Client call_tool: input_responses/request_state retry params; InputRequiredResult via allow_input_required (#2968)

docs/migration.md

@@ -364,6 +364,10 @@ For an in-process `Client(server)` (where `server` is a `Server` or `MCPServer`
 
 `Client.send_ping()` is deprecated (ping is removed in 2026-07-28); pin `mode='legacy'` if you need it.
 
+### `call_tool` can return `InputRequiredResult` (opt-in)
+
+For protocol 2026-07-28, a `tools/call` request may return an `InputRequiredResult` asking the client to supply additional input and retry. By default `call_tool` (on `ClientSession`, `Client`, and `ClientSessionGroup`) still returns `CallToolResult` and raises `RuntimeError` if the server requests input. Pass `allow_input_required=True` to receive the `InputRequiredResult` instead, then retry with `input_responses=` / `request_state=`.
+
 ### `McpError` renamed to `MCPError`
 
 The `McpError` exception class has been renamed to `MCPError` for consistent naming with the MCP acronym style used throughout the SDK.

src/mcp/client/client.py

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable, Mapping
 from contextlib import AsyncExitStack
 from dataclasses import KW_ONLY, dataclass, field
-from typing import Any, Literal, TypeVar
+from typing import Any, Literal, TypeVar, overload
 
 import anyio
 from typing_extensions import deprecated
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ from mcp.types import (
     EmptyResult,
     GetPromptResult,
     Implementation,
+    InputRequiredResult,
+    InputResponses,
     ListPromptsResult,
     ListResourcesResult,
     ListResourceTemplatesResult,
@@ -374,6 +376,7 @@ class Client:
         """Unsubscribe from resource updates."""
         return await self.session.unsubscribe_resource(uri, meta=meta)
 
+    @overload
     async def call_tool(
         self,
         name: str,
@@ -381,8 +384,38 @@ class Client:
         read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
         progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
         *,
+        input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
         meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
-    ) -> CallToolResult:
+        allow_input_required: Literal[False] = False,
+    ) -> CallToolResult: ...
+
+    @overload
+    async def call_tool(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+        read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
+        progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
+        *,
+        input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
+        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
+        allow_input_required: bool,
+    ) -> CallToolResult | InputRequiredResult: ...
+
+    async def call_tool(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+        read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
+        progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
+        *,
+        input_responses: InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
+        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
+        allow_input_required: bool = False,
+    ) -> CallToolResult | InputRequiredResult:
         """Call a tool on the server.
 
         Args:
@@ -390,17 +423,32 @@ class Client:
             arguments: Arguments to pass to the tool
             read_timeout_seconds: Timeout for the tool call
             progress_callback: Callback for progress updates
+            input_responses: Responses to a prior `InputRequiredResult.input_requests`
+            request_state: Opaque state echoed from a prior `InputRequiredResult`
             meta: Additional metadata for the request
+            allow_input_required: When ``False`` (default), an `InputRequiredResult`
+                from the server raises `RuntimeError`; when ``True``, it is returned
+                so the caller can resolve the requests and retry.
 
         Returns:
-            The tool result.
+            The tool result. When ``allow_input_required=True``, may instead be an
+            `InputRequiredResult` carrying the server's input requests and opaque
+            ``request_state`` for the retry.
+
+        Raises:
+            RuntimeError: If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult` and
+                ``allow_input_required`` is ``False``.
         """
+        # TODO(L84): stop forwarding allow_input_required; run the MRTR auto-loop driver here (S6).
         return await self.session.call_tool(
             name=name,
             arguments=arguments,
             read_timeout_seconds=read_timeout_seconds,
             progress_callback=progress_callback,
+            input_responses=input_responses,
+            request_state=request_state,
             meta=meta,
+            allow_input_required=allow_input_required,
         )
 
     async def list_prompts(

src/mcp/client/session.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import logging
 from collections.abc import Callable, Mapping
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from types import TracebackType
-from typing import Any, Protocol, cast
+from typing import Any, Literal, Protocol, cast, overload
 
 import anyio
 import anyio.abc
@@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ async def _default_logging_callback(
 
 ClientResponse: TypeAdapter[types.ClientResult | types.ErrorData] = TypeAdapter(types.ClientResult | types.ErrorData)
 
+_CallToolResultAdapter: TypeAdapter[types.CallToolResult | types.InputRequiredResult] = TypeAdapter(
+    types.CallToolResult | types.InputRequiredResult
+)
+
 
 class ClientSession:
     """Client half of an MCP connection, running on a `Dispatcher`.
@@ -269,7 +273,7 @@ class ClientSession:
     async def send_request(
         self,
         request: types.ClientRequest,
-        result_type: type[ReceiveResultT],
+        result_type: type[ReceiveResultT] | TypeAdapter[ReceiveResultT],
         request_read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
         metadata: ClientMessageMetadata | None = None,
         progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
@@ -308,6 +312,8 @@ class ClientSession:
             _methods.validate_server_result(method, version, raw)
         except KeyError:
             pass
+        if isinstance(result_type, TypeAdapter):
+            return result_type.validate_python(raw, by_name=False)
         return result_type.model_validate(raw, by_name=False)
 
     async def send_notification(self, notification: types.ClientNotification) -> None:
@@ -596,6 +602,7 @@ class ClientSession:
             types.EmptyResult,
         )
 
+    @overload
     async def call_tool(
         self,
         name: str,
@@ -603,22 +610,75 @@ class ClientSession:
         read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
         progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
         *,
+        input_responses: types.InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
         meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
-    ) -> types.CallToolResult:
+        allow_input_required: Literal[False] = False,
-        """Send a tools/call request with optional progress callback support."""
+    ) -> types.CallToolResult: ...
+
+    @overload
+    async def call_tool(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+        read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
+        progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
+        *,
+        input_responses: types.InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
+        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
+        allow_input_required: bool,
+    ) -> types.CallToolResult | types.InputRequiredResult: ...
+
+    async def call_tool(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+        read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
+        progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
+        *,
+        input_responses: types.InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
+        meta: RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
+        allow_input_required: bool = False,
+    ) -> types.CallToolResult | types.InputRequiredResult:
+        """Send a tools/call request with optional progress callback support.
+
+        Args:
+            input_responses: Responses to a prior `InputRequiredResult.input_requests`.
+            request_state: Opaque state echoed from a prior `InputRequiredResult`.
+            allow_input_required: When ``False`` (default), an `InputRequiredResult`
+                from the server raises `RuntimeError`; when ``True``, it is returned
+                so the caller can resolve the requests and retry.
+
+        Raises:
+            RuntimeError: If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult` and
+                ``allow_input_required`` is ``False``.
+        """
 
         result = await self.send_request(
             types.CallToolRequest(
-                params=types.CallToolRequestParams(name=name, arguments=arguments, _meta=meta),
+                params=types.CallToolRequestParams(
+                    name=name,
+                    arguments=arguments,
+                    input_responses=input_responses,
+                    request_state=request_state,
+                    _meta=meta,
+                ),
             ),
-            types.CallToolResult,
+            _CallToolResultAdapter,
             request_read_timeout_seconds=read_timeout_seconds,
             progress_callback=progress_callback,
         )
 
-        if not result.is_error:
+        if isinstance(result, types.CallToolResult) and not result.is_error:
             await self._validate_tool_result(name, result)
 
+        if isinstance(result, types.InputRequiredResult) and not allow_input_required:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "Server returned InputRequiredResult; pass allow_input_required=True to receive it "
+                "and retry call_tool(..., input_responses=..., request_state=result.request_state)."
+            )
         return result
 
     async def _validate_tool_result(self, name: str, result: types.CallToolResult) -> None:

src/mcp/client/session_group.py

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import logging
 from collections.abc import Callable
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from types import TracebackType
-from typing import Any, TypeAlias
+from typing import Any, Literal, TypeAlias, overload
 
 import anyio
 import httpx
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ class ClientSessionGroup:
         """Returns the tools as a dictionary of names to tools."""
         return self._tools
 
+    @overload
     async def call_tool(
         self,
         name: str,
@@ -197,9 +198,44 @@ class ClientSessionGroup:
         read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
         progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
         *,
+        input_responses: types.InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
         meta: types.RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
-    ) -> types.CallToolResult:
+        allow_input_required: Literal[False] = False,
-        """Executes a tool given its name and arguments."""
+    ) -> types.CallToolResult: ...
+
+    @overload
+    async def call_tool(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+        read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
+        progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
+        *,
+        input_responses: types.InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
+        meta: types.RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
+        allow_input_required: bool,
+    ) -> types.CallToolResult | types.InputRequiredResult: ...
+
+    async def call_tool(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        arguments: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+        read_timeout_seconds: float | None = None,
+        progress_callback: ProgressFnT | None = None,
+        *,
+        input_responses: types.InputResponses | None = None,
+        request_state: str | None = None,
+        meta: types.RequestParamsMeta | None = None,
+        allow_input_required: bool = False,
+    ) -> types.CallToolResult | types.InputRequiredResult:
+        """Executes a tool given its name and arguments.
+
+        Raises:
+            RuntimeError: If the server returns an `InputRequiredResult` and
+                ``allow_input_required`` is ``False``.
+        """
         session = self._tool_to_session[name]
         session_tool_name = self.tools[name].name
         return await session.call_tool(
@@ -207,7 +243,10 @@ class ClientSessionGroup:
             arguments=arguments,
             read_timeout_seconds=read_timeout_seconds,
             progress_callback=progress_callback,
+            input_responses=input_responses,
+            request_state=request_state,
             meta=meta,
+            allow_input_required=allow_input_required,
         )
 
     async def disconnect_from_server(self, session: mcp.ClientSession) -> None:

tests/client/test_session.py

@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ from pydantic import FileUrl, ValidationError
 
 from mcp import MCPError, types
 from mcp.client import ClientRequestContext
+from mcp.client.client import Client
 from mcp.client.session import DEFAULT_CLIENT_INFO, ClientSession
+from mcp.server import Server, ServerRequestContext
 from mcp.shared.direct_dispatcher import create_direct_dispatcher_pair
 from mcp.shared.dispatcher import CallOptions, DispatchContext, OnNotify, OnRequest
 from mcp.shared.message import SessionMessage
@@ -1656,3 +1658,59 @@ async def test_discover_reraises_unsupported_version_with_malformed_error_data()
                 await session.discover()
             assert exc.value.error.code == UNSUPPORTED_PROTOCOL_VERSION
     assert [m for m, _ in dispatcher.calls] == ["server/discover"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_call_tool_returns_input_required_result_when_server_requests_input() -> None:
+    # `on_call_tool` is still typed `-> CallToolResult` on this branch (#2967 widens it later);
+    # `add_request_handler` is `HandlerResult`-typed and accepts `InputRequiredResult` cleanly.
+    async def handler(ctx: ServerRequestContext, params: types.CallToolRequestParams) -> types.InputRequiredResult:
+        return types.InputRequiredResult(request_state="s")
+
+    server = Server("test")
+    server.add_request_handler("tools/call", types.CallToolRequestParams, handler)
+    with anyio.fail_after(5):
+        async with Client(server, mode="2026-07-28") as client:
+            result = await client.call_tool("ask", allow_input_required=True)
+    assert isinstance(result, types.InputRequiredResult)
+    assert result.request_state == "s"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_call_tool_threads_input_responses_and_request_state_into_params() -> None:
+    captured: list[types.CallToolRequestParams] = []
+
+    async def on_call_tool(ctx: ServerRequestContext, params: types.CallToolRequestParams) -> CallToolResult:
+        captured.append(params)
+        return CallToolResult(content=[])
+
+    async def on_list_tools(
+        ctx: ServerRequestContext, params: types.PaginatedRequestParams | None
+    ) -> types.ListToolsResult:
+        return types.ListToolsResult(tools=[])
+
+    server = Server("test", on_call_tool=on_call_tool, on_list_tools=on_list_tools)
+    with anyio.fail_after(5):
+        async with Client(server, mode="2026-07-28") as client:
+            await client.call_tool(
+                "ask",
+                input_responses={"k": types.ElicitResult(action="decline")},
+                request_state="s",
+            )
+    assert captured[0].input_responses == {"k": types.ElicitResult(action="decline")}
+    assert captured[0].request_state == "s"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_client_call_tool_raises_on_input_required_without_opt_in() -> None:
+    async def handler(ctx: ServerRequestContext, params: types.CallToolRequestParams) -> types.InputRequiredResult:
+        return types.InputRequiredResult(request_state="s")
+
+    server = Server("test")
+    server.add_request_handler("tools/call", types.CallToolRequestParams, handler)
+    with anyio.fail_after(5):
+        async with Client(server, mode="2026-07-28") as client:
+            with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+                await client.call_tool("t")
+            result = await client.call_tool("t", allow_input_required=True)
+    assert isinstance(result, types.InputRequiredResult)

tests/client/test_session_group.py

@@ -82,10 +82,27 @@ async def test_client_session_group_call_tool():
         arguments={"name": "value1", "args": {}},
         read_timeout_seconds=None,
         progress_callback=None,
+        input_responses=None,
+        request_state=None,
         meta=None,
+        allow_input_required=False,
     )
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_client_session_group_call_tool_forwards_allow_input_required():
+    mock_session = mock.AsyncMock()
+    mcp_session_group = ClientSessionGroup()
+    mcp_session_group._tools = {"my_tool": types.Tool(name="my_tool", input_schema={})}
+    mcp_session_group._tool_to_session = {"my_tool": mock_session}
+    mock_session.call_tool.return_value = types.InputRequiredResult(request_state="s")
+
+    result = await mcp_session_group.call_tool(name="my_tool", arguments={}, allow_input_required=True)
+    assert isinstance(result, types.InputRequiredResult)
+    assert result.request_state == "s"
+    assert mock_session.call_tool.call_args.kwargs["allow_input_required"] is True
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_client_session_group_connect_to_server(mock_exit_stack: contextlib.AsyncExitStack):
     """Test connecting to a server and aggregating components."""