notion_retrieve_database
Retrieve Notion database content in JSON or Markdown format to read, analyze, or modify workspace data through the MCP Notion Server.
Instructions
Retrieve a database in Notion
Input Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| database_id | Yes | The ID of the database to retrieve.It should be a 32-character string (excluding hyphens) formatted as 8-4-4-4-12 with hyphens (-). | |
| format | No | Specify the response format. 'json' returns the original data structure, 'markdown' returns a more readable format. Use 'markdown' when the user only needs to read the page and isn't planning to write or modify it. Use 'json' when the user needs to read the page with the intention of writing to or modifying it. | markdown |
Implementation Reference
- src/client/index.ts:238-245 (handler)The retrieveDatabase method in NotionClientWrapper that makes the actual API call to Notion's /databases/{database_id} endpointasync retrieveDatabase(database_id: string): Promise<DatabaseResponse> { const response = await fetch(`${this.baseUrl}/databases/${database_id}`, { method: "GET", headers: this.headers, }); return response.json(); }
- src/types/schemas.ts:323-338 (schema)The tool schema definition that defines the tool name, description, and input validation for notion_retrieve_databaseexport const retrieveDatabaseTool: Tool = { name: "notion_retrieve_database", description: "Retrieve a database in Notion", inputSchema: { type: "object", properties: { database_id: { type: "string", description: "The ID of the database to retrieve." + commonIdDescription, }, format: formatParameter, }, required: ["database_id"], }, };
- src/server/index.ts:205-210 (registration)The switch case handler that routes notion_retrieve_database requests to the NotionClientWrapper.retrieveDatabase methodcase "notion_retrieve_database": { const args = request.params .arguments as unknown as args.RetrieveDatabaseArgs; response = await notionClient.retrieveDatabase(args.database_id); break; }
- src/types/args.ts:100-103 (schema)TypeScript interface defining the arguments for notion_retrieve_databaseexport interface RetrieveDatabaseArgs { database_id: string; format?: "json" | "markdown"; }
- src/server/index.ts:317-342 (registration)The ListToolsRequestSchema handler that registers retrieveDatabaseTool in the available tools listserver.setRequestHandler(ListToolsRequestSchema, async () => { const allTools = [ schemas.appendBlockChildrenTool, schemas.retrieveBlockTool, schemas.retrieveBlockChildrenTool, schemas.deleteBlockTool, schemas.updateBlockTool, schemas.createPageTool, schemas.retrievePageTool, schemas.updatePagePropertiesTool, schemas.listAllUsersTool, schemas.retrieveUserTool, schemas.retrieveBotUserTool, schemas.createDatabaseTool, schemas.queryDatabaseTool, schemas.retrieveDatabaseTool, schemas.updateDatabaseTool, schemas.createDatabaseItemTool, schemas.createCommentTool, schemas.retrieveCommentsTool, schemas.searchTool, ]; return { tools: filterTools(allTools, enabledToolsSet), }; });