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Read Note

read_note

Read-onlyIdempotent

Read a note's full content, including outlinks, backlinks, tags, and frontmatter. Optionally fetch a specific section under a heading.

Instructions

Read a note's full content plus its graph context header (outlinks, backlinks, tags, frontmatter). Optionally read just one heading's section.

Tool call template

Replace each placeholder with a value matching the input schema. Only required parameters are included; add optional parameters as needed.

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "arguments": {
      "path": "<path>"
    },
    "name": "read_note"
  }
}

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`path`	Yes	Note path, title, or alias.
`limit`	No	Maximum lines to return (default 500).
`offset`	No	Zero-based line offset within the selected content.
`heading`	No	Only return the section under this heading.

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`path`	No
`tags`	No
`error`	No
`title`	No
`content`	No
`heading`	No
`warning`	No
`outlinks`	No
`backlinks`	No
`pagination`	No
`frontmatter`	No

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.6.0Jul 27, 2026

addedOutput schema / properties / error
```
Added value: +{
+  "type": "string"
+}
```

removedOutput schema / required

Removed value: -[
-  "path",
-  "title",
-  "content",
-  "frontmatter",
-  "outlinks",
-  "backlinks",
-  "tags",
-  "pagination"
-]

First observedv0.1.0Jul 24, 2026

TDQS

A4.3/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnly and idempotent hints. The description adds value by specifying the exact returned content (full content + graph context header) and optional heading filtering, which goes beyond the annotation hints.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences, no wasted words. The main behavior is front-loaded, and the optional feature is clearly stated. Perfectly concise.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the output schema exists to document return values, the description completes the context by explaining what data is returned (content + graph context) and the optional heading filter. All parameters are covered in schema, so no gaps remain.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100% with detailed parameter descriptions. The description reiterates the optional heading feature but does not add new semantic meaning beyond what the schema provides, achieving the baseline score.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Description clearly states the tool reads a note's full content along with graph context (outlinks, backlinks, tags, frontmatter) and optionally a specific heading section. This distinguishes it from siblings like 'get_backlinks' which only returns backlinks.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage: use when you need note content and graph context, or just a heading section. However, it does not explicitly state when not to use this tool or name specific alternatives, leaving a minor gap.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.