arXiv MCP Server
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tasks | {
"list": {},
"cancel": {},
"requests": {
"tools": {
"call": {}
},
"prompts": {
"get": {}
},
"resources": {
"read": {}
}
}
} |
| tools | {
"listChanged": true
} |
| prompts | {
"listChanged": false
} |
| resources | {
"subscribe": false,
"listChanged": false
} |
| experimental | {} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| search_papersA | Search arXiv papers with advanced query syntax. Query supports field prefixes:
Boolean operators: AND, OR, ANDNOT Examples:
|
| get_paperA | Get detailed information about a specific arXiv paper. Returns complete metadata including abstract, authors, categories, and more. Optionally downloads the PDF to local storage. Accepts flexible ID formats:
|
| download_paperA | Download PDF for a specific arXiv paper. Downloads the PDF to the local download directory (./.arxiv by default). Returns the local file path upon success. |
| list_downloaded_papersB | List all PDFs that have been downloaded to local storage. Returns a list of downloaded papers with file information. |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| search_arxiv_prompt | Prompt template for searching arXiv papers. |
| download_paper_prompt | Prompt template for downloading papers. |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| get_downloads_resource | Get list of downloaded papers as a resource. Returns markdown-formatted list of all locally downloaded papers. |
TDQS
Scored across 4 tools
Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose with no overlap: download_paper handles PDF retrieval, get_paper provides metadata, list_downloaded_papers manages local storage, and search_papers performs queries. The descriptions reinforce these boundaries, making tool selection unambiguous for an agent.
All tool names follow a consistent verb_noun pattern (download_paper, get_paper, list_downloaded_papers, search_papers) with clear, descriptive verbs. There are no deviations in style or convention, making the naming predictable and easy to understand.
With 4 tools, the server is well-scoped for arXiv paper management, covering core operations like search, metadata retrieval, and PDF handling. It feels slightly lean but reasonable, as it includes essential functions without unnecessary bloat, though additional tools for updates or deletions might enhance coverage.
The tool set covers key arXiv workflows: searching, getting metadata, downloading, and listing downloaded papers. Minor gaps exist, such as no explicit update or delete operations for local files, but agents can work around this. The surface is largely complete for the domain of paper discovery and access.