Standalone MCP Server for Perplexity AI. Exposes Perplexity AI functionality via the Model Context Protocol for use with Claude Desktop, Cline, or any other MCP-compatible client.
The server defines 2 tools with good parameter schemas and reasonable descriptions. Tool names follow verb_noun convention (query_*, search_*). Both tools have input schemas with proper types and constraints. However, descriptions lack depth about when to use each tool vs. the other, parameter descriptions are minimal, and there is no documented output schema. Error handling returns text-wrapped errors rather than structured guidance. The resource feature is present but adds minimal value (static server info).
Query Perplexity AI for information. This tool provides access to real-time web search and AI-powered answers using various Llama models. Use this for research, fact-checking, and getting current information.
Quick web search using Perplexity AI with default settings. Best for simple queries that need real-time information from the web.
No output schema documented. Tools return TextContent but LLMs cannot predict response structure (fields, format, pagination). Users see 'response_text' but there is no formal schema definition explaining what fields appear, how arrays are paginated, or what metadata is included.
Parameter descriptions are minimal and lack constraint clarity. 'model' is described only as 'Model to use (optional)', does not explain when to use sonar vs sonar-pro vs sonar-reasoning. 'temperature' lacks guidance on typical use cases (e.g., 'Lower for factual queries, higher for creative'). 'max_tokens' lacks guidance on impact (longer response = more latency/cost).
No distinction between query_perplexity and search_perplexity use cases. Both descriptions say 'AI-powered answers' and 'real-time information', making it unclear when an LLM should choose one over the other. query_perplexity accepts 7 params; search_perplexity accepts 1. The description should explain: 'Use search_perplexity for quick lookups. Use query_perplexity when you need model selection, token limits, or system prompts.'
Inferred effective spec: <=2025-11-25.
| Scored | Grade | Overall | Spec posture | Rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-22 | C | 63 | <=2025-11-25 | v2 |
| 2026-03-09 | D | 51 | - | v1 |
Error handling returns unstructured text wrapped in TextContent. When an API error occurs (e.g., 'Invalid API key'), the LLM sees only 'Error: ...' with no guidance on recovery. Should provide structured errors that classify as retryable vs. user-fixable (e.g., 'Authentication failed. Check your PERPLEXITY_API_KEY environment variable.').
Prompts handler defined (list_prompts returns 'research_topic' prompt) but is incomplete, the response is truncated in the source code. Cannot assess whether prompts are properly structured or useful.
Resource 'perplexity://info' is static documentation. Does not follow resource patterns for dynamic data (e.g., no pagination, no live API state). Minimal value for agent reasoning.