You ask your AI assistant to help you set up authentication with Supabase. It confidently generates a full implementation using createClient() with options that haven't existed for two major versions. You spend the next hour debugging code that looks correct but simply doesn't work.
Sound familiar?
This is the hidden tax of AI-assisted coding. LLMs are trained on data that's often a year or more out of date, and frameworks like Next.js, React, and Rails move fast. That helpful
code suggestion might use deprecated methods, removed parameters, or entirely hallucinated APIs.
Context7 solves this problem by injecting current, version-specific documentation directly into your AI's context—so you get working code on the first try.
What Is Context7?
Context7 is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server built by Upstash that acts as a bridge between your AI coding assistant and up-to-date library documentation.
When you include use context7 in your prompt, the server identifies which library you're asking about, fetches the latest official documentation, and injects the relevant code examples directly into the AI's context window.
The result? Your AI assistant bases its suggestions on actual current APIs rather than guessing from stale training data.
sequenceDiagram
participant Dev as Developer
participant AI as AI Assistant
participant C7 as Context7 MCP
participant Docs as Library Docs
Dev->>AI: "Set up Supabase auth. use context7"
AI->>C7: Resolve library: supabase
C7->>Docs: Fetch current documentation
Docs-->>C7: v2.x API reference + examples
C7-->>AI: Inject version-specific context
AI-->>Dev: Working code using current APIs
The Problem It Solves
AI coding assistants have a fundamental limitation: their knowledge comes from training data with a cutoff date. Libraries evolve constantly—APIs change, methods get renamed, entire patterns get deprecated.
Here's what happens without Context7:
- Outdated code examples based on old training data
- Hallucinated APIs that don't actually exist
- Generic answers that don't match your specific library version
- Wasted time debugging code that looked correct
With Context7, you get:
- Version-specific documentation pulled from the source
- Current code examples that actually work
- Accurate method signatures and patterns
- Working code on the first try
If you've been following our coverage of MCP servers for web developers, you'll recognise Context7 as one of the essential tools we recommend. Now let's look at why it matters for your development workflow.
Context7 in Action: Real Examples
The best way to understand Context7's value is to see it work. Here are scenarios where it shines.
Example 1: Next.js Middleware
Without Context7, your AI might generate middleware using patterns from Next.js 12 or 13 when you're actually using version 15.
With Context7:
Create a Next.js middleware that checks for a valid JWT in cookies
and redirects unauthenticated users to /login. use context7
Context7 fetches the current Next.js 15 middleware documentation and your AI generates code using the correct NextResponse patterns, proper matcher configuration, and current edge runtime APIs.
Example 2: Rails API Authentication
Set up JWT authentication for a Rails 7.2 API using the jwt gem,
including refresh token rotation. use context7
Instead of getting code that might work with older Rails versions, you get implementations that align with current Rails conventions and the latest jwt gem API—perfect for Rails applications you're deploying through DeployHQ.
Example 3: Supabase Database Queries
Implement a Supabase query that fetches all users with their
related posts, with pagination. use context7
Context7 ensures you're using the current Supabase JavaScript client methods, not deprecated patterns from v1.
Example 4: Version-Specific Documentation
Need documentation for a specific library version? Just mention it:
How do I configure TailwindCSS 4.0 with Vite? use context7
Context7 automatically matches the appropriate version and delivers relevant documentation.
How to Get Started
Setting up Context7 takes just a few minutes. It works with all major AI coding tools including Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and VS Code with MCP-compatible extensions.
We've written a comprehensive step-by-step guide covering:
- Prerequisites and installation for each client
- Configuration for automatic invocation
- Advanced usage with direct library references
- Troubleshooting common issues
Read the full Context7 setup guide
Pro Tip: Automatic Documentation Fetching
One of the best features covered in our setup guide is configuring automatic invocation. Instead of typing use context7 every time, you can set up rules so your AI assistant automatically fetches current documentation for any library-related question.
This means you write prompts naturally:
Create a Stripe checkout session API route in Next.js 15 App Router
And Context7 kicks in automatically, ensuring the generated code uses current APIs.
Context7 and DeployHQ: The Complete Workflow
Here's where things get interesting for web developers who deploy regularly.
From Accurate Code to Production
Pairing Context7 with DeployHQ's automated deployments creates a streamlined development pipeline:
- Write accurate code with Context7: Generate working implementations on the first try using current APIs
- Push to your repository: Commit your changes to GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket
- Deploy automatically: DeployHQ detects the push and deploys to your server with zero downtime
This workflow eliminates two of the biggest time sinks in web development: debugging hallucinated AI code and manual deployment processes. For a deeper look at setting up this kind of pipeline, see our guide on building a CI/CD pipeline with DeployHQ.
Even Better with DeployHQ MCP
If you're using Claude Code or another MCP-compatible assistant, you can take this further with the DeployHQ MCP Server. Combine it with Context7 and you can:
- Generate accurate code using current documentation
- Trigger deployments directly from your AI assistant
- Check deployment status and history
- Roll back if needed—all without leaving your editor
It's the complete AI-powered development workflow we've been building towards.
Libraries Available on Context7
Context7 maintains documentation for thousands of libraries across all major programming languages:
JavaScript/TypeScript: Next.js, React, Vue, Svelte, Astro, Supabase, Firebase, Prisma, Tailwind CSS, Express, Fastify, Hono
Ruby: Ruby on Rails, Sidekiq, Devise, Pundit
Python: Django, FastAPI, Flask, SQLAlchemy, Pydantic
And many more—the library is community-contributed and constantly growing.
If your favourite library isn't available, you can submit it through Context7's project addition guide.
The Bottom Line
Context7 addresses one of the most frustrating aspects of AI-assisted coding: the constant uncertainty about whether generated code actually works with your library versions.
By injecting current, version-specific documentation into your AI's context, Context7 transforms your coding assistant from a sometimes-helpful tool into a reliable pair programming partner that always knows the current APIs.
The setup takes a few minutes. The payoff is immediate: working code on the first try, no more debugging hallucinated methods, and no more tab-switching to verify that functions still exist.
Combined with continuous deployment through DeployHQ, you get a development workflow where accurate code flows smoothly from your editor to production.
Next Steps
- Read our full Context7 setup guide — Detailed installation instructions for every client
- Explore our list of MCP servers for developers — Context7 plus five other essential tools
- Try DeployHQ MCP Server — AI-powered deployment automation
- Start your free DeployHQ trial — Automate your deployments in minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Context7 free to use?
Yes, Context7 is free for personal and educational use. If you need higher rate limits or access to private repositories, you can get an API key from the Context7 dashboard. See our setup guide for configuration details.
Which AI coding assistants work with Context7?
Context7 works with any MCP-compatible client, including Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, VS Code (with Cline or similar extensions), Windsurf, and others. Check our setup guide for installation instructions for each client.
What programming languages does Context7 support?
Context7 supports libraries across all major languages including JavaScript/TypeScript, Ruby, Python, Go, Java, and more. The library database is community-contributed and constantly growing. You can browse available libraries at context7.com.
How is Context7 different from just pasting documentation into my prompt?
Context7 automatically identifies the relevant library, fetches version-specific documentation, and injects only the relevant code examples into your AI's context. This saves time and avoids hitting token limits with bloated documentation. It also ensures you always get current information rather than whatever you happened to copy.
Can I add my own library's documentation to Context7?
Yes! Context7 is community-driven. You can submit libraries through their project addition guide. Library maintainers can also claim and manage their own documentation.
Do I need to type use context7
every time?
No—you can configure automatic invocation so your AI assistant fetches documentation automatically for any library-related question. Our setup guide explains how to set this up for Cursor and Claude.
Does Context7 work offline?
No, Context7 requires an internet connection to fetch documentation from its servers. The MCP server runs locally, but it needs to reach the Context7 API to retrieve library docs.
Can I use Context7 with the DeployHQ MCP Server?
Absolutely. You can run multiple MCP servers simultaneously. Using Context7 alongside the DeployHQ MCP Server gives you accurate code generation plus deployment automation—all from your AI assistant.
Resources
Have questions about Context7 or deployment automation? Reach out to support@deployhq.com or find us on X @deployhq.