imap-mcp

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Server and account information

get_server_info

Read-onlyIdempotent

Check account and server capabilities when configuration issues cause failed calls. View mailbox, IMAP capabilities, stored flags, new-mail support, and enabled tool groups.

Instructions

Reports what this account and server can do: the configured mailbox, IMAP capabilities, which flags the mailbox stores permanently, whether the new-mail keyword can be used, and which tool groups are enabled. Start here when a call fails for reasons that sound like configuration.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
No arguments

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description
`tls`	Yes
`host`	Yes
`port`	Yes
`limits`	Yes
`mailbox`	Yes	The default this server selects.
`capabilities`	Yes
`can_send_mail`	Yes	This server cannot send mail at all, by design.
`permanent_flags`	Yes
`new_mail_tracking`	Yes
`write_tools_enabled`	Yes
`attachment_downloads`	Yes
`attachment_text_extraction`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.5.0Sep 8, 2026

changedInput schema / $schema

Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+  "additionalProperties": false,
+  "properties": {
+    "attachment_downloads": {
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "properties": {
+        "as_resource": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        },
+        "directory": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "max_bytes": {
+          "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+          "minimum": -9007199254740991,
+          "type": "integer"
+        },
+        "reason": {
+          "description": "Only when saving to disk is off.",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "to_disk": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        }
+      },
+      "required": [
+        "as_resource",
+        "to_disk"
+      ],
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "attachment_text_extraction": {
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "properties": {
+        "enabled": {
+          "const": true,
+          "type": "boolean"
+        },
+        "extractable_types": {
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "type": "array"
+        },
+        "max_bytes": {
+          "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+          "minimum": -9007199254740991,
+          "type": "integer"
+        }
+      },
+      "required": [
+        "enabled",
+        "max_bytes",
+        "extractable_types"
+      ],
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "can_send_mail": {
+      "const": false,
+      "description": "This server cannot send mail at all, by design.",
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "capabilities": {
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "host": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "limits": {
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "properties": {
+        "allowed_attachment_types": {
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "type": "array"
+        },
+        "default_message_limit": {
+          "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+          "minimum": -9007199254740991,
+          "type": "integer"
+        },
+        "max_inline_attachment_bytes": {
+          "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+          "minimum": -9007199254740991,
+          "type": "integer"
+        }
+      },
+      "required": [
+        "default_message_limit",
+        "max_inline_attachment_bytes",
+        "allowed_attachment_types"
+      ],
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "mailbox": {
+      "description": "The default this server selects.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "new_mail_tracking": {
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "properties": {
+        "enabled": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        },
+        "keyword": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "reason": {
+          "description": "Only when it is off.",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "storable": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        }
+      },
+      "required": [
+        "enabled"
+      ],
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "permanent_flags": {
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "port": {
+      "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+      "minimum": -9007199254740991,
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    "tls": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "write_tools_enabled": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "host",
+    "port",
+    "tls",
+    "mailbox",
+    "capabilities",
+    "permanent_flags",
+    "new_mail_tracking",
+    "write_tools_enabled",
+    "can_send_mail",
+    "attachment_downloads",
+    "attachment_text_extraction",
+    "limits"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedv0.2.0Aug 31, 2026

TDQS

A4.5/5.0

Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, and destructiveHint, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds meaningful behavioral context by stating it reports configured mailbox, IMAP capabilities, permanent flags, keyword support, and enabled tool groups, helping the agent understand it as a configuration-discovery operation.

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 compact sentences with no filler. The first states what the tool reports, and the second gives a practical usage trigger. Every sentence earns its place.

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?

For a no-parameter informational tool with an output schema and safety annotations, the description fully covers what the tool does, what it reports, and when to call it. No critical guidance is missing.

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

Parameters4/5

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

The tool has zero parameters and the schema coverage is 100%, so there is no parameter information for the description to add. The baseline of 4 applies, and the description appropriately focuses on output behavior rather than inputs.

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?

The description uses a specific verb ('Reports') and a clear resource ('what this account and server can do'), then enumerates the exact information categories returned. This distinguishes it from sibling mail-listing and retrieval tools, which operate on messages and mailboxes rather than server capabilities.

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 gives an explicit when-to-use signal: 'Start here when a call fails for reasons that sound like configuration.' It does not mention alternatives or when not to use it, but the diagnostic context is clear enough to guide selection among the sibling tools.

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

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