# Notion Access Methods - Complete Audit
**Date:** 2024-12-27
**Purpose:** Document all available methods to access Notion
## 1. Notion REST API (Official)
### Access Method
- **Type:** REST API
- **Base URL:** `https://api.notion.com/v1/`
- **Authentication:** Bearer token (Internal Integration Secret)
- **Token Location:** 1Password (`op://AI/Alice Notion API/credential`)
- **Token:** Stored in 1Password, retrieved via `op read` command
- **Status:** ✅ Active and verified
### Available Endpoints
#### Core Resources
- `GET /users/me` - Get current user info ✅ Verified
- `GET /users/{user_id}` - Get user by ID
- `POST /search` - Search pages and databases ✅ Verified (100+ results)
- `GET /databases/{database_id}` - Get database ✅ Verified
- `POST /databases/{database_id}/query` - Query database ✅ Verified
- `POST /pages` - Create page ✅ Verified
- `GET /pages/{page_id}` - Get page
- `PATCH /pages/{page_id}` - Update page
- `GET /blocks/{block_id}` - Get block
- `PATCH /blocks/{block_id}` - Update block
- `DELETE /blocks/{block_id}` - Delete block
- `GET /blocks/{block_id}/children` - Get block children
- `POST /blocks/{block_id}/children` - Append block children
#### Comments
- `GET /comments` - List comments
- `POST /comments` - Create comment
#### Users
- `GET /users` - List users
### Capabilities
- ✅ Read pages, databases, blocks
- ✅ Create pages, blocks
- ✅ Update pages, blocks, databases
- ✅ Delete blocks
- ✅ Query databases
- ✅ Search across workspace
- ✅ Manage comments
- ❌ **NOT Available:** Notion AI (not an API endpoint)
### Documentation
- Official: https://developers.notion.com/reference
---
## 2. Notion MCP Server (Server-Sent Events)
### Access Method
- **Type:** SSE (Server-Sent Events)
- **URL:** `https://mcp.notion.com/mcp`
- **Authentication:** Bearer token in headers
- **Config Location:** Claude Desktop config
- **Status:** ✅ Active in Claude Desktop
### Configuration
```json
"notion": {
"type": "sse",
"url": "https://mcp.notion.com/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer {{op://AI/Alice Notion API/credential}}"
},
"description": "Official Notion MCP server for direct database access"
}
```
### Expected Capabilities
Based on MCP protocol and Notion MCP server:
- Database operations (query, create, update)
- Page operations (read, create, update)
- Block operations
- Search functionality
- Potentially more AI-friendly operations than REST API
### Documentation
- MCP Protocol: https://modelcontextprotocol.io
- Notion MCP: https://developers.notion.com/docs/mcp
**Note:** Specific tools available through MCP server need to be verified by inspecting MCP server capabilities.
---
## 3. Notion AI (NOT Available via API)
### Access Method
- **Type:** UI Feature (NOT API)
- **Location:** Inside Notion application
- **Activation:** Cmd/Ctrl + J or "Ask AI" button
- **Status:** ❌ **NOT accessible programmatically**
### Why Not Available
- Notion AI is a UI feature, not an API endpoint
- Runs inside Notion application
- Requires user interaction
- No programmatic access available
### Workaround
- Use Notion API to create/update content
- Use Notion MCP server for AI-friendly operations
- Cannot directly invoke Notion AI
---
## 4. Third-Party Libraries
### Python
- `notion-client` - Official Python client
- `notion-py` - Unofficial Python library
### TypeScript/JavaScript
- `@notionhq/client` - Official TypeScript client
- Various community libraries
### Other Languages
- Go: `github.com/kjk/notionapi`
- R: `notionapi` package
- Ruby: `notion-ruby-client`
---
## 5. GitHub Integrations
### Notion-GitHub Integration
- **Type:** Official Notion integration
- **Purpose:** Sync GitHub PRs and issues to Notion
- **Access:** Via Notion UI, not programmatic API
---
## Summary of Available Methods
| Method | Type | Access | Status | Capabilities |
|--------|------|--------|--------|--------------|
| **Notion REST API** | REST | ✅ Direct | ✅ Active | CRUD operations, search, query |
| **Notion MCP Server** | SSE | ✅ Via Claude Desktop | ✅ Active | MCP tools (needs verification) |
| **Notion AI** | UI Feature | ❌ Not available | ❌ N/A | Requires manual use in Notion |
| **Third-party Libraries** | Wrappers | ✅ Via code | ⚠️ Optional | Depends on library |
## Current Access Status
### ✅ Available Now
1. **Notion REST API** - Full access via curl/HTTP requests
- Verified: Search endpoint works (100+ results)
- Verified: User info accessible
- Verified: Database query works
- Verified: Page creation works
2. **Notion MCP Server** - Available via Claude Desktop MCP integration
- Status: Configured and active
- Tools: Need to verify specific MCP tools available
### ❌ Not Available
1. **Notion AI** - UI-only feature, no API access
## Recommendations
For updating Notion database:
1. **Use Notion REST API** - Direct, reliable, full control ✅ Currently used
2. **Use Notion MCP Server** - If available tools provide needed functionality (needs verification)
3. **Cannot use Notion AI** - Not accessible programmatically ❌
## Verification Results
- ✅ Notion REST API: Fully functional
- ✅ Notion MCP Server: Configured in Claude Desktop
- ❌ Notion AI: Not accessible via API