search_symbols

[symbols]

Searches symbol index by name pattern (* and ? wildcards). Full-featured: namespace/accessibility filters, sorting, paging. Use for exploration or filtered/sorted results. Returns stable symbolKeys.

Try it locally in the Glider playground

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
query	string	Yes	Search pattern. Supports '*' and '?', or plain text for substring match.
kinds	string	No	Optional kinds filter (comma-separated). Type, Class, Interface, Struct, Enum, Delegate, Method, Property, Field, Event, Namespace. Type means any named type; the rest match the kind a result reports.
namespaceFilter	string	No	Optional namespace prefix filter (e.g., 'MyApp.Services').
projectName	string	No	Optional project name filter.
sourceOnly	boolean	No	Only search symbols with source in solution (excludes external assemblies/packages). Default is true. Default: `true`
accessibility	string	No	Filter by accessibility: 'Public', 'Internal', 'Private', 'Protected', 'ProtectedOrInternal', 'ProtectedAndInternal'.
pathStyle	string	No	Path style: 'absolute' (default) or 'relative' (to solution root). Default: `"absolute"`
sortBy	string	No	Optional sort: 'name', 'kind', 'filePath', 'projectName', 'namespace'.
sortOrder	string	No	Sort order: 'asc' (default) or 'desc'. Default: `"asc"`
skip	number	No	Pagination offset. Default is 0. Default: `0`
take	number	No	Pagination size. Default is 200. Default: `200`
responseDetail	string	No	compact returns results and actionable state. full adds diagnostic metadata under responseDiagnostics. Default: `"compact"`

Examples

Replace sample paths and symbol keys with values from your workspace.

Search for service types

Arguments 
{
  "query": "*Service",
  "kinds": "Type"
}

Full MCP request

Full MCP request 
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "search_symbols",
    "arguments": {
      "query": "*Service",
      "kinds": "Type"
    }
  }
}

Illustrative response 
{
  "success": true,
  "paging": {
    "total": 2
  },
  "matches": [
    {
      "name": "UserService",
      "fullName": "MyApp.Services.UserService",
      "kind": "Type",
      "namespace": "MyApp.Services",
      "filePath": "/path/to/UserService.cs",
      "lineNumber": 12,
      "symbolKey": "...",
      "projectName": "MyApp",
      "accessibility": "Public"
    }
  ]
}

Search methods containing "Login"

Arguments 
{
  "query": "*Login*",
  "kinds": "Method"
}

Full MCP request

Full MCP request 
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "search_symbols",
    "arguments": {
      "query": "*Login*",
      "kinds": "Method"
    }
  }
}

Search public types only

Arguments 
{
  "query": "*Manager",
  "kinds": "Type",
  "accessibility": "Public"
}

Full MCP request

Full MCP request 
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "search_symbols",
    "arguments": {
      "query": "*Manager",
      "kinds": "Type",
      "accessibility": "Public"
    }
  }
}

Include external assemblies

Arguments 
{
  "query": "Task",
  "kinds": "Type",
  "sourceOnly": false
}

Full MCP request

Full MCP request 
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "search_symbols",
    "arguments": {
      "query": "Task",
      "kinds": "Type",
      "sourceOnly": false
    }
  }
}

Response Notes

Returns matching symbols with paging and opaque symbol keys. The server response limit also bounds the page. paging.truncatedForSize reports a page cut short to fit. Continue from paging.nextSkip to retain all results. Zero matches are a valid empty answer, with success=true and paging.total 0. Source-only searches stay source-only, including empty results. Set sourceOnly=false to search referenced assemblies explicitly. Retain the query and applicable filters. The equivalent find_code call uses intent=symbol and scope.includeExternal=true. scope.mode is required: use solution, or project with projectName. Use direct search_symbols to retain namespace and accessibility filters. Empty pages provide guidance without requiring a returned symbolKey. Results use top-level fields with success. Compact is the default; full adds responseDiagnostics. Both modes retain errors, coverage, partial state, and recovery advice.