# `list_material_sources` tool

Lists the datasets this server can query, with their ids, descriptions and whether access to them is restricted. It needs no grant, so every signed-in account can call it. It is not charged against the daily allowance.

**At a glance**

| Item | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tool | `list_material_sources` |
| Title | List material sources |
| Group | [Orient yourself](https://www.chemiadiscovery.com/docs/mcp/tools/#what-is-in-the-group-orient-yourself) |
| Needs one of | none (open to every signed-in account) |
| Charged | No |
| Read-only | Yes |
| Parameters | none |
| Data as of | 2026-10-04 |
| Server release | 1.5.0, read from the live server on 2026-10-04 |

## What parameters does list_material_sources take?

`list_material_sources` takes no parameters.

## Which grants does list_material_sources need, and is it charged?

- **Grants:** none (open to every signed-in account).
- **Charged:** no, it never uses the daily allowance (as of 2026-10-04).

Grants and the allowance are explained in [Access, grants and limits](https://www.chemiadiscovery.com/docs/mcp/access/).

**Annotations the server sets on `list_material_sources`**

| Annotation | Value | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `openWorldHint` | false | If true, the tool may interact with an open world of external entities. |
| `readOnlyHint` | true | If true, the tool does not modify its environment. |

## What does a call to list_material_sources look like?

No arguments.

```json Example arguments for list_material_sources
{}
```

These arguments validate against the tool's input schema, checked when the snapshot was taken on 2026-10-04. They show the shape of a call; they are not a recorded response. [Examples](https://www.chemiadiscovery.com/docs/mcp/examples/) says where worked examples stand.

## How should I read list_material_sources results?

- **Convention.** `restricted` means reading the dataset needs the professional_database grant. `is_default` marks the dataset a search would use for you when neither a source_id nor the query text names one, so it can differ between accounts. `specialized` marks a slice of the full catalogue chosen by application.

A Convention is a field or behaviour whose meaning is not obvious, a Trap looks right and is not, and a Gap is something we do not hold or do not check. [Reading results](https://www.chemiadiscovery.com/docs/mcp/reading-results/) explains the classes.

## How does the server describe list_material_sources?

This is the server's own description, which a client passes to the model, lightly normalised for display.

List the material datasets this server can query, with their ids, descriptions, and whether they are access-restricted.

## Which tools are related to list_material_sources?

list_material_sources is in the group "Orient yourself". The other tools in it:

- `list_capabilities`: Lists what this server and the wider Chemia platform can do, grouped by category.

The [Tool reference](https://www.chemiadiscovery.com/docs/mcp/tools/) lists every tool.

---

Canonical page: https://www.chemiadiscovery.com/docs/mcp/tools/list_material_sources/

Data as of 2026-10-04. Server release 1.5.0, read from the live server on 2026-10-04.

Tool reference as JSON: https://www.chemiadiscovery.com/docs/mcp/tools.json

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