ext-apps/docs/patterns.md
Jonathan Hefner fb5e96a719 Complete "Support native host styling using CSS variables" pattern documentation
References existing type-checked examples instead of a stub:
- Vanilla JS: `applyHostStyleVariables_fromHostContext` from `src/styles.examples.ts`
- React: `useHostStyles_basicUsage` from `src/react/useHostStyles.examples.tsx`

Expanded `applyHostStyleVariables_fromHostContext` to show the full pattern:
using CSS variables in styles, applying on `onhostcontextchanged`, and
applying initial styles after `connect()`.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-01-20 13:31:11 -06:00

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---
title: Patterns
---
# MCP Apps Patterns
This document covers common patterns and recipes for building MCP Apps.
## Tools that are private to Apps
Set {@link types!McpUiToolMeta.visibility Tool.\_meta.ui.visibility} to `["app"]` to make tools only callable by Apps (hidden from the model). This is useful for UI-driven actions like updating quantities, toggling settings, or other interactions that shouldn't appear in the model's tool list.
{@includeCode ../src/server/index.examples.ts#registerAppTool_appOnlyVisibility}
## [TODO] Authenticated calls from App
- Use tool calls / read resources
- See [PDF example](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/ext-apps/blob/main/examples/pdf-viewer) to read binaries by chunks to avoid call tool size limitations on platforms like claude.ai
- Pass auth token in `_meta` (will be loaded again in the future) + refresh token + store in local storage (see Persist data section below)
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#authenticatedCalls}
## [TODO] Giving errors back to model
- Before app runs: validate inputs in tool call
- After it runs: use `updateModelContext`
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#errorsToModel}
## Support native host styling using CSS variables
Hosts provide CSS variables (e.g., `--color-background-primary`) that match their theme. Apply these to the document, then use them in your styles via `var()`.
**Vanilla JS:**
{@includeCode ../src/styles.examples.ts#applyHostStyleVariables_fromHostContext}
**React:**
{@includeCode ../src/react/useHostStyles.examples.tsx#useHostStyles_basicUsage}
## [TODO] Reacting to light/dark theme changes
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#lightDarkTheme}
## [TODO] Support fullscreen / exit fullscreen
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#fullscreen}
## [TODO] Persist data (incl. widget state)
- Note: OAI's `window.openai.setWidgetState({modelContent, privateContent, imageIds})` has only a partial equivalent in the MCP Apps spec (for now!): `App.updateModelContext({content, structuredContent})`
- For data persistence / to reload when conversation is reloaded, you must use localStorage / IndexedDb with `hostInfo.toolInfo.id` as key returned `CallToolResult._meta.widgetUUID = randomUUID()`
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#persistData}
## [TODO] Lower perceived latency / manage loading time
Leverage partial inputs to show widgets as possible.
Beware of partial JSON being partial (but healed), so some of your objects may not be complete (e.g. in a list you may need to skip the last item if your code validates input schemas strictly).
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#lowerPerceivedLatency}
## [TODO] Supporting both iframe & MCP Apps in same binary
See recipe: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/ext-apps/issues/34
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#iframeAndMcpApps}
## [TODO] Migrating from OpenAI to MCP Apps
See [OpenAI -> MCP Apps](https://docs.google.com/document/d/13ROImOR9B8xc32yhqsFyC9Hh3_H63JFORDIyjyIPcU4/edit) migration guide.
Also: [Managing State](https://platform.openai.com/docs/actions/managing-state) (OpenAI)
{@includeCode ./patterns.ts#migrateFromOpenai}