Best for
- Developers using fast-moving frameworks/libraries worried about the AI suggesting stale code
- Scenarios wanting zero-config documentation lookup
C
Context7
Official
Upstash's official server providing up-to-date third-party library docs for AI coding assistants
GitHub source repository ↗
80FMRS · B
Source and config reviewed
Officially maintained by Upstash; the tool design is minimal (just two read-only tools) and addresses a specific, common pain point — an AI assistant coding against stale API knowledge. Low install barrier, usable without an API key. This review is a static check of source and docs, not an actual call test.
Read the scoring and verification method →Officially maintained by Upstash, this MCP server addresses a common problem: an AI coding assistant's training data going stale, leading it to suggest outdated API usage. Two tools first resolve a library name into a Context7 library ID, then retrieve documentation for that library's current version — so the assistant references today's real API instead of what it memorized during training.
Tools
resolve-library-id
Resolve a general library name into a Context7-compatible library ID
query-docs
Retrieve up-to-date documentation for a library using its Context7 library ID
Setup
Start via `npx -y @upstash/context7-mcp` and use it immediately without an API key (subject to rate limits); apply for a CONTEXT7_API_KEY at context7.com for higher quota and set it as an env var. An MCPB one-click install bundle and a remote Streamable HTTP endpoint (`https://mcp.context7.com/mcp`) are also available as alternatives.
claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"context7": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"],
"env": {
"CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "<OPTIONAL_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}
Fit and risk
Not for
- Looking up internal/private codebase documentation (Context7 targets publicly published open-source libraries)
- Cases needing very high coverage of obscure, niche libraries (coverage depends on what Context7's platform has indexed)
Required permissions
- Usable without an API key (subject to a free-tier rate limit); CONTEXT7_API_KEY is an optional credential for higher quota
- Read-only documentation lookup — no code execution or local filesystem access involved
Risks and side effects
- The free tier has limited quota — high-frequency use may hit rate limits
- Documentation content comes from Context7's platform index, so its accuracy and freshness depend on that platform's crawl cadence
Troubleshooting
- Empty search results: verify the library name resolves correctly with resolve-library-id first
- Hitting rate limits: apply for a CONTEXT7_API_KEY for higher quota
- Remote endpoint connection fails: check network access to mcp.context7.com
Use cases
Have the AI assistant look up a library's current, correct usage while coding, avoiding deprecated APIs
Quickly get official documentation highlights for an unfamiliar third-party library
Verify during code review that an API call matches the library's latest recommended usage
Supported clients
Claude CodeFull support
VS CodeFull support
CursorFull support
ClineFull support
AmpFull support