Tool Reference

GitLab MCP Server provides 44 tools across 18 entity types.

Architecture

Tools follow the CQRS pattern:

• browse_* — Read-only query operations
• manage_* — Write/command operations

Each tool accepts an action parameter selecting the specific operation.

Tool Categories

Core (Always Available)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_projects	Query	Find, browse, or inspect projects
manage_project	Command	Create, fork, update, delete, archive, transfer projects
browse_namespaces	Query	Explore groups and namespaces
manage_namespace	Command	Create, update, delete groups
browse_commits	Query	Explore commit history
browse_events	Query	Track activity feeds
browse_users	Query	Search users
browse_todos	Query	View todo notifications
manage_todos	Command	Mark todos done/restore
manage_context	Mixed	Manage session context

Iterations (USE_ITERATIONS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_iterations	Query	List and get group iterations (Premium)

Releases (USE_RELEASES=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_releases	Query	Browse project releases
manage_release	Command	Create/update releases

Refs (USE_REFS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_refs	Query	Browse branches and tags
manage_ref	Command	Create/protect branches and tags

Members (USE_MEMBERS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_members	Query	Browse team members
manage_member	Command	Add/remove team members

Search (USE_SEARCH=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_search	Query	Search across GitLab

Labels (USE_LABELS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_labels	Query	List and get labels
manage_label	Command	Create, update, delete labels

Merge Requests (USE_MRS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_merge_requests	Query	List, get, diffs, compare MRs
browse_mr_discussions	Query	List discussions and draft notes
manage_merge_request	Command	Create, update, merge MRs
manage_mr_discussion	Command	Comment, thread, reply, resolve
manage_draft_notes	Command	Create, publish, delete drafts

Files (USE_FILES=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_files	Query	Tree listing, file content, download attachments
manage_files	Command	Create, update, upload files

CI/CD Variables (USE_VARIABLES=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_variables	Query	List and get variables
manage_variable	Command	Create, update, delete variables

Work Items (USE_WORKITEMS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_work_items	Query	List and get issues/epics/tasks
manage_work_item	Command	Create, update, delete work items

Webhooks (USE_WEBHOOKS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_webhooks	Query	List project/group webhooks
manage_webhook	Command	Create, update, delete, test webhooks

Snippets (USE_SNIPPETS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_snippets	Query	List personal/project/public snippets
manage_snippet	Command	Create, update, delete snippets

Integrations (USE_INTEGRATIONS=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_integrations	Query	List active project integrations
manage_integration	Command	Update, disable integrations

Wiki (USE_GITLAB_WIKI=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_wiki	Query	List and get wiki pages
manage_wiki	Command	Create, update, delete wiki pages

Milestones (USE_MILESTONE=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_milestones	Query	List, get, issues, MRs, burndown
manage_milestone	Command	Create, update, delete, promote

Pipelines (USE_PIPELINE=true, default: enabled)

Tool	Type	Description
browse_pipelines	Query	List pipelines, jobs, logs
manage_pipeline	Command	Create, retry, cancel pipelines
manage_pipeline_job	Command	Play, retry, cancel jobs

Tools by Use-Case

For workflow-oriented documentation with examples:

• Code Review — MRs, diffs, discussions, suggestions
• CI/CD — Pipelines, jobs, logs, variables
• Project Management — Issues, milestones, labels, members
• Repository — Files, commits, branches, releases

Tool Comparison by Role

Which tools matter most for each role:

Tool	Developer	DevOps	Team Lead	PM
browse_merge_requests	★★★	★	★★★	★
manage_merge_request	★★★	★	★★★	—
manage_mr_discussion	★★★	—	★★★	—
browse_pipelines	★★	★★★	★	—
manage_pipeline	★	★★★	—	—
manage_pipeline_job	★	★★★	—	—
browse_variables	★	★★★	—	—
manage_variable	—	★★★	—	—
browse_files	★★★	★	★	—
manage_files	★★	★	—	—
browse_commits	★★	★	★	—
browse_work_items	★★	★	★★★	★★★
manage_work_item	★★	★	★★★	★★★
browse_milestones	★	—	★★★	★★★
manage_milestone	—	—	★★	★★★
browse_labels	★	—	★★	★★★
manage_label	—	—	★★	★★★
browse_members	★	★	★★★	★★
manage_member	—	★	★★★	—
browse_webhooks	—	★★★	★	—
manage_webhook	—	★★★	★	—
browse_integrations	—	★★★	★	—
browse_releases	★	★★	★	★★
manage_release	★	★★★	★	★★
browse_refs	★★	★★★	★	—
browse_search	★★	★	★★	★

★★★ = Primary tool  |  ★★ = Frequently used  |  ★ = Occasionally  |  — = Rarely needed

See role-based prompts for workflows tailored to each role.

Query vs Command Comparison

Category	Query (browse_*)	Command (manage_*)
Projects	browse_projects (search, list, get)	manage_project (create, fork, update, delete, archive, transfer)
Namespaces	browse_namespaces (list, get, verify)	manage_namespace (create, update, delete)
Merge Requests	browse_merge_requests (list, get, diffs, compare)	manage_merge_request (create, update, merge, approve)
Discussions	browse_mr_discussions (list, drafts, draft)	manage_mr_discussion (comment, thread, suggest, resolve)
Pipelines	browse_pipelines (list, get, jobs, logs)	manage_pipeline (create, retry, cancel)
Jobs	— (via browse_pipelines)	manage_pipeline_job (play, retry, cancel)
Variables	browse_variables (list, get)	manage_variable (create, update, delete)
Files	browse_files (tree, content, download_attachment)	manage_files (single, batch, upload)
Work Items	browse_work_items (list, get)	manage_work_item (create, update, delete)
Milestones	browse_milestones (list, get, issues, burndown)	manage_milestone (create, update, delete, promote)
Labels	browse_labels (list, get)	manage_label (create, update, delete)
Iterations	browse_iterations (list, get)	—
Releases	browse_releases (list, get, assets)	manage_release (create, update, delete, links)
Refs	browse_refs (branches, tags, protection)	manage_ref (create, delete, protect)
Members	browse_members (list, get)	manage_member (add, remove, update)
Webhooks	browse_webhooks (list, get)	manage_webhook (create, update, delete, test)
Integrations	browse_integrations (list, get)	manage_integration (update, disable)
Wiki	browse_wiki (list, get)	manage_wiki (create, update, delete)
Snippets	browse_snippets (list, get)	manage_snippet (create, update, delete)
Users	browse_users (search, get)	—
Todos	browse_todos (list)	manage_todos (done, done_all, restore)

Detailed Documentation

For complete parameter documentation, action matrices, and example requests, see the auto-generated Full API Reference.

Generate locally:

yarn list-tools --export --toc > docs/TOOLS.md