MCP Toolbox for Databases
Google's open-source MCP server for databases: ready tools for Postgres, MySQL, BigQuery, Spanner and more, plus custom tools in tools.yaml
- 16,749 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- Apache-2.0
Broad access
Why this level
- Can run arbitrary SQL against the connected database
- Handles database credentials
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add mcp/mcp-toolbox-for-databasesDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- Can run arbitrary SQL against the connected database
- Handles database credentials
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Toolbox connects an agent to a database in two ways. With --prebuilt you get standard tools such as list_tables and execute_sql for the chosen database, handy for exploring schemas and writing code. In the second mode tools.yaml defines sources, specific queries, toolsets, prompts and resources so the agent gets only approved operations. The server handles connection pooling, IAM auth and OpenTelemetry tracing, and there are SDKs for ADK, LangChain and LlamaIndex.
Who it is for. For developers and analysts who need agent access to databases, including Google Cloud ones.
Good fit when
- You want the agent to explore a database schema and write queries
- You need a production agent limited to predefined queries
- You work with AlloyDB, BigQuery, Cloud SQL or Spanner
Not a fit when
- The agent must not run arbitrary SQL and you have no time to define tools by hand
- You need to work with files rather than a database
Example request
List the tables in the database and write a query that counts orders by monthMCP
- Transport
- stdio, http
- Authentication
- not required
Limitations
Database connection settings are passed via environment variables; the set depends on the database and is listed in the prebuilt configs reference. Prebuilt tools include execute_sql, so use a read-only account or custom tools on production databases. Local databases need no VPN; Google Cloud database availability from Russia is not guaranteed. The authors consider npx less reliable than the binary or container.
How to disable. Delete the toolbox block from the client's MCP config and stop the toolbox process or container.
FAQ
Did the project have another name?
Yes, Gen AI Toolbox for Databases; the googleapis/genai-toolbox repository was renamed to mcp-toolbox.
Which databases are supported?
Google Cloud databases plus PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, MongoDB, Redis, ClickHouse, Neo4j, Snowflake and more.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Entries that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Entry | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCP Toolbox for Databases (this entry) | yes | not required | 16,749 | |
| Anyquery | no | key is optional | 1,787 | a SQLite-based SQL engine with plugins for apps |
| CentralMind Gateway | no | key is optional | 549 | a Go MCP server and REST API for databases |
README in short
The README explains the two modes: prebuilt tools and the custom tools framework. It gives an MCP config example for Postgres and walks through tools.yaml sections. It covers installation via binary, container, Homebrew, go install and Gemini CLI extensions, plus SDK integration. Apache-2.0 licensed.