Specify MCP
The search, read, browse, create, and edit tools that the Specify MCP server exposes.
The Specify MCP server provides five tools. Read tools require the mcp:read scope, and write tools require the mcp:write scope. The exact input schema is defined by the JSON Schema that clients receive from tools/list.
Tool list
| Tool | Scope | What it does |
|---|---|---|
search | mcp:read | Searches workspace docs by meaning and title, and returns results from enabled external connectors grouped by source. |
read_document | mcp:read | Reads the full body or a section of a text or PDF document. |
browse | mcp:read | Explores the workspace through the document tree, recent documents, and title search. |
create_document | mcp:write | Creates a new document from a Markdown body. |
update_document | mcp:write | Finds and replaces exact text in a document, or appends to the end of the body. |
search
Use it to find the docs a task needs.
| Input | Description |
|---|---|
query | Search query |
topK | Optional. Number of results to return (1–25) |
read_document
Reads a document found through search or browsing. You can read long documents section by section.
| Input | Description |
|---|---|
nodeId | ID of the document to read |
around, offset, limit, page | Optional. Specify the section to read. |
browse
| Input | Description |
|---|---|
mode | One of tree (document tree), recent (recent documents), or search (title search) |
query | Optional. Search query for search mode |
limit | Optional. Number of items to return |
create_document
| Input | Description |
|---|---|
title | Document title |
content | Markdown body |
parentNodeId | Optional. Parent folder to create the document in |
update_document
| Input | Description |
|---|---|
nodeId | ID of the document to edit |
search | Optional. Text to replace (must match exactly) |
replace | Replacement content. If search is omitted, it's appended to the end of the body. |
Uploaded file documents can't be edited.
Permissions and limits
- Every tool call checks the token, workspace membership, scope, admin access policy, and rate limits each time. If a member leaves or a token is revoked, the existing token can no longer access data.
- Write tools require a workspace role of Editor or higher, and don't run while workspace writes are locked.
- Documents and folders excluded from MCP exposure, along with everything beneath them, don't appear in search, read, or edit results.
- If a tool fails because of an input or permission problem, it returns an error result with an explanation the agent can read and act on.