresponding agent, passing the provided query.
    • Output: The direct result from the agent's generate() method is returned as the output of the tool.
  • Name Collisions: If an explicit tool defined in the tools configuration has the same name as an agent-derived tool (e.g., you have a tool named ask_myAgentKey and also an agent with the key myAgentKey), the explicitly defined tool will take precedence. The agent will not be converted into a tool in this conflicting case, and a warning will be logged.

This makes it straightforward to allow MCP clients to interact with your agents using natural language queries, just like any other tool.

Agent-to-Tool ConversionDirect link to Agent-to-Tool Conversion

When you provide agents in the agents configuration property, MCPServer will automatically create a corresponding tool for each agent. The tool will be named ask_<agentIdentifier>, where <agentIdentifier> is the key you used in the agents object.

The description for this generated tool will be: "Ask agent <agent.name> a question. Agent description: <agent.description>".

Important: For an agent to be converted into a tool, it must have a non-empty description string property set in its configuration when it was instantiated (e.g., new Agent({ name: 'myAgent', description: 'This agent does X.', ... })). If an agent is passed to MCPServer with a missing or empty description, an error will be thrown when the MCPServer is instantiated, and server setup will fail.

This allows you to quickly expose the generative capabilities of your agents through the MCP, enabling clients to "ask" your agents questions directly.

MethodsDirect link to Methods

These are the functions you can call on an MCPServer instance to control its behavior and get information.

startStdio()Direct link to startStdio()

Use this method to start the server so it communicates using standard input and output (stdio). This is typical when running the server as a command-line program.

async startStdio(): Promise<void>

Here's how you would start the server using stdio:

const server = new MCPServer({
// example configuration above
});
await server.startStdio();

startSSE()Direct link to startSSE()

This method helps you integrate the MCP server with an existing web server to use Server-Sent Events (SSE) for communication. You'll call this from your web server's code when it receives a request for the SSE or message paths.

async startSSE({
url,
ssePath,
messagePath,
req,
res,
}: {
url: URL;
ssePath: string;
messagePath: string;
req: any;
res: any;
}): Promise<void>

Here's an example of how you might use startSSE within an HTTP server request handler. In this example an MCP client could connect to your MCP server at http://localhost:1234/sse:

import http from "http";

const httpServer = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
await server.startSSE({
url: new URL(req.url || "", `http://localhost:1234`),
ssePath: "/sse",
messagePath: "/message",
req,
res,
});
});

httpServer.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`HTTP server listening on port ${PORT}`);
});

Here are the details for the values needed by the startSSE method:

url:

URL
The web address the user is requesting.

ssePath:

string
The specific part of the URL where clients will connect for SSE (e.g., '/sse').

messagePath:

string
The specific part of the URL where clients will send messages (e.g., '/message').

req:

any
The incoming request object from your web server.

res:

any
The response object from your web server, used to send data back.

startHonoSSE()Direct link to startHonoSSE()

This method helps you integrate the MCP server with an existing web server to use Server-Sent Events (SSE) for communication. You'll call this from your web server's code when it receives a request for the SSE or message paths.

async startHonoSSE({
url,
ssePath,
messagePath,
req,
res,
}: {
url: URL;
ssePath: string;
messagePath: string;
req: any;
res: any;
}): Promise<void>

Here's an example of how you might use startHonoSSE within an HTTP server request handler. In this example an MCP client could connect to your MCP server at http://localhost:1234/hono-sse:

import http from "http";

const httpServer = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
await server.startHonoSSE({
url: new URL(req.url || "", `http://localhost:1234`),
ssePath: "/hono-sse",
messagePath: "/message",
req,
res,
});
});

httpServer.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`HTTP server listening on port ${PORT}`);
});

Here are the details for the values needed by the startHonoSSE method:

url:

URL
The web address the user is requesting.

ssePath:

string
The specific part of the URL where clients will connect for SSE (e.g., '/hono-sse').

messagePath:

string
The specific part of the URL where clients will send messages (e.g., '/message').

req:

any
The incoming request object from your web server.

res:

any
The response object from your web server, used to send data back.

startHTTP()Direct link to startHTTP()

This method helps you integrate the MCP server with an existing web server to use streamable HTTP for communication. You'll call this from your web server's code when it receives HTTP requests.

async startHTTP({
url,
httpPath,
req,
res,
options = { sessionIdGenerator: () => randomUUID() },
}: {
url: URL;
httpPath: string;
req: http.IncomingMessage;
res: http.ServerResponse<http.IncomingMessage>;
options?: StreamableHTTPServerTransportOptions;
}): Promise<void>

Here's an example of how you might use startHTTP within an HTTP server request handler. In this example an MCP client could connect to your MCP server at http://localhost:1234/http:

import http from "http";

const httpServer = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
await server.startHTTP({
url: new URL(req.url || "", "http://localhost:1234"),
httpPath: `/mcp`,
req,
res,
options: {
sessionIdGenerator: () => randomUUID(),
},
});
});

httpServer.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`HTTP server listening on port ${PORT}`);
});

For serverless environments (Supabase Edge Functions, Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge, etc.), use serverless: true to enable stateless operation:

// Supabase Edge Function example
import { serve } from "https://deno.land/std@0.168.0/http/server.ts";
import { MCPServer } from "@mastra/mcp";
// Note: You will need to convert req/res format from Deno to Node
import { toReqRes, toFetchResponse } from "fetch-to-node";

const server = new MCPServer({
name: "my-serverless-mcp",
version: "1.0.0",
tools: { /* your tools */ },
});

serve(async (req) => {
const url = new URL(req.url);

if (url.pathname === "/mcp") {
// Convert Deno Request to Node.js-compatible format
const { req: nodeReq, res: nodeRes } = toReqRes(req);

await server.startHTTP({
url,
httpPath: "/mcp",
req: nodeReq,
res: nodeRes,
options: {
serverless: true, // ← Enable stateless mode for serverless
},
});

return toFetchResponse(nodeRes);
}

return new Response("Not found", { status: 404 });
});

When to use serverless: true

Use serverless: true when deploying to environments where each request runs in a fresh, stateless execution context:

  • Supabase Edge Functions
  • Cloudflare Workers
  • Vercel Edge Functions
  • Netlify Edge Functions
  • AWS Lambda
  • Deno Deploy

Use the default session-based mode (without serverless: true) for:

  • Long-lived Node.js servers
  • Docker containers
  • Traditional hosting (VPS, dedicated servers)

The serverless mode disables session management and creates fresh server instances per request, which is necessary for stateless environments where memory doesn't persist between invocations.

Note: The following MCP features require session state or persistent connections and will not work in serverless mode:

  • Elicitation - Interactive user input requests during tool execution require session management to route responses back to the correct client
  • Resource subscriptions - resources/subscribe and resources/unsubscribe need persistent connections to maintain subscription state
  • Resource update notifications - resources.notifyUpdated() requires active subscriptions and persistent connections to notify clients
  • Prompt list change notifications - prompts.notifyListChanged() requires persistent connections to push updates to clients

These features work normally in long-lived server environments (Node.js servers, Docker containers, etc.).

Here are the details for the values needed by the startHTTP method:

url:

URL
The web address the user is requesting.

httpPath:

string
The specific part of the URL where the MCP server will handle HTTP requests (e.g., '/mcp').

req:

http.IncomingMessage
The incoming request object from your web server.

res:

http.ServerResponse
The response object from your web server, used to send data back.

options:

StreamableHTTPServerTransportOptions
Optional configuration for the HTTP transport. See the options table below for more details.

The StreamableHTTPServerTransportOptions object allows you to customize the behavior of the HTTP transport. Here are the available options:

serverless:

boolean
If `true`, runs in stateless mode without session management. Each request is handled independently with a fresh server instance. Essential for serverless environments (Cloudflare Workers, Supabase Edge Functions, Vercel Edge, etc.) where sessions cannot persist between invocations. Defaults to `false`.

sessionIdGenerator:

(() => string) | undefined
A function that generates a unique session ID. This should be a cryptographically secure, globally unique string. Return `undefined` to disable session management.

onsessioninitialized:

(sessionId: string) => void
A callback that is invoked when a new session is initialized. This is useful for tracking active MCP sessions.

enableJsonResponse:

boolean
If `true`, the server will return plain JSON responses instead of using Server-Sent Events (SSE) for streaming. Defaults to `false`.

eventStore:

EventStore
An event store for message resumability. Providing this enables clients to reconnect and resume message streams.

close()Direct link to close()

This method closes the server and releases all resources.

async close(): Promise<void>

getServerInfo()Direct link to getServerInfo()

This method gives you a look at the server's basic information.

getServerInfo(): ServerInfo

getServerDetail()Direct link to getServerDetail()

This method gives you a detailed look at the server's information.

getServerDetail(): ServerDetail

getToolListInfo()Direct link to getToolListInfo()

This method gives you a look at the tools that were set up when you created the server. It's a read-only list, useful for debugging purposes.

getToolListInfo(): ToolListInfo

getToolInfo()Direct link to getToolInfo()

This method gives you detailed information about a specific tool.

getToolInfo(toolName: string): ToolInfo

executeTool()Direct link to executeTool()

This method executes a specific tool and returns the result.

executeTool(toolName: string, input: any): Promise<any>

getStdioTransport()Direct link to getStdioTransport()

If you started the server with startStdio(), you can use this to get the object that manages the stdio communication. This is mostly for checking things internally or for testing.

getStdioTransport(): StdioServerTransport | undefined

getSseTransport()Direct link to getSseTransport()

If you started the server with startSSE(), you can use this to get the object that manages the SSE communication. Like getStdioTransport, this is mainly for internal checks or testing.

getSseTransport(): SSEServerTransport | undefined

getSseHonoTransport()Direct link to getSseHonoTransport()

If you started the server with startHonoSSE(), you can use this to get the object that manages the SSE communication. Like getSseTransport, this is mainly for internal checks or testing.

getSseHonoTransport(): SSETransport | undefined

getStreamableHTTPTransport()Direct link to getStreamableHTTPTransport()

If you started the server with startHTTP(), you can use this to get the object that manages the HTTP communication. Like getSseTransport, this is mainly for internal checks or testing.

getStreamableHTTPTransport(): StreamableHTTPServerTransport | undefined

tools()Direct link to tools()

Executes a specific tool provided by this MCP server.

async executeTool(
toolId: string,
args: any,
executionContext?: { messages?: any[]; toolCallId?: string },
): Promise<any>

toolId:

string
The ID/name of the tool to execute.

args:

any
The arguments to pass to the tool's execute function.

executionContext?:

object
Optional context for the tool execution, like messages or a toolCallId.

Resource HandlingDirect link to Resource Handling

What are MCP Resources?Direct link to What are MCP Resources?

Resources are a core primitive in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) that allow servers to expose data and content that can be read by clients and used as context for LLM interactions. They represent any kind of data that an MCP server wants to make available, such as:

  • File contents
  • Database records
  • API responses
  • Live system data
  • Screenshots and images
  • Log files

Resources are identified by unique URIs (e.g., file:///home/user/documents/report.pdf, postgres://database/customers/schema) and can contain either text (UTF-8 encoded) or binary data (base64 encoded).

Clients can discover resources through:

  1. Direct resources: Servers expose a list of concrete resources via a resources/list endpoint.
  2. Resource templates: For dynamic resources, servers can expose URI templates (RFC 6570) that clients use to construct resource URIs.

To read a resource, clients make a resources/read request with the URI. Servers can also notify clients about changes to the resource list (notifications/resources/list_changed) or updates to specific resource content (notifications/resources/updated) if a client has subscribed to that resource.

For more detailed information, refer to the official MCP documentation on Resources.

MCPServerResources TypeDirect link to mcpserverresources-type

The resources option takes an object of type MCPServerResources. This type defines the callbacks your server will use to handle resource requests:

export type MCPServerResources = {
// Callback to list available resources
listResources: () => Promise<Resource[]>;

// Callback to get the content of a specific resource
getResourceContent: ({
uri,
}: {
uri: string;
}) => Promise<MCPServerResourceContent | MCPServerResourceContent[]>;

// Optional callback to list available resource templates
resourceTemplates?: () => Promise<ResourceTemplate[]>;
};

export type MCPServerResourceContent = { text?: string } | { blob?: string };

Example:

import { MCPServer } from "@mastra/mcp";
import type {
MCPServerResourceContent,
Resource,
ResourceTemplate,
} from "@mastra/mcp";

// Resources/resource templates will generally be dynamically fetched.
const myResources: Resource[] = [
{ uri: "file://data/123.txt", name: "Data File", mimeType: "text/plain" },
];

const myResourceContents: Record<string, MCPServerResourceContent> = {
"file://data.txt/123": { text: "This is the content of the data file." },
};

const myResourceTemplates: ResourceTemplate[] = [
{
uriTemplate: "file://data/{id}",
name: "Data File",
description: "A file containing data.",
mimeType: "text/plain",
},
];

const myResourceHandlers: MCPServerResources = {
listResources: async () => myResources,
getResourceContent: async ({ uri }) => {
if (myResourceContents[uri]) {
return myResourceContents[uri];
}
throw new Error(`Resource content not found for ${uri}`);
},
resourceTemplates: async () => myResourceTemplates,
};

const serverWithResources = new MCPServer({
name: "Resourceful Server",
version: "1.0.0",
tools: {
/* ... your tools ... */
},
resources: myResourceHandlers,
});

Notifying Clients of Resource ChangesDirect link to Notifying Clients of Resource Changes

If the available resources or their content change, your server can notify connected clients that are subscribed to the specific resource.

server.resources.notifyUpdated({ uri: string })Direct link to serverresourcesnotifyupdated-uri-string-

Call this method when the content of a specific resource (identified by its uri) has been updated. If any clients are subscribed to this URI, they will receive a notifications/resources/updated message.

async server.resources.notifyUpdated({ uri: string }): Promise<void>

Example:

// After updating the content of 'file://data.txt'
await serverWithResources.resources.notifyUpdated({ uri: "file://data.txt" });

server.resources.notifyListChanged()Direct link to serverresourcesnotifylistchanged

Call this method when the overall list of available resources has changed (e.g., a resource was added or removed). This will send a notifications/resources/list_changed message to clients, prompting them to re-fetch the list of resources.

async server.resources.notifyListChanged(): Promise<void>

Example:

// After adding a new resource to the list managed by 'myResourceHandlers.listResources'
await serverWithResources.resources.notifyListChanged();

Prompt HandlingDirect link to Prompt Handling

What are MCP Prompts?Direct link to What are MCP Prompts?

Prompts are reusable templates or workflows that MCP servers expose to clients. They can accept arguments, include resource context, support versioning, and be used to standardize LLM interactions.

Prompts are identified by a unique name (and optional version) and can be dynamic or static.

MCPServerPrompts TypeDirect link to mcpserverprompts-type

The prompts option takes an object of type MCPServerPrompts. This type defines the callbacks your server will use to handle prompt requests:

export type MCPServerPrompts = {
// Callback to list available prompts
listPrompts: () => Promise<Prompt[]>;

// Callback to get the messages/content for a specific prompt
getPromptMessages?: ({
name,
version,
args,
}: {
name: string;
version?: string;
args?: any;
}) => Promise<{ prompt: Prompt; messages: PromptMessage[] }>;
};

Example:

import { MCPServer } from "@mastra/mcp";
import type { Prompt, PromptMessage, MCPServerPrompts } from "@mastra/mcp";

const prompts: Prompt[] = [
{
name: "analyze-code",
description: "Analyze code for improvements",
version: "v1",
},
{
name: "analyze-code",
description: "Analyze code for improvements (new logic)",
version: "v2",
},
];

const myPromptHandlers: MCPServerPrompts = {
listPrompts: async () => prompts,
getPromptMessages: async ({ name, version, args }) => {
if (name === "analyze-code") {
if (version === "v2") {
const prompt = prompts.find(
(p) => p.name === name && p.version === "v2",
);
if (!prompt) throw new Error("Prompt version not found");
return {
prompt,
messages: [
{
role: "user",
content: {
type: "text",
text: `Analyze this code with the new logic: ${args.code}`,
},
},
],
};
}
// Default or v1
const prompt = prompts.find((p) => p.name === name && p.version === "v1");
if (!prompt) throw new Error("Prompt version not found");
return {
prompt,
messages: [
{
role: "user",
content: { type: "text", text: `Analyze this code: ${args.code}` },
},
],
};
}
throw new Error("Prompt not found");
},
};

const serverWithPrompts = new MCPServer({
name: "Promptful Server",
version: "1.0.0",
tools: {
/* ... */
},
prompts: myPromptHandlers,
});

Notifying Clients of Prompt ChangesDirect link to Notifying Clients of Prompt Changes

If the available prompts change, your server can notify connected clients:

server.prompts.notifyListChanged()Direct link to serverpromptsnotifylistchanged

Call this method when the overall list of available prompts has changed (e.g., a prompt was added or removed). This will send a notifications/prompts/list_changed message to clients, prompting them to re-fetch the list of prompts.

await serverWithPrompts.prompts.notifyListChanged();

Best Practices for Prompt HandlingDirect link to Best Practices for Prompt Handling

  • Use clear, descriptive prompt names and descriptions.
  • Validate all required arguments in getPromptMessages.
  • Include a version field if you expect to make breaking changes.
  • Use the version parameter to select the correct prompt logic.
  • Notify clients when prompt lists change.
  • Handle errors with informative messages.
  • Document argument expectations and available versions.

ExamplesDirect link to Examples

For practical examples of setting up and publishing an MCPServer, see Publishing an MCP Server.

The example at the beginning of this page also demonstrates how to instantiate MCPServer with both tools and agents.

ElicitationDirect link to Elicitation

What is Elicitation?Direct link to What is Elicitation?

Elicitation is a feature in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) that allows servers to request structured information from users. This enables interactive workflows where servers can collect additional data dynamically.

The MCPServer class automatically includes elicitation capabilities. Tools receive an options parameter in their execute function that includes an elicitation.sendRequest() method for requesting user input.

Tool Execution SignatureDirect link to Tool Execution Signature

When tools are executed within an MCP server context, they receive an additional options parameter:

execute: async ({ context }, options) => {
// context contains the tool's input parameters
// options contains server capabilities like elicitation and authentication info

// Access authentication information (when available)
if (options.extra?.authInfo) {
console.log("Authenticated request from:", options.extra.authInfo.clientId);
}

// Use elicitation capabilities
const result = await options.elicitation.sendRequest({
message: "Please provide information",
requestedSchema: {
/* schema */
},
});

return result;
};

How Elicitation WorksDirect link to How Elicitation Works

A common use case is during tool execution. When a tool needs user input, it can use the elicitation functionality provided through the tool's execution options:

  1. The tool calls options.elicitation.sendRequest() with a message and schema
  2. The request is sent to the connected MCP client
  3. The client presents the request to the user (via UI, command line, etc.)
  4. The user provides input, declines, or cancels the request
  5. The client sends the response back to the server
  6. The tool receives the response and continues execution

Using Elicitation in ToolsDirect link to Using Elicitation in Tools

Here's an example of a tool that uses elicitation to collect user contact information:

import { MCPServer } from "@mastra/mcp";
import { createTool } from "@mastra/core/tools";
import { z } from "zod";

const server = new MCPServer({
name: "Interactive Server",
version: "1.0.0",
tools: {
collectContactInfo: createTool({
id: "collectContactInfo",
description: "Collects user contact information through elicitation",
inputSchema: z.object({
reason: z
.string()
.optional()
.describe("Reason for collecting contact info"),
}),
execute: async ({ context }, options) => {
const { reason } = context;

// Log session info if available
console.log("Request from session:", options.extra?.sessionId);

try {
// Request user input via elicitation
const result = await options.elicitation.sendRequest({
message: reason
? `Please provide your contact information. ${reason}`
: "Please provide your contact information",
requestedSchema: {
type: "object",
properties: {
name: {
type: "string",
title: "Full Name",
description: "Your full name",
},
email: {
type: "string",
title: "Email Address",
description: "Your email address",
format: "email",
},
phone: {
type: "string",
title: "Phone Number",
description: "Your phone number (optional)",
},
},
required: ["name", "email"],
},
});

// Handle the user's response
if (result.action === "accept") {
return `Contact information collected: ${JSON.stringify(result.content, null, 2)}`;
} else if (result.action === "decline") {
return "Contact information collection was declined by the user.";
} else {
return "Contact information collection was cancelled by the user.";
}
} catch (error) {
return `Error collecting contact information: ${error}`;
}
},
}),
},
});

Elicitation Request SchemaDirect link to Elicitation Request Schema

The requestedSchema must be a flat object with primitive properties only. Supported types include:

  • String: { type: 'string', title: 'Display Name', description: 'Help text' }
  • Number: { type: 'number', minimum: 0, maximum: 100 }
  • Boolean: { type: 'boolean', default: false }
  • Enum: { type: 'string', enum: ['option1', 'option2'] }

Example schema:

{
type: 'object',
properties: {
name: {
type: 'string',
title: 'Full Name',
description: 'Your complete name',
},
age: {
type: 'number',
title: 'Age',
minimum: 18,
maximum: 120,
},
newsletter: {
type: 'boolean',
title: 'Subscribe to Newsletter',
default: false,
},
},
required: ['name'],
}

Response ActionsDirect link to Response Actions

Users can respond to elicitation requests in three ways:

  1. Accept (action: 'accept'): User provided data and confirmed submission
    • Contains content field with the submitted data
  2. Decline (action: 'decline'): User explicitly declined to provide information
    • No content field
  3. Cancel (action: 'cancel'): User dismissed the request without deciding
    • No content field

Tools should handle all three response types appropriately.

Security ConsiderationsDirect link to Security Considerations

  • Never request sensitive information like passwords, SSNs, or credit card numbers
  • Validate all user input against the provided schema
  • Handle declining and cancellation gracefully
  • Provide clear reasons for data collection
  • Respect user privacy and preferences

Tool Execution APIDirect link to Tool Execution API

The elicitation functionality is available through the options parameter in tool execution:

// Within a tool's execute function
execute: async ({ context }, options) => {
// Use elicitation for user input
const result = await options.elicitation.sendRequest({
message: string, // Message to display to user
requestedSchema: object // JSON schema defining expected response structure
}): Promise<ElicitResult>

// Access authentication info if needed
if (options.extra?.authInfo) {
// Use options.extra.authInfo.token, etc.
}
}

Note that elicitation is session-aware when using HTTP-based transports (SSE or HTTP). This means that when multiple clients are connected to the same server, elicitation requests are routed to the correct client session that initiated the tool execution.

The ElicitResult type:

type ElicitResult = {
action: "accept" | "decline" | "cancel";
content?: any; // Only present when action is 'accept'
};

Authentication ContextDirect link to Authentication Context

Tools can access request metadata via options.extra when using HTTP-based transports:

execute: async ({ context }, options) => {
if (!options.extra?.authInfo?.token) {
return "Authentication required";
}

// Use the auth token
const response = await fetch("/api/data", {
headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${options.extra.authInfo.token}` },
signal: options.extra.signal,
});

return response.json();
};

The extra object contains:

  • authInfo: Authentication info (when provided by server middleware)
  • sessionId: Session identifier
  • signal: AbortSignal for cancellation
  • sendNotification/sendRequest: MCP protocol functions

Note: To enable authentication, your HTTP server needs middleware that populates req.auth before calling server.startHTTP(). For example:

httpServer.createServer((req, res) => {
// Add auth middleware
req.auth = validateAuthToken(req.headers.authorization);

// Then pass to MCP server
await server.startHTTP({ url, httpPath, req, res });
});