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MCP Server#

Requires PHP Tools version 1.74 or later.

Available in VS Code-based editors that support the contributes.mcpServerDefinitionProviders extension point, including VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and Trae.

The PHP extension includes a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. It exposes tools, skills, and context that compatible AI agents can use to access workspace-aware information from PHP Tools.

MCP Tools#

MCP tools give compatible AI agents access to semantic information about your open workspace. This can help them answer PHP-related questions with more relevant context and reduce the need to search through files manually.

Exposed tools include:

  • php_search_symbol_at — returns information about the PHP symbol at a given position in a file (file path plus line and column).
  • php_get_file_problems — returns code validation problems (diagnostics) for a given file.

See MCP Tools List for the complete list.

MCP Settings#

The integrated PHP MCP server is configured with the following settings:

  • php.mcp.enable — enables or disables the MCP server. True by default.
  • php.mcp.serverPort — optional: Overriding this setting only makes sense, if you want to connect the built-in MCP server to another AI agent outside the VSCode's Copilot.
    The value is TCP port that the MCP server listens on. If set explicitly, it should be unique for every workspace opened at the same time (for example 58372). By default it is 0 which means the server choses the port automatically.

Call Tools without confirmation#

Open Command Palette (F1), and search for Chat: Manage Tool Approval:

MCP Tool Approval Command

  • Untick the "Folder" button, so it applies for all your workpaces.
  • Tick Run any tool without approval; so agents can run the tool to get extended information and tools for your projects without you confirming every action.

MCP Tool Approval