semantic_query

[semantic]

Finds symbols by semantic predicates (kinds, name patterns, modifiers, parameter/return types, and attributes). Useful for queries like “async methods without CancellationToken”.

Try it locally in the Glider playground

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
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.
namePattern	string	No	Optional name pattern (wildcards '*' and '?' supported).
modifiers	string	No	Optional modifiers (comma-separated): 'async,static,virtual,abstract'.
mustHaveParameterType	string	No	Optional required parameter types (comma-separated). Methods only.
mustNotHaveParameterType	string	No	Optional excluded parameter types (comma-separated). Methods only.
mustHaveAttribute	string	No	Optional required attributes (comma-separated).
mustNotHaveAttribute	string	No	Optional excluded attributes (comma-separated).
returnType	string	No	Optional return type patterns (comma-separated). Methods only.
scope	json	No	Optional scope. Omit scope to search the solution. When supplied, set mode to solution, project, document, or pathPrefix. project requires projectName. document requires filePath. pathPrefix requires pathPrefix. Paths can be absolute or relative to solutionRoot. Set includeExternal to true when the tool supports external symbols.
skip	number	No	Pagination offset. Default is 0. Default: `0`
take	number	No	Pagination size. Default is 200. Default: `200`
pathStyle	string	No	Path style: 'absolute' (default) or 'relative' (to solution root). Default: `"absolute"`
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.

Find async methods missing CancellationToken

Arguments 
{
  "kinds": "Method",
  "modifiers": "async",
  "mustNotHaveParameterType": "CancellationToken"
}

Full MCP request

Full MCP request 
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "semantic_query",
    "arguments": {
      "kinds": "Method",
      "modifiers": "async",
      "mustNotHaveParameterType": "CancellationToken"
    }
  }
}

Illustrative response 
{
  "success": true,
  "matchCount": 1,
  "paging": {
    "total": 1
  },
  "matches": [
    {
      "name": "SaveAsync",
      "fullName": "MyApp.Data.UserRepository.SaveAsync(User user)",
      "kind": "Method",
      "symbolKey": "...",
      "filePath": "/path/to/UserRepository.cs",
      "lineNumber": 88,
      "projectName": "MyProject"
    }
  ]
}

Response Notes

Returns matching symbols (with paging) including symbol keys Results use top-level fields with success. Compact is the default; full adds responseDiagnostics. Both modes retain errors, coverage, partial state, and recovery advice.