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} endpoint

async 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_database

export 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 method

case "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_database
```
export 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 list

server.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),
  };
});

MCP Notion Server (@suncreation)