read_file — Filesystem MCP Tool Read-only

read_file (read file) is one of 11 tools on the Filesystem MCP server. Connect the server and your client discovers it on the handshake.

by client

How to call read_file from your client

Claude Code Filesystem read_file run in your project directory
Claude Desktop Filesystem read_file ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Cursor Filesystem read_file ~/.cursor/mcp.json
VS Code Filesystem read_file .vscode/mcp.json
Zed Filesystem read_file ~/.config/zed/settings.json
Windsurf Filesystem read_file ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

Fastest route

claude mcp add server-filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem

Other tools on this server

read_multiple_files
write_file
edit_file
create_directory
list_directory
directory_tree
move_file
search_files
get_file_info
list_allowed_directories

Mutating and Read-only are read off each tool's name, not its schema — a hint, not a guarantee. The registry stores tool names only; connect the server for its live schemas.

Filesystem MCP server