read_symbol
Read the source of a single function, class, method, variable, or config key without opening the whole file; choose full, interface, or signature depth for targeted inspection.
Instructions
Return the source of one symbol (function, class, method, variable) or
the value of a config key, without reading the whole file. Read-only.
"full" is the text replace_function and delete_symbol take: decorators,
a JS/TS export, a C++ template <...> header and code that only
wraps the symbol (a Go type, a closure's key, a C typedef)
included, a C/C++ class ending with its ;. It starts at the symbol's
first byte, the later lines at their file indentation. "interface"
gives a class's header, fields and method signatures (bodies as
...), indented as in the class, or a function's signature;
"signature" the signature or class header alone, after decorators.
Both refuse a variable, constant, field, type alias or macro, saying
what it is. A name with a prototype or forward declaration reads as
its definition.
Use this when: reading one symbol; pick the narrowest depth. Don't use this when: you need the file's outline (list_symbols) or its imports (read_imports).
Example: target="LRUCache", depth="interface"
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": {
"file_path": "<file_path>",
"target": "<target>"
},
"name": "read_symbol"
}
}Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| depth | No | 'full' (default) the whole symbol; 'interface' a class skeleton or function signature; 'signature' the signature or class header. Config files take only 'full'. Other values are refused. | full |
| target | Yes | Symbol name as list_symbols lists it, dotted for nesting ('LRUCache.get', 'A.m(int)'), or a config key path from the top level ('project.version'; quote a key with dots, '"editor.fontSize"'). | |
| file_path | Yes | Absolute path to the source or config file. |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |