From eefaadee3473eefdce15c4bbb09cfa2ff935603f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Jeremiah Lowin <153965+jlowin@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2025 21:11:14 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Update docs for context
---
docs/servers/context.mdx | 82 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
docs/servers/prompts.mdx | 31 +++++---------
docs/servers/resources.mdx | 54 +++++++++++++++----------
docs/servers/tools.mdx | 69 ++++++++++++++++----------------
4 files changed, 146 insertions(+), 90 deletions(-)
diff --git a/docs/servers/context.mdx b/docs/servers/context.mdx
index 685b833b0..203045184 100644
--- a/docs/servers/context.mdx
+++ b/docs/servers/context.mdx
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
---
title: MCP Context
sidebarTitle: Context
-description: Access MCP capabilities like logging, progress, and resources within your tools.
+description: Access MCP capabilities like logging, progress, and resources within your MCP objects.
icon: rectangle-code
---
import { VersionBadge } from '/snippets/version-badge.mdx'
-When defining FastMCP [tools](/servers/tools), your functions might need to interact with the underlying MCP session or access server capabilities. FastMCP provides the `Context` object for this purpose.
+When defining FastMCP [tools](/servers/tools), [resources](/servers/resources), resource templates, or [prompts](/servers/prompts), your functions might need to interact with the underlying MCP session or access server capabilities. FastMCP provides the `Context` object for this purpose.
## What Is Context?
-The `Context` object provides a clean interface to access MCP features within your tool functions, including:
+The `Context` object provides a clean interface to access MCP features within your functions, including:
- **Logging**: Send debug, info, warning, and error messages back to the client
- **Progress Reporting**: Update the client on the progress of long-running operations
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ The `Context` object provides a clean interface to access MCP features within yo
## Accessing the Context
-To use the context object within your tool function, simply add a parameter to your function signature and type-hint it as `Context`. FastMCP will automatically inject the context instance when your tool is called.
+To use the context object within any of your functions, simply add a parameter to your function signature and type-hint it as `Context`. FastMCP will automatically inject the context instance when your function is called.
```python
from fastmcp import FastMCP, Context
@@ -65,15 +65,15 @@ async def process_file(file_uri: str, ctx: Context) -> str:
- The parameter name (e.g., `ctx`, `context`) doesn't matter, only the type hint `Context` is important.
- The context parameter can be placed anywhere in your function's signature.
-- The context is optional - tools that don't need it can omit the parameter.
-- Context is only available within tool functions during a request; attempting to use context methods outside a request will raise errors.
-- Context methods are async, so your tool function usually needs to be async as well.
+- The context is optional - functions that don't need it can omit the parameter.
+- Context is only available during a request; attempting to use context methods outside a request will raise errors.
+- Context methods are async, so your function usually needs to be async as well.
## Context Capabilities
### Logging
-Send log messages back to the MCP client. This is useful for debugging and providing visibility into tool execution during a request.
+Send log messages back to the MCP client. This is useful for debugging and providing visibility into function execution during a request.
```python
@mcp.tool()
@@ -97,14 +97,14 @@ async def analyze_data(data: list[float], ctx: Context) -> dict:
**Available Logging Methods:**
- **`ctx.debug(message: str)`**: Low-level details useful for debugging
-- **`ctx.info(message: str)`**: General information about tool execution
+- **`ctx.info(message: str)`**: General information about execution
- **`ctx.warning(message: str)`**: Potential issues that didn't prevent execution
- **`ctx.error(message: str)`**: Errors that occurred during execution
- **`ctx.log(level: Literal["debug", "info", "warning", "error"], message: str, logger_name: str | None = None)`**: Generic log method supporting custom logger names
### Progress Reporting
-For long-running tools, notify the client about the progress of the operation. This allows clients to display progress indicators and provide a better user experience.
+For long-running operations, notify the client about the progress. This allows clients to display progress indicators and provide a better user experience.
```python
@mcp.tool()
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ Progress reporting requires the client to have sent a `progressToken` in the ini
### Resource Access
-Read data from resources registered with your FastMCP server. This allows tools to access files, configuration, or dynamically generated content.
+Read data from resources registered with your FastMCP server. This allows functions to access files, configuration, or dynamically generated content.
```python
@mcp.tool()
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ The returned content is typically accessed via `content_list[0].content` and can
-Request the client's LLM to generate text based on provided messages. This is useful when your tool needs to leverage the LLM's capabilities to process data or generate responses.
+Request the client's LLM to generate text based on provided messages. This is useful when your function needs to leverage the LLM's capabilities to process data or generate responses.
```python
@mcp.tool()
@@ -279,6 +279,60 @@ async def advanced_tool(ctx: Context) -> str:
Direct use of `session` or `request_context` requires understanding the low-level MCP Python SDK and may be less stable than using the methods provided directly on the `Context` object.
-## Using Context in Other Components
+## Using Context in Different Components
-Currently, Context is primarily designed for use within tool functions. Support for Context in other components like resources and prompts is planned for future releases.
\ No newline at end of file
+All FastMCP components (tools, resources, templates, and prompts) can use the Context object following the same pattern - simply add a parameter with the `Context` type annotation.
+
+### Context in Resources and Templates
+
+Resources and resource templates can access context to customize their behavior:
+
+```python
+@mcp.resource("resource://user-data")
+async def get_user_data(ctx: Context) -> dict:
+ """Fetch personalized user data based on the request context."""
+ user_id = ctx.client_id or "anonymous"
+ await ctx.info(f"Fetching data for user {user_id}")
+
+ # Example of using context for dynamic resource generation
+ return {
+ "user_id": user_id,
+ "last_access": datetime.now().isoformat(),
+ "request_id": ctx.request_id
+ }
+
+@mcp.resource("resource://users/{user_id}/profile")
+async def get_user_profile(user_id: str, ctx: Context) -> dict:
+ """Fetch user profile from database with context-aware logging."""
+ await ctx.info(f"Fetching profile for user {user_id}")
+
+ # Example of using context in a template resource
+ # In a real implementation, you might query a database
+ return {
+ "id": user_id,
+ "name": f"User {user_id}",
+ "request_id": ctx.request_id
+ }
+```
+
+### Context in Prompts
+
+Prompts can use context to generate more dynamic templates:
+
+```python
+@mcp.prompt()
+async def data_analysis_request(dataset: str, ctx: Context) -> str:
+ """Generate a request to analyze data with contextual information."""
+ await ctx.info(f"Generating data analysis prompt for {dataset}")
+
+ # Could use context to read configuration or personalize the prompt
+ return f"""Please analyze the following dataset: {dataset}
+
+Request initiated at: {datetime.now().isoformat()}
+Request ID: {ctx.request_id}
+"""
+```
+
+
+
+All FastMCP objects now support context injection using the same consistent pattern, making it easy to add session-aware capabilities to all aspects of your MCP server.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/servers/prompts.mdx b/docs/servers/prompts.mdx
index 5668846f4..9f276209a 100644
--- a/docs/servers/prompts.mdx
+++ b/docs/servers/prompts.mdx
@@ -171,33 +171,24 @@ async def data_based_prompt(data_id: str) -> str:
Use `async def` when your prompt function performs I/O operations like network requests, database queries, file I/O, or external service calls.
-### The MCP Session
+### Accessing MCP Context
-Prompts can access the MCP features via the `Context` object, just like tools.
+
-```python
-from fastmcp import Context
+Prompts can access additional MCP information and features through the `Context` object. To access it, add a parameter to your prompt function with a type annotation of `Context`:
+
+```python {6}
+from fastmcp import FastMCP, Context
+
+mcp = FastMCP(name="PromptServer")
@mcp.prompt()
async def generate_report_request(report_type: str, ctx: Context) -> str:
- """Generates a request for a report based on available data."""
- # Log the request
- await ctx.info(f"Generating prompt for report type: {report_type}")
-
- # Could potentially use ctx.read_resource to fetch data
- # Or ctx.sample to get additional input from the LLM
-
- return f"Please create a {report_type} report based on the available data."
+ """Generates a request for a report."""
+ return f"Please create a {report_type} report. Request ID: {ctx.request_id}"
```
-Using the `ctx` parameter (based on its `Context` type hint), you can access:
-
-- **Logging:** `ctx.debug()`, `ctx.info()`, etc.
-- **Resource Access:** `ctx.read_resource(uri)`
-- **LLM Sampling:** `ctx.sample(...)`
-- **Request Info:** `ctx.request_id`, `ctx.client_id`
-
-Refer to the [Context documentation](/servers/context) for more details on these capabilities.
+For full documentation on the Context object and all its capabilities, see the [Context documentation](/servers/context).
## Server Behavior
diff --git a/docs/servers/resources.mdx b/docs/servers/resources.mdx
index 6b1fe6bd2..b3e1c1dee 100644
--- a/docs/servers/resources.mdx
+++ b/docs/servers/resources.mdx
@@ -95,6 +95,36 @@ def get_application_status() -> dict:
- **`mime_type`**: Specifies the content type (FastMCP often infers a default like `text/plain` or `application/json`, but explicit is better for non-text types).
- **`tags`**: A set of strings for categorization, potentially used by clients for filtering.
+### Accessing MCP Context
+
+
+
+Resources and resource templates can access additional MCP information and features through the `Context` object. To access it, add a parameter to your resource function with a type annotation of `Context`:
+
+```python {6, 14}
+from fastmcp import FastMCP, Context
+
+mcp = FastMCP(name="DataServer")
+
+@mcp.resource("resource://system-status")
+async def get_system_status(ctx: Context) -> dict:
+ """Provides system status information."""
+ return {
+ "status": "operational",
+ "request_id": ctx.request_id
+ }
+
+@mcp.resource("resource://{name}/details")
+async def get_details(name: str, ctx: Context) -> dict:
+ """Get details for a specific name."""
+ return {
+ "name": name,
+ "accessed_at": ctx.request_id
+ }
+```
+
+For full documentation on the Context object and all its capabilities, see the [Context documentation](/servers/context).
+
### Asynchronous Resources
@@ -205,6 +235,8 @@ Note that this parameter is only available when using `add_resource()` directly
Resource Templates allow clients to request resources whose content depends on parameters embedded in the URI. Define a template using the **same `@mcp.resource` decorator**, but include `{parameter_name}` placeholders in the URI string and add corresponding arguments to your function signature.
+Resource templates share most configuration options with regular resources (name, description, mime_type, tags), but add the ability to define URI parameters that map to function parameters.
+
Resource templates generate a new resource for each unique set of parameters, which means that resources can be dynamically created on-demand. For example, if the resource template `"user://profile/{name}"` is registered, MCP clients could request `"user://profile/ford"` or `"user://profile/marvin"` to retrieve either of those two user profiles as resources, without having to register each resource individually.
Here is a complete example that shows how to define two resource templates:
@@ -379,28 +411,6 @@ In this stacked decorator pattern:
Templates provide a powerful way to expose parameterized data access points following REST-like principles.
-### Custom Template Keys
-
-
-
-Similar to resources, you can provide custom keys when directly adding templates:
-
-```python
-from fastmcp.resources import ResourceTemplate
-
-# Create a template with a function
-template = ResourceTemplate.from_function(
- my_function,
- uri_template="data://{id}/details",
- name="Data Details"
-)
-
-# Register with a custom key
-mcp._resource_manager.add_template(template, key="custom://{id}/view")
-```
-
-This allows accessing the same template implementation through different URI patterns.
-
## Server Behavior
### Duplicate Resources
diff --git a/docs/servers/tools.mdx b/docs/servers/tools.mdx
index 2c4fb7370..34cb00601 100644
--- a/docs/servers/tools.mdx
+++ b/docs/servers/tools.mdx
@@ -263,7 +263,8 @@ FastMCP automatically catches exceptions raised within your tool function:
Using informative exceptions helps the LLM understand failures and react appropriately.
-### Accessing MCP Context
+## MCP Context
+
Tools can access MCP features like logging, reading resources, or reporting progress through the `Context` object. To use it, add a parameter to your tool function with the type hint `Context`.
@@ -304,39 +305,6 @@ The Context object provides access to:
For full documentation on the Context object and all its capabilities, see the [Context documentation](/servers/context).
-## Server Behavior
-
-### Duplicate Tools
-
-
-
-You can control how the FastMCP server behaves if you try to register multiple tools with the same name. This is configured using the `on_duplicate_tools` argument when creating the `FastMCP` instance.
-
-```python
-from fastmcp import FastMCP
-
-mcp = FastMCP(
- name="StrictServer",
- # Configure behavior for duplicate tool names
- on_duplicate_tools="error"
-)
-
-@mcp.tool()
-def my_tool(): return "Version 1"
-
-# This will now raise a ValueError because 'my_tool' already exists
-# and on_duplicate_tools is set to "error".
-# @mcp.tool()
-# def my_tool(): return "Version 2"
-```
-
-The duplicate behavior options are:
-
-- `"warn"` (default): Logs a warning and the new tool replaces the old one.
-- `"error"`: Raises a `ValueError`, preventing the duplicate registration.
-- `"replace"`: Silently replaces the existing tool with the new one.
-- `"ignore"`: Keeps the original tool and ignores the new registration attempt.
-
## Parameter Types
FastMCP supports a wide variety of parameter types to give you flexibility when designing your tools.
@@ -663,3 +631,36 @@ Common validation options include:
| `description` | Any | Human-readable description (appears in schema) |
When a client sends invalid data, FastMCP will return a validation error explaining why the parameter failed validation.
+
+## Server Behavior
+
+### Duplicate Tools
+
+
+
+You can control how the FastMCP server behaves if you try to register multiple tools with the same name. This is configured using the `on_duplicate_tools` argument when creating the `FastMCP` instance.
+
+```python
+from fastmcp import FastMCP
+
+mcp = FastMCP(
+ name="StrictServer",
+ # Configure behavior for duplicate tool names
+ on_duplicate_tools="error"
+)
+
+@mcp.tool()
+def my_tool(): return "Version 1"
+
+# This will now raise a ValueError because 'my_tool' already exists
+# and on_duplicate_tools is set to "error".
+# @mcp.tool()
+# def my_tool(): return "Version 2"
+```
+
+The duplicate behavior options are:
+
+- `"warn"` (default): Logs a warning and the new tool replaces the old one.
+- `"error"`: Raises a `ValueError`, preventing the duplicate registration.
+- `"replace"`: Silently replaces the existing tool with the new one.
+- `"ignore"`: Keeps the original tool and ignores the new registration attempt.