---
name: context7-docs
description: Fetch up-to-date library documentation and code examples using Context7
---

## When to use
Use when the user asks to:
- Look up library APIs (React, Next.js, Supabase, etc.)
- Get current code examples for a specific library version
- Find documentation for configuration or setup steps
- Resolve ambiguous API questions with authoritative sources
- Avoid outdated training data or hallucinated APIs

## Prerequisites
- `npx` must be available (Node.js)
- Internet connection (Context7 fetches latest docs)
- No API key needed for basic usage (public mode)

## Workflow

### 1. Find the library ID (if not known)
If the user mentions a library name (e.g., "React", "Supabase"), first resolve to Context7 library ID:

```bash
npx ctx7 library <library-name>
```

Example:
```bash
npx ctx7 library react
```

Output:
```
1. Title: React
   Context7-compatible library ID: /reactjs/react.dev
   ...
```

Pick the best match (usually highest benchmark score or official source).

### 2. Retrieve documentation
Use the library ID to fetch relevant docs:

```bash
npx ctx7 docs <library-id> --query "<user question>"
```

Example:
```bash
npx ctx7 docs /reactjs/react.dev --query "how to use useEffect with empty dependency array"
```

### 3. Present results
Context7 returns relevant code snippets and explanations. Structure the answer:
- Brief summary of the solution
- Code example(s) directly from docs
- Link to full docs if needed

## Library ID Shortcuts
Once you know the library ID, use it directly in prompts:

User: "How do I set up Next.js middleware? use context7"

You can parse "use context7" as a signal to call Context7 with:
- library: inferred or ask user
- query: the full question

## Common Libraries (pre-resolved)

| Library | Context7 ID |
|---------|-------------|
| React | /reactjs/react.dev or /websites/react_dev |
| Next.js | /vercel/next.js |
| Supabase | /supabase/supabase |
| Vue | /vuejs/core |
| Angular | /angular/core |
| Node.js | /nodejs/node |
| Express | /expressjs/express |
| FastAPI | /tiangolo/fastapi |
| Django | /django/django |
| PostgreSQL | /postgres/postgres |
| MongoDB | /mongodb/docs |

You can cache these mappings for faster lookup.

## Examples

<Good>
User: "Implement basic authentication with Supabase"
Assistant:
1. Resolve library: `npx ctx7 library supabase` → /supabase/supabase
2. Fetch docs: `npx ctx7 docs /supabase/supabase --query "basic email/password authentication"`
3. Return code example from Context7 output
</Good>

<Bad>
Skipping library resolution and guessing API from memory (may be outdated).
</Bad>

## Tips

- Always verify the returned code matches the user's version if specified (Context7 auto-detects version from query)
- If results are empty, try rephrasing the query or different library ID
- For version-specific questions, include version in query: "Next.js 14 middleware"
- Cache library IDs after first lookup to reduce API calls

## Error Handling

- **Library not found**: Try alternative names or check spelling
- **No docs returned**: Query might be too vague; break into smaller questions
- **Network error**: Retry once, then fall back to general knowledge (with disclaimer)

## Verification
- [ ] Library ID is correct (from `ctx7 library` output)
- [ ] Query clearly describes the needed information
- [ ] Returned code is complete and runnable
- [ ] Version matches user's context if specified

## Advanced: MCP Mode (Future)
If OpenClaw adds MCP client support, you can register Context7 MCP server:
```
https://mcp.context7.com/mcp
```
With header `CONTEXT7_API_KEY` if you have one. Then use `ctx7` tools directly without shell calls.