What is Context7 CLI used for?

Context7 CLI is used to fetch up-to-date library documentation, manage AI coding skills, and set up Context7 MCP for your coding environment.

How do I install Context7 CLI?

You can install Context7 CLI globally using npm with the command `npm install -g ctx7@latest`, or you can run it directly using `npx ctx7@latest ` without installation.

What commands can I use with Context7 CLI?

You can use commands to fetch documentation, install or manage skills, and configure Context7 MCP. For example, `ctx7 docs ` fetches documentation for a specific library.

Do I need to log in to use all features of Context7 CLI?

Most commands do not require login, but generating custom skills and some setup functions do require authentication for higher rate limits.

What are common mistakes when using Context7 CLI?

Common mistakes include not using the required `/` prefix for library IDs and failing to run `ctx7 library` before fetching documentation.

Context7 CLI

Name: Context7 CLI
Availability: InStock
Author: upstash

Free

Manage AI coding skills and fetch library documentation effortlessly.

by upstash60.6k stars on upstash/context7

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Updated Aug 10, 2026

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Free · Opens the source repo

What Context7 CLI does

The Context7 CLI is a command-line interface designed to streamline the management of AI coding skills and access library documentation. It serves as a versatile tool for developers and designers who need quick access to up-to-date information while coding. With the ctx7 CLI, you can easily fetch documentation for any library, ensuring that you are always working with the most current API signatures and usage examples. This is particularly useful when working on projects that rely on external libraries, as it helps to avoid outdated references that can lead to errors.

In addition to documentation retrieval, the ctx7 CLI offers robust skills management capabilities. Users can install, search for, suggest, list, and remove AI coding skills directly from the command line. This feature simplifies the process of enhancing your coding environment with new functionalities tailored to your specific needs. For those looking to create custom skills, the CLI provides a generation feature, although this requires user authentication for access.

Setting up Context7 MCP (Multi-Channel Platform) is another critical function of the ctx7 CLI. This setup is essential for integrating your coding agent with the Context7 ecosystem, allowing for a more cohesive development experience. The CLI guides users through the setup process interactively, making it accessible even for those who may not be familiar with command-line tools.

Overall, the Context7 CLI is an invaluable asset for developers and designers who want to optimize their coding workflow by managing skills and accessing documentation efficiently. Its straightforward commands and interactive setup process make it a practical choice for anyone looking to enhance their coding capabilities.

When to use it

Use the Context7 CLI when you need to quickly access library documentation or manage AI coding skills from the command line.

When not to use it

This CLI may not be suitable for users who prefer GUI-based tools or those who do not require frequent updates to library documentation.

What you can build with it

Fetching Library Documentation

Use the ctx7 CLI to quickly retrieve the latest documentation for libraries you are using in your project.

Managing AI Coding Skills

Easily install, list, or remove AI coding skills to enhance your development environment with ctx7 commands.

Setting Up Context7 MCP

Configure Context7 MCP interactively to integrate your coding agent with the Context7 ecosystem.

How to install Context7 CLI

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add upstash/context7/context7-cli --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by upstash

ctx7 CLI

The Context7 CLI does three things: fetches up-to-date library documentation, manages AI coding skills, and sets up Context7 MCP for your editor.

Make sure the CLI is up to date before running commands:

npm install -g ctx7@latest

Or run directly without installing:

npx ctx7@latest <command>

What this skill covers

Documentation — Fetch current docs for any library. Use when writing code, verifying API signatures, or when training data may be outdated.
Skills management — Install, search, suggest, list, remove, and generate AI coding skills.
Setup — Configure Context7 MCP for Claude Code / Cursor / OpenCode.

Quick Reference

# Documentation
ctx7 library <name> <query>           # Step 1: resolve library ID
ctx7 docs <libraryId> <query>         # Step 2: fetch docs

# Skills
ctx7 skills install /owner/repo       # Install from a repo (interactive)
ctx7 skills install /owner/repo name  # Install a specific skill
ctx7 skills search <keywords>         # Search the registry
ctx7 skills suggest                   # Auto-suggest based on project deps
ctx7 skills list                      # List installed skills
ctx7 skills remove <name>             # Uninstall a skill
ctx7 skills generate                  # Generate a custom skill with AI (requires login)

# Setup
ctx7 setup                            # Configure Context7 MCP (interactive)
ctx7 login                            # Log in for higher rate limits + skill generation
ctx7 whoami                           # Check current login status

Authentication

ctx7 login               # Opens browser for OAuth
ctx7 login --no-browser  # Prints URL instead of opening browser
ctx7 logout              # Clear stored tokens
ctx7 whoami              # Show current login status (name + email)

Most commands work without login. Exceptions: skills generate always requires it; ctx7 setup requires it unless --api-key or --oauth is passed. Login also unlocks higher rate limits on docs commands.

Set an API key via environment variable to skip interactive login entirely:

export CONTEXT7_API_KEY=your_key

Common Mistakes

Library IDs require a / prefix — /facebook/react not facebook/react
Always run ctx7 library first — ctx7 docs react "hooks" will fail without a valid ID
Repository format for skills is /owner/repo — e.g., ctx7 skills install /anthropics/skills
skills generate requires login — run ctx7 login first

Frequently asked questions about Context7 CLI

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