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client

Unified MCP Client that wraps ClientSession with transport management.

ConnectMode module-attribute

ConnectMode = Literal['legacy', 'auto'] | str

mode= value: "legacy" (initialize handshake), "auto" (discover, fall back to initialize), or a modern protocol-version string (adopt directly). The str arm is for forward-compat; Client.__post_init__ rejects anything outside that set at construction.

Client dataclass

A high-level MCP client for connecting to MCP servers.

Pass a URL string (Streamable HTTP), a StdioServerParameters (launch the command as a subprocess and talk over its stdin/stdout), any Transport, or - in tests - a Server or MCPServer instance to connect to it in-process.

Example
import asyncio

from mcp import Client

async def main():
    async with Client("http://localhost:8000/mcp") as client:
        result = await client.call_tool("add", {"a": 1, "b": 2})

asyncio.run(main())
Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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@dataclass
class Client:
    """A high-level MCP client for connecting to MCP servers.

    Pass a URL string (Streamable HTTP), a `StdioServerParameters` (launch the command as a
    subprocess and talk over its stdin/stdout), any `Transport`, or - in tests - a `Server` or
    `MCPServer` instance to connect to it in-process.

    Example:
        ```python
        import asyncio

        from mcp import Client

        async def main():
            async with Client("http://localhost:8000/mcp") as client:
                result = await client.call_tool("add", {"a": 1, "b": 2})

        asyncio.run(main())
        ```
    """

    server: Server[Any] | MCPServer | Transport | StdioServerParameters | str
    """The MCP server to connect to.

    If the server is a URL string, it will be used as the URL for a `streamable_http_client` transport.
    If the server is a `StdioServerParameters`, the command is launched with `stdio_client`.
    If the server is a `Transport` instance, it will be used directly.
    If the server is a `Server` or `MCPServer` instance, it will be connected in-process.
    """

    _: KW_ONLY

    # TODO(Marcelo): When do `raise_exceptions=True` actually raises?
    raise_exceptions: bool = False
    """Whether to raise exceptions from the server."""

    read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None
    """Timeout for read operations."""

    sampling_callback: SamplingFnT | None = None
    """Callback for handling sampling requests."""

    sampling_capabilities: types.SamplingCapability | None = None
    """Sampling sub-capabilities (e.g. tools) declared alongside `sampling_callback`; no effect without it."""

    list_roots_callback: ListRootsFnT | None = None
    """Callback for handling list roots requests."""

    logging_callback: LoggingFnT | None = None
    """Callback for handling logging notifications."""

    log_level: LoggingLevel | None = None
    """The log level to opt in to on 2026-07-28+ connections (deprecated logging feature, SEP-2577).

    Modern (2026-07-28+) servers send `notifications/message` only for requests that opt in by
    carrying `io.modelcontextprotocol/logLevel` in `_meta`, and only at or above that level. Setting
    this stamps that opt-in on every request; `None` (the default) means no opt-in, so no log
    messages arrive - a `logging_callback` alone is not an opt-in. No effect on handshake-era
    connections, where the deprecated `logging/setLevel` request governs delivery instead. A
    per-request `_meta` entry with the same key overrides this default."""

    # TODO(Marcelo): Why do we have both "callback" and "handler"?
    message_handler: MessageHandlerFnT | None = None
    """Callback for handling raw messages."""

    client_info: Implementation | None = None
    """Client implementation info to send to server."""

    mode: ConnectMode = "auto"
    """How to negotiate the protocol version.

    'auto' (the default) probes `server/discover` and falls back to the initialize handshake on legacy servers;
    for an in-process `Server`/`MCPServer` it dispatches directly without JSON-RPC framing. 'legacy' forces the
    initialize handshake (byte-identical pre-2026 behavior). A modern protocol-version string (e.g. '2026-07-28')
    adopts that version directly without a probe — supply `prior_discover` to reuse a known DiscoverResult, or
    omit it to synthesize a minimal one."""

    prior_discover: types.DiscoverResult | None = None
    """A previously-obtained DiscoverResult to install via .adopt() when mode is a version pin.
    Ignored when mode='legacy'."""

    elicitation_callback: ElicitationFnT | None = None
    """Callback for handling elicitation requests."""

    input_required_max_rounds: int = DEFAULT_INPUT_REQUIRED_MAX_ROUNDS
    """Cap on `InputRequiredResult` retry rounds before `call_tool` / `get_prompt` /
    `read_resource` give up. Use `client.session.<method>(..., allow_input_required=True)`
    to drive the loop manually instead."""

    extensions: Sequence[ClientExtension] | None = None
    """Opt-in client extensions (SEP-2133).

    Each instance contributes its capability ad, its result claims (resolved
    transparently by `call_tool`), and its notification bindings. For an
    ad-only entry use `mcp.client.advertise(identifier, settings)`."""

    cache: CacheConfig | None = field(default_factory=CacheConfig)
    """Client-side response caching for the SEP-2549 cacheable methods (2026-07-28).

    The default `CacheConfig()` honors server `ttlMs`/`cacheScope` hints with a
    per-client in-memory store; pass a customized `CacheConfig`, or `None` to
    disable. The cacheable verbs take a per-call `cache_mode` (see `CacheMode`);
    calls carrying `meta` always reach the server. A `CacheConfig` with a custom
    `store` requires `target_id` when the server is not a URL (no identity can be
    derived)."""

    _entered: bool = field(init=False, default=False)
    _session: ClientSession | None = field(init=False, default=None)
    _exit_stack: AsyncExitStack | None = field(init=False, default=None)
    _connect: _Connector = field(init=False, repr=False, compare=False)
    _response_cache: ClientResponseCache | None = field(init=False, default=None, repr=False, compare=False)
    _folded_extensions: _FoldedExtensions = field(init=False, repr=False, compare=False)
    _registered_extensions: tuple[ClientExtension, ...] = field(init=False, repr=False, compare=False)

    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
        if self.mode not in ("legacy", "auto") and self.mode not in MODERN_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS:
            hint = (
                f" ({self.mode!r} is a handshake-era version; use mode='legacy')"
                if self.mode in HANDSHAKE_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS
                else ""
            )
            raise ValueError(
                f"mode must be 'legacy', 'auto', or one of {list(MODERN_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS)}; got {self.mode!r}{hint}"
            )

        self._folded_extensions = _fold_extensions(self.extensions)
        self._registered_extensions = tuple(self.extensions or ())

        srv = self.server
        if isinstance(srv, MCPServer):
            srv = srv._lowlevel_server  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
        if isinstance(srv, Server):
            self._connect = _connect_inproc(srv)
        elif isinstance(srv, str):
            self._connect = _connect_transport(streamable_http_client(srv))
        elif isinstance(srv, StdioServerParameters):
            self._connect = _connect_transport(stdio_client(srv))
        else:
            self._connect = _connect_transport(srv)

        if self.cache is not None:
            config = self.cache
            # Only the hash below leaves this scope - the raw identity may carry credentials; never log or store it.
            target_id = config.target_id
            if target_id is None and isinstance(self.server, str):
                target_id = _strip_userinfo(self.server)
            if target_id is None:
                if config.store is not None:
                    raise ValueError(
                        "a custom cache store requires CacheConfig.target_id when the server is not a URL: "
                        "in-process servers and Transport instances get a random per-client identity, so "
                        "their entries in a shared store could never be served to another client"
                    )
                target_id = uuid.uuid4().hex
            self._response_cache = ClientResponseCache(
                store=config.store if config.store is not None else InMemoryResponseCacheStore(),
                partition=config.partition,
                arm_id=hashlib.sha256(target_id.encode()).hexdigest(),
                default_ttl_ms=config.default_ttl_ms,
                clock=config.clock,
                share_public=config.share_public,
                # Lazy: the negotiated version is unknown until __aenter__'s handshake.
                negotiated_version=lambda: self._session.protocol_version if self._session is not None else None,
            )

    async def _build_session(self, exit_stack: AsyncExitStack) -> ClientSession:
        """Enter the resolved connector and return an un-entered ClientSession."""
        dispatcher = await self._connect(exit_stack, self.mode, self.raise_exceptions)
        message_handler = self.message_handler
        if self._response_cache is not None:
            message_handler = _evicting_message_handler(self._response_cache, self.message_handler)
        return ClientSession(
            dispatcher=dispatcher,
            read_timeout_seconds=self.read_timeout_seconds,
            sampling_callback=self.sampling_callback,
            sampling_capabilities=self.sampling_capabilities,
            list_roots_callback=self.list_roots_callback,
            logging_callback=self.logging_callback,
            log_level=self.log_level,
            message_handler=message_handler,
            client_info=self.client_info,
            elicitation_callback=self.elicitation_callback,
            extensions=self._folded_extensions.ad,
            result_claims=self._folded_extensions.claims,
            notification_bindings=self._folded_extensions.bindings,
        )

    async def __aenter__(self) -> Client:
        """Enter the async context manager."""
        if self._entered:
            raise RuntimeError("Client is already entered; cannot reenter")
        self._entered = True

        async with AsyncExitStack() as exit_stack:
            session = await self._build_session(exit_stack)
            session = await exit_stack.enter_async_context(session)

            if self.mode == "legacy":
                await session.initialize()
            elif self.mode == "auto":
                await negotiate_auto(session)
            else:
                session.adopt(self.prior_discover or _synthesize_discover(self.mode))

            # Only publish the session after the handshake succeeds, so `_session is not None`
            # implies the protocol_version/server_capabilities are populated (server_info
            # stays optional: 2026-era servers may not identify themselves). If the
            # handshake raised above, the local exit_stack unwinds the transport for us.
            self._session = session
            self._exit_stack = exit_stack.pop_all()
            return self

    async def __aexit__(self, exc_type: type[BaseException] | None, exc_val: BaseException | None, exc_tb: Any) -> None:
        """Exit the async context manager."""
        if self._exit_stack:  # pragma: no branch
            await self._exit_stack.__aexit__(exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb)
        self._session = None

    @property
    def session(self) -> ClientSession:
        """Get the underlying ClientSession.

        This provides access to the full ClientSession API for advanced use cases.

        Raises:
            RuntimeError: If accessed before entering the context manager.
        """
        if self._session is None:
            raise RuntimeError("Client must be used within an async context manager")
        return self._session

    def extension(self, extension_type: type[ClientExtensionBinding[_BoundT]]) -> _BoundT:
        """Return the typed API of a registered extension for this connection.

        Raises:
            RuntimeError: If the client is not connected.
            ValueError: If no extension of this type was registered.
        """
        session = self.session
        for extension in self._registered_extensions:
            if isinstance(extension, extension_type):
                return cast(ClientExtensionBinding[_BoundT], extension).bind(session)
        raise ValueError(f"client extension {extension_type.__name__!r} is not registered")

    # TODO(maxisbey): the by-construction shape is for __aenter__ to return a connected-view
    # type whose protocol_version/server_capabilities are non-Optional fields,
    # eliminating these guards (and the one in .session). Same family as resolving the
    # transport/connector at __post_init__ so the Optional internal fields disappear.
    # (server_info stays Optional even connected: the 2026-era stamp is optional.)
    @property
    def protocol_version(self) -> str:
        """Negotiated protocol version (set by initialize/discover/adopt during ``__aenter__``)."""
        return _connected(self.session.protocol_version)

    @property
    def server_info(self) -> Implementation | None:
        """Server name/version, or `None` when the server did not identify itself.

        Legacy connections always carry it (`InitializeResult.serverInfo` is
        required); on 2026-era connections the `_meta` `serverInfo` stamp is
        optional, so an anonymous server reads as `None`.
        """
        return self.session.server_info

    @property
    def server_capabilities(self) -> ServerCapabilities:
        """Server capabilities (set by initialize/discover/adopt during ``__aenter__``)."""
        return _connected(self.session.server_capabilities)

    @property
    def instructions(self) -> str | None:
        """Server-provided instructions text, if any."""
        return self.session.instructions

    @deprecated(
        "ping is removed as of 2026-07-28; the method only works under mode='legacy'.",
        category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
    )
    async def send_ping(self, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
        """Send a ping request to the server."""
        return await self.session.send_ping(meta=meta)

    @deprecated(
        "Client-to-server progress is deprecated as of 2026-07-28; progress is server-to-client only.",
        category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
    )
    async def send_progress_notification(
        self,
        progress_token: str | int,
        progress: float,
        total: float | None = None,
        message: str | None = None,
    ) -> None:
        """Send a progress notification to the server."""
        await self.session.send_progress_notification(  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]
            progress_token=progress_token,
            progress=progress,
            total=total,
            message=message,
        )

    @deprecated("The logging capability is deprecated as of 2026-07-28 (SEP-2577).", category=MCPDeprecationWarning)
    async def set_logging_level(self, level: LoggingLevel, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
        """Set the logging level on the server."""
        return await self.session.set_logging_level(level=level, meta=meta)  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]

    async def _cached_fetch(
        self,
        method: str,
        *,
        cursor: str | None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None,
        cache_mode: CacheMode,
        send: Callable[[], Awaitable[_CacheableT]],
        absorb: Callable[[_CacheableT], _CacheableT] | None = None,
    ) -> _CacheableT:
        """Serve one of the four list verbs through the response cache.

        `absorb` (tools/list only) re-applies session-side derived state to a served cache hit.
        """
        cache = self._response_cache
        if cache is None or cache_mode == "bypass":
            return await send()
        # A closed (or never-entered) client must raise, never serve cached entries.
        _ = self.session
        if meta is not None and cache_mode == "use":
            # meta (a progress token, tracing fields) expects a wire request; fetch and replace the entry.
            cache_mode = "refresh"
        if cursor is not None:
            # Continuation pages skip the cache, but an expired cursor means the listing changed (spec SHOULD evict).
            try:
                return await send()
            except MCPError as e:
                if e.code == INVALID_PARAMS:
                    await cache.evict_method(method)
                raise
        if cache_mode == "use" and (hit := await cache.read(method, "")) is not None:
            # The hit is a private deep copy, so absorption may mutate it freely.
            served = cast(_CacheableT, hit)
            return served if absorb is None else absorb(served)
        gen = cache.capture(method, "")
        result = await send()
        await cache.write(method, "", result, gen, cache_mode)
        return result

    async def list_resources(
        self,
        *,
        cursor: str | None = None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
        cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
    ) -> ListResourcesResult:
        """List available resources from the server."""
        return await self._cached_fetch(
            "resources/list",
            cursor=cursor,
            meta=meta,
            cache_mode=cache_mode,
            send=lambda: self.session.list_resources(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
        )

    async def list_resource_templates(
        self,
        *,
        cursor: str | None = None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
        cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
    ) -> ListResourceTemplatesResult:
        """List available resource templates from the server."""
        return await self._cached_fetch(
            "resources/templates/list",
            cursor=cursor,
            meta=meta,
            cache_mode=cache_mode,
            send=lambda: self.session.list_resource_templates(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
        )

    async def read_resource(
        self,
        uri: str,
        *,
        input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
        request_state: str | None = None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
        cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
    ) -> ReadResourceResult:
        """Read a resource from the server.

        If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult`, the embedded input
        requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots
        callbacks and the read is retried automatically (up to
        `input_required_max_rounds`).

        Args:
            uri: The URI of the resource to read.
            input_responses: Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when
                resuming from a persisted `InputRequiredResult`).
            request_state: Opaque state to seed the first call with.
            meta: Additional metadata for the request.
            cache_mode: Cache behavior for this call (see `CacheMode`); seeded
                calls (`input_responses` or `request_state` set) ignore it.

        Returns:
            The resource content.

        Raises:
            InputRequiredRoundsExceededError: `input_required_max_rounds` exhausted.
            MCPError: A callback returned `ErrorData` for an embedded input request.
            pydantic.ValidationError: The server returned a result that does not
                conform to the negotiated protocol version.
        """

        async def retry(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> ReadResourceResult | InputRequiredResult:
            return await self.session.read_resource(
                uri, input_responses=r, request_state=s, meta=meta, allow_input_required=True
            )

        # Seeded calls resume a specific exchange and must never be cached (spec MUST).
        seeded = input_responses is not None or request_state is not None
        cache = None if seeded else self._response_cache
        if cache is None or cache_mode == "bypass":
            return await self._drive_input_required(await retry(input_responses, request_state), retry)
        # A closed (or never-entered) client must raise, never serve cached entries.
        _ = self.session
        if meta is not None and cache_mode == "use":
            # Calls carrying meta always reach the server (mirrors `_cached_fetch`).
            cache_mode = "refresh"
        if cache_mode == "use" and (hit := await cache.read("resources/read", uri)) is not None:
            # Only terminal first-round results are stored, so a hit legitimately skips the driver.
            return cast(ReadResourceResult, hit)
        gen = cache.capture("resources/read", uri)
        first = await retry(None, None)
        if not isinstance(first, InputRequiredResult):
            await cache.write("resources/read", uri, first, gen, cache_mode)
        elif cache_mode == "refresh":
            # The refresh superseded whatever was cached, but an input_required resolution
            # cannot be stored: purge the warm entry so it cannot be served again.
            await cache.evict_key("resources/read", uri)
        # Driver rounds carry inputResponses, so a terminal result reached through them is never cached (spec MUST).
        return await self._drive_input_required(first, retry)

    def listen(
        self,
        *,
        tools_list_changed: bool = False,
        prompts_list_changed: bool = False,
        resources_list_changed: bool = False,
        resource_subscriptions: Sequence[str] = (),
    ) -> AbstractAsyncContextManager[Subscription]:
        """Open a `subscriptions/listen` stream of typed change events (2026-07-28 only).

        Keyword args mirror the wire `SubscriptionFilter`; entering waits for the ack (honored subset: `sub.honored`):

            async with client.listen(tools_list_changed=True) as sub:
                async for event in sub:
                    tools = await client.list_tools()  # refetch on change

        A graceful close ends the loop; an abrupt drop raises `SubscriptionLost`. No replay: re-listen and refetch.

        Raises:
            ListenNotSupportedError: The negotiated protocol version predates 2026-07-28.
            MCPError: The server rejected the request or the connection failed first.
            SubscriptionLost: The stream ended before it was acknowledged.
            TimeoutError: The read timeout elapsed before the acknowledgment.
        """
        return _listen(
            self.session,
            tools_list_changed=tools_list_changed,
            prompts_list_changed=prompts_list_changed,
            resources_list_changed=resources_list_changed,
            resource_subscriptions=resource_subscriptions,
            on_event=self._evict_for_listen_event if self._response_cache is not None else None,
        )

    async def _evict_for_listen_event(self, event: ServerEvent) -> None:
        """Finish response-cache eviction before a listen consumer can refetch.

        Without it the iterator wakes first and refetches a still-warm entry, with no
        corrective wake (events are deduplicated level triggers). The tee path repeats
        the eviction; deliberate: idempotent, and it covers non-iterating consumers.
        """
        cache = self._response_cache
        assert cache is not None  # installed as the event barrier only when a cache exists
        try:
            await cache.evict_for_notification(event_to_notification(event, {}))
        except Exception:  # boundary: eviction reaches user store code; a cache fault must not block delivery
            logger.exception("Response cache eviction failed; the event is still delivered")

    @deprecated(
        "resources/subscribe is removed as of 2026-07-28; use Client.listen() instead.",
        category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
    )
    async def subscribe_resource(self, uri: str, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
        """Subscribe to resource updates (2025-era servers only)."""
        return await self.session.subscribe_resource(uri, meta=meta)  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]

    @deprecated(
        "resources/unsubscribe is removed as of 2026-07-28; use Client.listen() instead.",
        category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
    )
    async def unsubscribe_resource(self, uri: str, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
        """Unsubscribe from resource updates (2025-era servers only)."""
        return await self.session.unsubscribe_resource(uri, meta=meta)  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]

    async def call_tool(
        self,
        name: str,
        arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
        read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
        progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
        *,
        input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
        request_state: str | None = None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    ) -> CallToolResult:
        """Call a tool on the server.

        If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult`, the embedded input
        requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots
        callbacks and the call is retried automatically (up to
        `input_required_max_rounds`). To drive the loop yourself — e.g. to
        persist `request_state` across process restarts — use
        `client.session.call_tool(..., allow_input_required=True)`. Persisted
        state is still subject to the server's TTL, request binding, and key
        lifetime; a server on the default process-local key rejects it after a restart.

        Result shapes claimed by this client's `extensions` are finished by the
        owning claim's resolver, whose `CallToolResult` is returned; resolver
        exceptions propagate as-is. To receive the claimed shape yourself, use
        `client.session.call_tool(..., allow_claimed=True)`.

        On a 2026-07-28 connection, a call the server rejects with `HEADER_MISMATCH`
        (this client has not listed the tool, or its input schema changed since) is
        resent once after refetching the tool listing. A second rejection is raised,
        and so is the first when the listing cannot be refetched.

        Args:
            name: The name of the tool to call.
            arguments: Arguments to pass to the tool.
            read_timeout_seconds: Timeout for each underlying `tools/call` round, and
                for the whole re-list after a `HEADER_MISMATCH`. Defaults to this
                client's `read_timeout_seconds`.
            progress_callback: Callback for progress updates.
            input_responses: Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when
                resuming from a persisted `InputRequiredResult`).
            request_state: Opaque state to seed the first call with.
            meta: Additional metadata for the request.

        Returns:
            The tool result.

        Raises:
            InputRequiredRoundsExceededError: `input_required_max_rounds` exhausted.
            MCPError: A callback returned `ErrorData` for an embedded input request.
            pydantic.ValidationError: The server returned a result that does not
                conform to the negotiated protocol version.
        """

        async def send(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> CallToolResult | InputRequiredResult | Result:
            return await self.session.call_tool(
                name,
                arguments,
                read_timeout_seconds=read_timeout_seconds,
                progress_callback=progress_callback,
                input_responses=r,
                request_state=s,
                meta=meta,
                allow_input_required=True,
                # Input rounds resolve before a claimed result, so a claim may end any round.
                allow_claimed=True,
            )

        async def retry(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> CallToolResult | InputRequiredResult | Result:
            try:
                return await send(r, s)
            except MCPError as mismatch:
                if mismatch.code != HEADER_MISMATCH or self.protocol_version not in MODERN_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS:
                    raise
                # The spec's recovery: the tool's listed schema is missing or stale, so re-list and resend once.
                timeout = read_timeout_seconds if read_timeout_seconds is not None else self.read_timeout_seconds
                try:
                    with anyio.fail_after(timeout):
                        await self._relist_tool(name)
                except (MCPError, TimeoutError, ValidationError) as relist_error:
                    raise mismatch from relist_error
                return await send(r, s)

        result = await self._drive_input_required(await retry(input_responses, request_state), retry)
        if isinstance(result, CallToolResult):
            return result
        # Only claimed shapes reach this point, so the lookup is total.
        claim = self._folded_extensions.by_model[type(result)]
        final = await claim.resolve(
            result,
            ClaimContext(session=self.session, tool_name=name, read_timeout_seconds=read_timeout_seconds),
        )
        if not final.is_error:
            # Match the direct path: revalidate the output schema, but never for isError results.
            await self.session.validate_tool_result(name, final)
        return final

    async def list_prompts(
        self,
        *,
        cursor: str | None = None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
        cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
    ) -> ListPromptsResult:
        """List available prompts from the server."""
        return await self._cached_fetch(
            "prompts/list",
            cursor=cursor,
            meta=meta,
            cache_mode=cache_mode,
            send=lambda: self.session.list_prompts(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
        )

    async def get_prompt(
        self,
        name: str,
        arguments: dict[str, str] | None = None,
        *,
        input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
        request_state: str | None = None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    ) -> GetPromptResult:
        """Get a prompt from the server.

        If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult`, the embedded input
        requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots
        callbacks and the get is retried automatically (up to
        `input_required_max_rounds`).

        Args:
            name: The name of the prompt.
            arguments: Arguments to pass to the prompt.
            input_responses: Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when
                resuming from a persisted `InputRequiredResult`).
            request_state: Opaque state to seed the first call with.
            meta: Additional metadata for the request.

        Returns:
            The prompt content.

        Raises:
            InputRequiredRoundsExceededError: `input_required_max_rounds` exhausted.
            MCPError: A callback returned `ErrorData` for an embedded input request.
            pydantic.ValidationError: The server returned a result that does not
                conform to the negotiated protocol version.
        """

        async def retry(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> GetPromptResult | InputRequiredResult:
            return await self.session.get_prompt(
                name, arguments, input_responses=r, request_state=s, meta=meta, allow_input_required=True
            )

        return await self._drive_input_required(await retry(input_responses, request_state), retry)

    async def _drive_input_required(
        self,
        first: _ResultT | InputRequiredResult,
        retry: Callable[[InputResponses | None, str | None], Awaitable[_ResultT | InputRequiredResult]],
    ) -> _ResultT:
        """Hand an `InputRequiredResult` to the SEP-2322 driver, or pass a terminal result through.

        `dispatch` routes each embedded request through the same callback table
        that serves legacy server→client RPCs, so the two paths stay
        behaviourally identical by construction.
        """
        if not isinstance(first, InputRequiredResult):
            return first
        session = self.session

        async def dispatch(key: str, req: InputRequest) -> InputResponse | ErrorData:
            ctx = ClientRequestContext(session=session, request_id=key, meta=req.params.meta if req.params else None)
            return await session.dispatch_input_request(ctx, req)

        return await run_input_required_driver(
            first, dispatch=dispatch, retry=retry, max_rounds=self.input_required_max_rounds
        )

    async def complete(
        self,
        ref: ResourceTemplateReference | PromptReference,
        argument: dict[str, str],
        context_arguments: dict[str, str] | None = None,
    ) -> CompleteResult:
        """Get completions for a prompt or resource template argument.

        Args:
            ref: Reference to the prompt or resource template
            argument: The argument to complete
            context_arguments: Additional context arguments

        Returns:
            Completion suggestions.
        """
        return await self.session.complete(ref=ref, argument=argument, context_arguments=context_arguments)

    async def list_tools(
        self,
        *,
        cursor: str | None = None,
        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
        cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
    ) -> ListToolsResult:
        """List available tools from the server."""
        return await self._cached_fetch(
            "tools/list",
            cursor=cursor,
            meta=meta,
            cache_mode=cache_mode,
            send=lambda: self.session.list_tools(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
            # A cache hit skips session.list_tools, so the session re-absorbs the served
            # listing to rebuild its derived per-tool state. Hits are cursorless, but a
            # cached page 1 can carry next_cursor - never prune on a partial listing.
            absorb=lambda hit: self.session._absorb_tool_listing(  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
                hit, complete=hit.next_cursor is None
            ),
        )

    async def _relist_tool(self, name: str) -> None:
        """Refetch the tool listing from the server, page by page, until a page lists `name`."""
        cursor: str | None = None
        for _ in range(_RELIST_PAGE_CAP):
            page = await self.list_tools(cursor=cursor, cache_mode="refresh")
            cursor = page.next_cursor
            if cursor is None or any(tool.name == name for tool in page.tools):
                return

    @deprecated("The roots capability is deprecated as of 2026-07-28 (SEP-2577).", category=MCPDeprecationWarning)
    async def send_roots_list_changed(self) -> None:
        """Send a notification that the roots list has changed."""
        await self.session.send_roots_list_changed()  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]

server instance-attribute

The MCP server to connect to.

If the server is a URL string, it will be used as the URL for a streamable_http_client transport. If the server is a StdioServerParameters, the command is launched with stdio_client. If the server is a Transport instance, it will be used directly. If the server is a Server or MCPServer instance, it will be connected in-process.

raise_exceptions class-attribute instance-attribute

raise_exceptions: bool = False

Whether to raise exceptions from the server.

read_timeout_seconds class-attribute instance-attribute

read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None

Timeout for read operations.

sampling_callback class-attribute instance-attribute

sampling_callback: SamplingFnT | None = None

Callback for handling sampling requests.

sampling_capabilities class-attribute instance-attribute

sampling_capabilities: SamplingCapability | None = None

Sampling sub-capabilities (e.g. tools) declared alongside sampling_callback; no effect without it.

list_roots_callback class-attribute instance-attribute

list_roots_callback: ListRootsFnT | None = None

Callback for handling list roots requests.

logging_callback class-attribute instance-attribute

logging_callback: LoggingFnT | None = None

Callback for handling logging notifications.

log_level class-attribute instance-attribute

log_level: LoggingLevel | None = None

The log level to opt in to on 2026-07-28+ connections (deprecated logging feature, SEP-2577).

Modern (2026-07-28+) servers send notifications/message only for requests that opt in by carrying io.modelcontextprotocol/logLevel in _meta, and only at or above that level. Setting this stamps that opt-in on every request; None (the default) means no opt-in, so no log messages arrive - a logging_callback alone is not an opt-in. No effect on handshake-era connections, where the deprecated logging/setLevel request governs delivery instead. A per-request _meta entry with the same key overrides this default.

message_handler class-attribute instance-attribute

message_handler: MessageHandlerFnT | None = None

Callback for handling raw messages.

client_info class-attribute instance-attribute

client_info: Implementation | None = None

Client implementation info to send to server.

mode class-attribute instance-attribute

mode: ConnectMode = 'auto'

How to negotiate the protocol version.

'auto' (the default) probes server/discover and falls back to the initialize handshake on legacy servers; for an in-process Server/MCPServer it dispatches directly without JSON-RPC framing. 'legacy' forces the initialize handshake (byte-identical pre-2026 behavior). A modern protocol-version string (e.g. '2026-07-28') adopts that version directly without a probe — supply prior_discover to reuse a known DiscoverResult, or omit it to synthesize a minimal one.

prior_discover class-attribute instance-attribute

prior_discover: DiscoverResult | None = None

A previously-obtained DiscoverResult to install via .adopt() when mode is a version pin. Ignored when mode='legacy'.

elicitation_callback class-attribute instance-attribute

elicitation_callback: ElicitationFnT | None = None

Callback for handling elicitation requests.

input_required_max_rounds class-attribute instance-attribute

input_required_max_rounds: int = (
    DEFAULT_INPUT_REQUIRED_MAX_ROUNDS
)

Cap on InputRequiredResult retry rounds before call_tool / get_prompt / read_resource give up. Use client.session.<method>(..., allow_input_required=True) to drive the loop manually instead.

extensions class-attribute instance-attribute

extensions: Sequence[ClientExtension] | None = None

Opt-in client extensions (SEP-2133).

Each instance contributes its capability ad, its result claims (resolved transparently by call_tool), and its notification bindings. For an ad-only entry use mcp.client.advertise(identifier, settings).

cache class-attribute instance-attribute

cache: CacheConfig | None = field(
    default_factory=CacheConfig
)

Client-side response caching for the SEP-2549 cacheable methods (2026-07-28).

The default CacheConfig() honors server ttlMs/cacheScope hints with a per-client in-memory store; pass a customized CacheConfig, or None to disable. The cacheable verbs take a per-call cache_mode (see CacheMode); calls carrying meta always reach the server. A CacheConfig with a custom store requires target_id when the server is not a URL (no identity can be derived).

__aenter__ async

__aenter__() -> Client

Enter the async context manager.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def __aenter__(self) -> Client:
    """Enter the async context manager."""
    if self._entered:
        raise RuntimeError("Client is already entered; cannot reenter")
    self._entered = True

    async with AsyncExitStack() as exit_stack:
        session = await self._build_session(exit_stack)
        session = await exit_stack.enter_async_context(session)

        if self.mode == "legacy":
            await session.initialize()
        elif self.mode == "auto":
            await negotiate_auto(session)
        else:
            session.adopt(self.prior_discover or _synthesize_discover(self.mode))

        # Only publish the session after the handshake succeeds, so `_session is not None`
        # implies the protocol_version/server_capabilities are populated (server_info
        # stays optional: 2026-era servers may not identify themselves). If the
        # handshake raised above, the local exit_stack unwinds the transport for us.
        self._session = session
        self._exit_stack = exit_stack.pop_all()
        return self

__aexit__ async

__aexit__(
    exc_type: type[BaseException] | None,
    exc_val: BaseException | None,
    exc_tb: Any,
) -> None

Exit the async context manager.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def __aexit__(self, exc_type: type[BaseException] | None, exc_val: BaseException | None, exc_tb: Any) -> None:
    """Exit the async context manager."""
    if self._exit_stack:  # pragma: no branch
        await self._exit_stack.__aexit__(exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb)
    self._session = None

session property

session: ClientSession

Get the underlying ClientSession.

This provides access to the full ClientSession API for advanced use cases.

Raises:

Type Description
RuntimeError

If accessed before entering the context manager.

extension

extension(
    extension_type: type[ClientExtensionBinding[_BoundT]],
) -> _BoundT

Return the typed API of a registered extension for this connection.

Raises:

Type Description
RuntimeError

If the client is not connected.

ValueError

If no extension of this type was registered.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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def extension(self, extension_type: type[ClientExtensionBinding[_BoundT]]) -> _BoundT:
    """Return the typed API of a registered extension for this connection.

    Raises:
        RuntimeError: If the client is not connected.
        ValueError: If no extension of this type was registered.
    """
    session = self.session
    for extension in self._registered_extensions:
        if isinstance(extension, extension_type):
            return cast(ClientExtensionBinding[_BoundT], extension).bind(session)
    raise ValueError(f"client extension {extension_type.__name__!r} is not registered")

protocol_version property

protocol_version: str

Negotiated protocol version (set by initialize/discover/adopt during __aenter__).

server_info property

server_info: Implementation | None

Server name/version, or None when the server did not identify itself.

Legacy connections always carry it (InitializeResult.serverInfo is required); on 2026-era connections the _meta serverInfo stamp is optional, so an anonymous server reads as None.

server_capabilities property

server_capabilities: ServerCapabilities

Server capabilities (set by initialize/discover/adopt during __aenter__).

instructions property

instructions: str | None

Server-provided instructions text, if any.

send_ping async

send_ping(
    *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None
) -> EmptyResult

Send a ping request to the server.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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@deprecated(
    "ping is removed as of 2026-07-28; the method only works under mode='legacy'.",
    category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
)
async def send_ping(self, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
    """Send a ping request to the server."""
    return await self.session.send_ping(meta=meta)

send_progress_notification async

send_progress_notification(
    progress_token: str | int,
    progress: float,
    total: float | None = None,
    message: str | None = None,
) -> None

Send a progress notification to the server.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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@deprecated(
    "Client-to-server progress is deprecated as of 2026-07-28; progress is server-to-client only.",
    category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
)
async def send_progress_notification(
    self,
    progress_token: str | int,
    progress: float,
    total: float | None = None,
    message: str | None = None,
) -> None:
    """Send a progress notification to the server."""
    await self.session.send_progress_notification(  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]
        progress_token=progress_token,
        progress=progress,
        total=total,
        message=message,
    )

set_logging_level async

set_logging_level(
    level: LoggingLevel,
    *,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None
) -> EmptyResult

Set the logging level on the server.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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@deprecated("The logging capability is deprecated as of 2026-07-28 (SEP-2577).", category=MCPDeprecationWarning)
async def set_logging_level(self, level: LoggingLevel, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
    """Set the logging level on the server."""
    return await self.session.set_logging_level(level=level, meta=meta)  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]

list_resources async

list_resources(
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use"
) -> ListResourcesResult

List available resources from the server.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def list_resources(
    self,
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
) -> ListResourcesResult:
    """List available resources from the server."""
    return await self._cached_fetch(
        "resources/list",
        cursor=cursor,
        meta=meta,
        cache_mode=cache_mode,
        send=lambda: self.session.list_resources(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
    )

list_resource_templates async

list_resource_templates(
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use"
) -> ListResourceTemplatesResult

List available resource templates from the server.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def list_resource_templates(
    self,
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
) -> ListResourceTemplatesResult:
    """List available resource templates from the server."""
    return await self._cached_fetch(
        "resources/templates/list",
        cursor=cursor,
        meta=meta,
        cache_mode=cache_mode,
        send=lambda: self.session.list_resource_templates(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
    )

read_resource async

read_resource(
    uri: str,
    *,
    input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
    request_state: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use"
) -> ReadResourceResult

Read a resource from the server.

If the server returns an InputRequiredResult, the embedded input requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots callbacks and the read is retried automatically (up to input_required_max_rounds).

Parameters:

Name Type Description Default
uri str

The URI of the resource to read.

required
input_responses InputResponses | None

Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when resuming from a persisted InputRequiredResult).

None
request_state str | None

Opaque state to seed the first call with.

None
meta RequestParamsMeta | None

Additional metadata for the request.

None
cache_mode CacheMode

Cache behavior for this call (see CacheMode); seeded calls (input_responses or request_state set) ignore it.

'use'

Returns:

Type Description
ReadResourceResult

The resource content.

Raises:

Type Description
InputRequiredRoundsExceededError

input_required_max_rounds exhausted.

MCPError

A callback returned ErrorData for an embedded input request.

ValidationError

The server returned a result that does not conform to the negotiated protocol version.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def read_resource(
    self,
    uri: str,
    *,
    input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
    request_state: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
) -> ReadResourceResult:
    """Read a resource from the server.

    If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult`, the embedded input
    requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots
    callbacks and the read is retried automatically (up to
    `input_required_max_rounds`).

    Args:
        uri: The URI of the resource to read.
        input_responses: Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when
            resuming from a persisted `InputRequiredResult`).
        request_state: Opaque state to seed the first call with.
        meta: Additional metadata for the request.
        cache_mode: Cache behavior for this call (see `CacheMode`); seeded
            calls (`input_responses` or `request_state` set) ignore it.

    Returns:
        The resource content.

    Raises:
        InputRequiredRoundsExceededError: `input_required_max_rounds` exhausted.
        MCPError: A callback returned `ErrorData` for an embedded input request.
        pydantic.ValidationError: The server returned a result that does not
            conform to the negotiated protocol version.
    """

    async def retry(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> ReadResourceResult | InputRequiredResult:
        return await self.session.read_resource(
            uri, input_responses=r, request_state=s, meta=meta, allow_input_required=True
        )

    # Seeded calls resume a specific exchange and must never be cached (spec MUST).
    seeded = input_responses is not None or request_state is not None
    cache = None if seeded else self._response_cache
    if cache is None or cache_mode == "bypass":
        return await self._drive_input_required(await retry(input_responses, request_state), retry)
    # A closed (or never-entered) client must raise, never serve cached entries.
    _ = self.session
    if meta is not None and cache_mode == "use":
        # Calls carrying meta always reach the server (mirrors `_cached_fetch`).
        cache_mode = "refresh"
    if cache_mode == "use" and (hit := await cache.read("resources/read", uri)) is not None:
        # Only terminal first-round results are stored, so a hit legitimately skips the driver.
        return cast(ReadResourceResult, hit)
    gen = cache.capture("resources/read", uri)
    first = await retry(None, None)
    if not isinstance(first, InputRequiredResult):
        await cache.write("resources/read", uri, first, gen, cache_mode)
    elif cache_mode == "refresh":
        # The refresh superseded whatever was cached, but an input_required resolution
        # cannot be stored: purge the warm entry so it cannot be served again.
        await cache.evict_key("resources/read", uri)
    # Driver rounds carry inputResponses, so a terminal result reached through them is never cached (spec MUST).
    return await self._drive_input_required(first, retry)

listen

listen(
    *,
    tools_list_changed: bool = False,
    prompts_list_changed: bool = False,
    resources_list_changed: bool = False,
    resource_subscriptions: Sequence[str] = ()
) -> AbstractAsyncContextManager[Subscription]

Open a subscriptions/listen stream of typed change events (2026-07-28 only).

Keyword args mirror the wire SubscriptionFilter; entering waits for the ack (honored subset: sub.honored):

async with client.listen(tools_list_changed=True) as sub:
    async for event in sub:
        tools = await client.list_tools()  # refetch on change

A graceful close ends the loop; an abrupt drop raises SubscriptionLost. No replay: re-listen and refetch.

Raises:

Type Description
ListenNotSupportedError

The negotiated protocol version predates 2026-07-28.

MCPError

The server rejected the request or the connection failed first.

SubscriptionLost

The stream ended before it was acknowledged.

TimeoutError

The read timeout elapsed before the acknowledgment.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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def listen(
    self,
    *,
    tools_list_changed: bool = False,
    prompts_list_changed: bool = False,
    resources_list_changed: bool = False,
    resource_subscriptions: Sequence[str] = (),
) -> AbstractAsyncContextManager[Subscription]:
    """Open a `subscriptions/listen` stream of typed change events (2026-07-28 only).

    Keyword args mirror the wire `SubscriptionFilter`; entering waits for the ack (honored subset: `sub.honored`):

        async with client.listen(tools_list_changed=True) as sub:
            async for event in sub:
                tools = await client.list_tools()  # refetch on change

    A graceful close ends the loop; an abrupt drop raises `SubscriptionLost`. No replay: re-listen and refetch.

    Raises:
        ListenNotSupportedError: The negotiated protocol version predates 2026-07-28.
        MCPError: The server rejected the request or the connection failed first.
        SubscriptionLost: The stream ended before it was acknowledged.
        TimeoutError: The read timeout elapsed before the acknowledgment.
    """
    return _listen(
        self.session,
        tools_list_changed=tools_list_changed,
        prompts_list_changed=prompts_list_changed,
        resources_list_changed=resources_list_changed,
        resource_subscriptions=resource_subscriptions,
        on_event=self._evict_for_listen_event if self._response_cache is not None else None,
    )

subscribe_resource async

subscribe_resource(
    uri: str, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None
) -> EmptyResult

Subscribe to resource updates (2025-era servers only).

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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@deprecated(
    "resources/subscribe is removed as of 2026-07-28; use Client.listen() instead.",
    category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
)
async def subscribe_resource(self, uri: str, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
    """Subscribe to resource updates (2025-era servers only)."""
    return await self.session.subscribe_resource(uri, meta=meta)  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]

unsubscribe_resource async

unsubscribe_resource(
    uri: str, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None
) -> EmptyResult

Unsubscribe from resource updates (2025-era servers only).

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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@deprecated(
    "resources/unsubscribe is removed as of 2026-07-28; use Client.listen() instead.",
    category=MCPDeprecationWarning,
)
async def unsubscribe_resource(self, uri: str, *, meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None) -> EmptyResult:
    """Unsubscribe from resource updates (2025-era servers only)."""
    return await self.session.unsubscribe_resource(uri, meta=meta)  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]

call_tool async

call_tool(
    name: str,
    arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
    read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
    progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
    *,
    input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
    request_state: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None
) -> CallToolResult

Call a tool on the server.

If the server returns an InputRequiredResult, the embedded input requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots callbacks and the call is retried automatically (up to input_required_max_rounds). To drive the loop yourself — e.g. to persist request_state across process restarts — use client.session.call_tool(..., allow_input_required=True). Persisted state is still subject to the server's TTL, request binding, and key lifetime; a server on the default process-local key rejects it after a restart.

Result shapes claimed by this client's extensions are finished by the owning claim's resolver, whose CallToolResult is returned; resolver exceptions propagate as-is. To receive the claimed shape yourself, use client.session.call_tool(..., allow_claimed=True).

On a 2026-07-28 connection, a call the server rejects with HEADER_MISMATCH (this client has not listed the tool, or its input schema changed since) is resent once after refetching the tool listing. A second rejection is raised, and so is the first when the listing cannot be refetched.

Parameters:

Name Type Description Default
name str

The name of the tool to call.

required
arguments dict[str, Any] | None

Arguments to pass to the tool.

None
read_timeout_seconds float | None

Timeout for each underlying tools/call round, and for the whole re-list after a HEADER_MISMATCH. Defaults to this client's read_timeout_seconds.

None
progress_callback ProgressFnT | None

Callback for progress updates.

None
input_responses InputResponses | None

Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when resuming from a persisted InputRequiredResult).

None
request_state str | None

Opaque state to seed the first call with.

None
meta RequestParamsMeta | None

Additional metadata for the request.

None

Returns:

Type Description
CallToolResult

The tool result.

Raises:

Type Description
InputRequiredRoundsExceededError

input_required_max_rounds exhausted.

MCPError

A callback returned ErrorData for an embedded input request.

ValidationError

The server returned a result that does not conform to the negotiated protocol version.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def call_tool(
    self,
    name: str,
    arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
    read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
    progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
    *,
    input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
    request_state: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
) -> CallToolResult:
    """Call a tool on the server.

    If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult`, the embedded input
    requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots
    callbacks and the call is retried automatically (up to
    `input_required_max_rounds`). To drive the loop yourself — e.g. to
    persist `request_state` across process restarts — use
    `client.session.call_tool(..., allow_input_required=True)`. Persisted
    state is still subject to the server's TTL, request binding, and key
    lifetime; a server on the default process-local key rejects it after a restart.

    Result shapes claimed by this client's `extensions` are finished by the
    owning claim's resolver, whose `CallToolResult` is returned; resolver
    exceptions propagate as-is. To receive the claimed shape yourself, use
    `client.session.call_tool(..., allow_claimed=True)`.

    On a 2026-07-28 connection, a call the server rejects with `HEADER_MISMATCH`
    (this client has not listed the tool, or its input schema changed since) is
    resent once after refetching the tool listing. A second rejection is raised,
    and so is the first when the listing cannot be refetched.

    Args:
        name: The name of the tool to call.
        arguments: Arguments to pass to the tool.
        read_timeout_seconds: Timeout for each underlying `tools/call` round, and
            for the whole re-list after a `HEADER_MISMATCH`. Defaults to this
            client's `read_timeout_seconds`.
        progress_callback: Callback for progress updates.
        input_responses: Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when
            resuming from a persisted `InputRequiredResult`).
        request_state: Opaque state to seed the first call with.
        meta: Additional metadata for the request.

    Returns:
        The tool result.

    Raises:
        InputRequiredRoundsExceededError: `input_required_max_rounds` exhausted.
        MCPError: A callback returned `ErrorData` for an embedded input request.
        pydantic.ValidationError: The server returned a result that does not
            conform to the negotiated protocol version.
    """

    async def send(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> CallToolResult | InputRequiredResult | Result:
        return await self.session.call_tool(
            name,
            arguments,
            read_timeout_seconds=read_timeout_seconds,
            progress_callback=progress_callback,
            input_responses=r,
            request_state=s,
            meta=meta,
            allow_input_required=True,
            # Input rounds resolve before a claimed result, so a claim may end any round.
            allow_claimed=True,
        )

    async def retry(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> CallToolResult | InputRequiredResult | Result:
        try:
            return await send(r, s)
        except MCPError as mismatch:
            if mismatch.code != HEADER_MISMATCH or self.protocol_version not in MODERN_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS:
                raise
            # The spec's recovery: the tool's listed schema is missing or stale, so re-list and resend once.
            timeout = read_timeout_seconds if read_timeout_seconds is not None else self.read_timeout_seconds
            try:
                with anyio.fail_after(timeout):
                    await self._relist_tool(name)
            except (MCPError, TimeoutError, ValidationError) as relist_error:
                raise mismatch from relist_error
            return await send(r, s)

    result = await self._drive_input_required(await retry(input_responses, request_state), retry)
    if isinstance(result, CallToolResult):
        return result
    # Only claimed shapes reach this point, so the lookup is total.
    claim = self._folded_extensions.by_model[type(result)]
    final = await claim.resolve(
        result,
        ClaimContext(session=self.session, tool_name=name, read_timeout_seconds=read_timeout_seconds),
    )
    if not final.is_error:
        # Match the direct path: revalidate the output schema, but never for isError results.
        await self.session.validate_tool_result(name, final)
    return final

list_prompts async

list_prompts(
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use"
) -> ListPromptsResult

List available prompts from the server.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def list_prompts(
    self,
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
) -> ListPromptsResult:
    """List available prompts from the server."""
    return await self._cached_fetch(
        "prompts/list",
        cursor=cursor,
        meta=meta,
        cache_mode=cache_mode,
        send=lambda: self.session.list_prompts(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
    )

get_prompt async

get_prompt(
    name: str,
    arguments: dict[str, str] | None = None,
    *,
    input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
    request_state: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None
) -> GetPromptResult

Get a prompt from the server.

If the server returns an InputRequiredResult, the embedded input requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots callbacks and the get is retried automatically (up to input_required_max_rounds).

Parameters:

Name Type Description Default
name str

The name of the prompt.

required
arguments dict[str, str] | None

Arguments to pass to the prompt.

None
input_responses InputResponses | None

Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when resuming from a persisted InputRequiredResult).

None
request_state str | None

Opaque state to seed the first call with.

None
meta RequestParamsMeta | None

Additional metadata for the request.

None

Returns:

Type Description
GetPromptResult

The prompt content.

Raises:

Type Description
InputRequiredRoundsExceededError

input_required_max_rounds exhausted.

MCPError

A callback returned ErrorData for an embedded input request.

ValidationError

The server returned a result that does not conform to the negotiated protocol version.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def get_prompt(
    self,
    name: str,
    arguments: dict[str, str] | None = None,
    *,
    input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
    request_state: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
) -> GetPromptResult:
    """Get a prompt from the server.

    If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult`, the embedded input
    requests are dispatched to this client's sampling / elicitation / roots
    callbacks and the get is retried automatically (up to
    `input_required_max_rounds`).

    Args:
        name: The name of the prompt.
        arguments: Arguments to pass to the prompt.
        input_responses: Responses to seed the first call with (e.g. when
            resuming from a persisted `InputRequiredResult`).
        request_state: Opaque state to seed the first call with.
        meta: Additional metadata for the request.

    Returns:
        The prompt content.

    Raises:
        InputRequiredRoundsExceededError: `input_required_max_rounds` exhausted.
        MCPError: A callback returned `ErrorData` for an embedded input request.
        pydantic.ValidationError: The server returned a result that does not
            conform to the negotiated protocol version.
    """

    async def retry(r: InputResponses | None, s: str | None) -> GetPromptResult | InputRequiredResult:
        return await self.session.get_prompt(
            name, arguments, input_responses=r, request_state=s, meta=meta, allow_input_required=True
        )

    return await self._drive_input_required(await retry(input_responses, request_state), retry)

complete async

complete(
    ref: ResourceTemplateReference | PromptReference,
    argument: dict[str, str],
    context_arguments: dict[str, str] | None = None,
) -> CompleteResult

Get completions for a prompt or resource template argument.

Parameters:

Name Type Description Default
ref ResourceTemplateReference | PromptReference

Reference to the prompt or resource template

required
argument dict[str, str]

The argument to complete

required
context_arguments dict[str, str] | None

Additional context arguments

None

Returns:

Type Description
CompleteResult

Completion suggestions.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def complete(
    self,
    ref: ResourceTemplateReference | PromptReference,
    argument: dict[str, str],
    context_arguments: dict[str, str] | None = None,
) -> CompleteResult:
    """Get completions for a prompt or resource template argument.

    Args:
        ref: Reference to the prompt or resource template
        argument: The argument to complete
        context_arguments: Additional context arguments

    Returns:
        Completion suggestions.
    """
    return await self.session.complete(ref=ref, argument=argument, context_arguments=context_arguments)

list_tools async

list_tools(
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use"
) -> ListToolsResult

List available tools from the server.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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async def list_tools(
    self,
    *,
    cursor: str | None = None,
    meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
    cache_mode: CacheMode = "use",
) -> ListToolsResult:
    """List available tools from the server."""
    return await self._cached_fetch(
        "tools/list",
        cursor=cursor,
        meta=meta,
        cache_mode=cache_mode,
        send=lambda: self.session.list_tools(params=PaginatedRequestParams(cursor=cursor, _meta=meta)),
        # A cache hit skips session.list_tools, so the session re-absorbs the served
        # listing to rebuild its derived per-tool state. Hits are cursorless, but a
        # cached page 1 can carry next_cursor - never prune on a partial listing.
        absorb=lambda hit: self.session._absorb_tool_listing(  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
            hit, complete=hit.next_cursor is None
        ),
    )

send_roots_list_changed async

send_roots_list_changed() -> None

Send a notification that the roots list has changed.

Source code in src/mcp/client/client.py
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@deprecated("The roots capability is deprecated as of 2026-07-28 (SEP-2577).", category=MCPDeprecationWarning)
async def send_roots_list_changed(self) -> None:
    """Send a notification that the roots list has changed."""
    await self.session.send_roots_list_changed()  # pyright: ignore[reportDeprecated]