web-access — Claude Code MCP server: features and setup
This MCP server gives agents tools to search the web, retrieve URLs, and send requests. Use it when a coding agent needs web content in Markdown.
claude mcp add web-access -e STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @usestring/mcpWhat web-access does
web-access provides tools for web search, URL retrieval, and POST, PUT, or PATCH requests. Search results can come back as JSON or as Google's HTML results page. The web_access_fetch tool returns page content in Markdown, while web_access_sitemap builds a site's URL map.
Site crawling runs asynchronously. The server first estimates the cost and page count; you then approve the job and check its progress. Crawling and billing start only after approval, but pages already fetched remain billable if you cancel. Local use requires the STRING_AI_API_KEY environment variable, so configure an API key before starting the server.
What it helps with
- Find web pages for a search query
- Retrieve a URL as Markdown
- Send a POST, PUT, or PATCH request to a URL
- Map a site's URLs after reviewing the crawl estimate
Example prompts for the agent
- Search the web for MCP server setup guides and summarize the results.
- Fetch this URL and return the page as Markdown.
- Prepare a sitemap crawl, show me the estimate, and wait for my approval.
How to install web-access
1Platform CLI
claude mcp add web-access -e STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @usestring/mcpReplace <…> with your own values
2Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http web-access https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp1Platform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add web-access --url https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp2Platform CLI
codex mcp add web-access --env STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @usestring/mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"web-access": {
"url": "https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp"
}
}
}{
"mcpServers": {
"web-access": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@usestring/mcp"
],
"env": {
"STRING_AI_API_KEY": "<STRING_AI_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"web-access": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp"
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"web-access": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@usestring/mcp"
],
"env": {
"STRING_AI_API_KEY": "<STRING_AI_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
1Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http web-access https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp2Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> web-access npx -y @usestring/mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about web-access
How do I install web-access in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add web-access -e STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @usestring/mcp.
What does web-access do?
It adds tools for web search, URL retrieval, HTTP requests, and site crawls that return discovered URLs.
Does web-access require an API key?
Local use requires STRING_AI_API_KEY. A sitemap crawl also needs your approval after the server provides a cost estimate.
