modelcontextprotocol / modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk
Simplify `src/mcp/shared/metadata_utils.py::get_display_name` logic.
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Description
Current Code Logic
As of now, src/mcp/shared/metadata_utils.py::get_display_name works like this:
def get_display_name(obj: Tool | Resource | Prompt | ResourceTemplate | Implementation) -> str:
"""Get the display name for an MCP object with proper precedence.
This is a client-side utility function designed to help MCP clients display
human-readable names in their user interfaces. When servers provide a 'title'
field, it should be preferred over the programmatic 'name' field for display.
For tools: title > annotations.title > name
For other objects: title > name
Example:
```python
# In a client displaying available tools
tools = await session.list_tools()
for tool in tools.tools:
display_name = get_display_name(tool)
print(f"Available tool: {display_name}")
```
Args:
obj: An MCP object with name and optional title fields
Returns:
The display name to use for UI presentation
"""
if isinstance(obj, Tool):
# Tools have special precedence: title > annotations.title > name
if hasattr(obj, "title") and obj.title is not None:
return obj.title
if obj.annotations and hasattr(obj.annotations, "title") and obj.annotations.title is not None:
return obj.annotations.title
return obj.name
else:
# All other objects: title > name
if hasattr(obj, "title") and obj.title is not None:
return obj.title
return obj.name
However, code logic here can simplify, since title-first precedence applies to every object type.
Only Tool-specific not None annotations.title fallback needs a special middle branch.
Proposed Logical Adjustments
# All objects have title-first precedence, regardless of being a Tool or not.
if hasattr(obj, "title") and obj.title is not None:
return obj.title
# Special middle branch for Tool-specific not None `annotations.title`.
if isinstance(obj, Tool) and obj.annotations:
if hasattr(obj.annotations, "title") and obj.annotations.title is not None:
return obj.annotations.title
# All other objects: name as last fallback.
return obj.name
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Read src/mcp/shared/metadata_utils.py::get_display_name and compare its current precedence with the proposed adjustment. The work is done when title is checked first for every listed object, Tool annotations.title remains the middle fallback, and obj.name remains the final fallback.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- backend-api-design
- Issue type
- Refactor
- Difficulty
- 1/5
- Estimated time
- Under an hour
- Activity status
- Active
- Clarity
- Clearly specified
- Newbie friendliness
- 88/100