notion_retrieve_block
Retrieve content from Notion blocks in JSON or Markdown format for reading or modification purposes using block IDs.
Instructions
Retrieve a block from Notion
Input Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| block_id | Yes | The ID of the block 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:51-58 (handler)The core handler function implementing the tool logic: makes a GET request to Notion API /blocks/{block_id} and returns the BlockResponse.async retrieveBlock(block_id: string): Promise<BlockResponse> { const response = await fetch(`${this.baseUrl}/blocks/${block_id}`, { method: "GET", headers: this.headers, }); return response.json(); }
- src/server/index.ts:66-74 (handler)Server-side dispatcher in CallToolRequest handler that validates arguments and calls the client retrieveBlock method.case "notion_retrieve_block": { const args = request.params .arguments as unknown as args.RetrieveBlockArgs; if (!args.block_id) { throw new Error("Missing required argument: block_id"); } response = await notionClient.retrieveBlock(args.block_id); break; }
- src/types/schemas.ts:43-57 (schema)Defines the tool schema including name, description, input parameters (block_id required), and format option for MCP tool registration.export const retrieveBlockTool: Tool = { name: "notion_retrieve_block", description: "Retrieve a block from Notion", inputSchema: { type: "object", properties: { block_id: { type: "string", description: "The ID of the block to retrieve." + commonIdDescription, }, format: formatParameter, }, required: ["block_id"], }, };
- src/server/index.ts:303-322 (registration)Registration of the tool in the ListToolsRequestHandler by including retrieveBlockTool in the allTools array returned by the server.const allTools = [ schemas.appendBlockChildrenTool, schemas.retrieveBlockTool, schemas.retrieveBlockChildrenTool, schemas.deleteBlockTool, schemas.updateBlockTool, 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, ];