# web-access

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.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 4
- Author: usestring
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/usestring/string-ai-mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-18
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/web-access

## What it 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.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Remote server: `https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp`
- Environment variables: `STRING_AI_API_KEY` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add web-access -e STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @usestring/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

2. **Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
claude mcp add --transport http web-access https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp
```

### Codex

1. **Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
codex mcp add web-access --url https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add web-access --env STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @usestring/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "web-access": {
            "url": "https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp"
        }
    }
}
```
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "web-access": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@usestring/mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "STRING_AI_API_KEY": "<STRING_AI_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "web-access": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp"
        }
    }
}
```
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
gemini mcp add -t http web-access https://mcp.usestring.ai/v1/mcp
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e STRING_AI_API_KEY=<STRING_AI_API_KEY> web-access npx -y @usestring/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- 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
- 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.

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