XML — 18 Operations for AI Agents
XML still carries enterprise weight: Maven POMs, Android manifests, SOAP contracts, build configurations. act101 navigates elements and attributes structurally, so agents work inside deeply nested documents without counting closing tags.
This page is the canonical reference an AI coding agent uses to refactor, query, and analyze XML code through the act MCP server. 18 operations available: 0 refactor, 18 query, 0 analysis. Each operation is callable from Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode, or any MCP-compatible agent host. Click any operation for a stable anchor link suitable for citation.
18Query
Worked XML examples
act101 reads an XML document's elements as its declarations: every element, at any nesting depth, surfaces in the skeleton as a module named for its tag. symbols reports the identical set of elements, tagged class instead of module; neither query reads attribute values such as lat or lon, only the element names that carry them. The unit of structure in this grammar is the element, so a document built from deeply nested tags, like a GPS track's points nested inside a segment nested inside a track, reports one declaration per tag at every level rather than collapsing the hierarchy. Each example below is the verbatim output of the command shown, run against the file shown. Query outputs are pretty-printed with the timing block omitted.
Read every element in a document, however deeply nested
trail.xml is a GPX hiking-track file: a gpx root holding metadata, one trk with two trkpt points, and a standalone wpt waypoint.
$ act query skeleton trail.xmlBefore
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<gpx version="1.1" creator="TrailMapper">
<metadata>
<name>Enchantment Lakes Loop</name>
<time>2026-07-14T06:00:00Z</time>
</metadata>
<trk>
<name>Snow Lakes Approach</name>
<trkseg>
<trkpt lat="47.5301" lon="-121.1401">
<ele>1220</ele>
<time>2026-07-14T06:05:00Z</time>
</trkpt>
<trkpt lat="47.5289" lon="-121.1355">
<ele>1340</ele>
<time>2026-07-14T06:22:00Z</time>
</trkpt>
</trkseg>
</trk>
<wpt lat="47.5412" lon="-121.1120">
<name>Snow Lake Camp</name>
<ele>1780</ele>
</wpt>
</gpx>Output
{
"type": "Skeleton",
"declarations": [
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "gpx",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 2,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 39
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 24,
"column": 7,
"byte_offset": 622
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 2,
"column": 2,
"byte_offset": 40
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 2,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 43
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "metadata",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 3,
"column": 3,
"byte_offset": 83
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 6,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 185
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 3,
"column": 4,
"byte_offset": 84
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 3,
"column": 12,
"byte_offset": 92
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "name",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 4,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 98
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 4,
"column": 40,
"byte_offset": 133
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 4,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 99
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 4,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 103
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "time",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 5,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 138
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 5,
"column": 38,
"byte_offset": 171
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 5,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 139
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 5,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 143
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "trk",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 7,
"column": 3,
"byte_offset": 188
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 19,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 516
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 7,
"column": 4,
"byte_offset": 189
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 7,
"column": 7,
"byte_offset": 192
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "name",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 8,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 198
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 8,
"column": 37,
"byte_offset": 230
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 8,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 199
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 8,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 203
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "trkseg",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 9,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 235
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 18,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 507
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 9,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 236
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 9,
"column": 12,
"byte_offset": 242
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "trkpt",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 10,
"column": 7,
"byte_offset": 250
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 13,
"column": 15,
"byte_offset": 368
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 10,
"column": 8,
"byte_offset": 251
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 10,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 256
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "ele",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 11,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 296
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 11,
"column": 24,
"byte_offset": 311
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 11,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 297
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 11,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 300
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "time",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 12,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 320
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 12,
"column": 42,
"byte_offset": 353
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 12,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 321
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 12,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 325
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "trkpt",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 14,
"column": 7,
"byte_offset": 375
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 17,
"column": 15,
"byte_offset": 493
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 14,
"column": 8,
"byte_offset": 376
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 14,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 381
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "ele",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 15,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 421
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 15,
"column": 24,
"byte_offset": 436
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 15,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 422
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 15,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 425
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "time",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 16,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 445
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 16,
"column": 42,
"byte_offset": 478
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 16,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 446
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 16,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 450
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "wpt",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 20,
"column": 3,
"byte_offset": 519
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 23,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 615
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 20,
"column": 4,
"byte_offset": 520
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 20,
"column": 7,
"byte_offset": 523
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "name",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 21,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 559
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 21,
"column": 32,
"byte_offset": 586
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 21,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 560
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 21,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 564
}
}
},
{
"kind": "module",
"name": "ele",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 22,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 591
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 22,
"column": 20,
"byte_offset": 606
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 22,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 592
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 22,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 595
}
}
}
]
}The skeleton reports all sixteen elements as module declarations, from the root gpx down through both trkpt points to the ele and time children inside each one; the lat/lon attribute values on trkpt and wpt don't appear.
List the same elements as symbols instead of a tree
The two trkpt points and the wpt waypoint each carry their own name, ele, or time child elements, repeating those tag names across the file.
$ act query symbols trail.xmlBefore
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<gpx version="1.1" creator="TrailMapper">
<metadata>
<name>Enchantment Lakes Loop</name>
<time>2026-07-14T06:00:00Z</time>
</metadata>
<trk>
<name>Snow Lakes Approach</name>
<trkseg>
<trkpt lat="47.5301" lon="-121.1401">
<ele>1220</ele>
<time>2026-07-14T06:05:00Z</time>
</trkpt>
<trkpt lat="47.5289" lon="-121.1355">
<ele>1340</ele>
<time>2026-07-14T06:22:00Z</time>
</trkpt>
</trkseg>
</trk>
<wpt lat="47.5412" lon="-121.1120">
<name>Snow Lake Camp</name>
<ele>1780</ele>
</wpt>
</gpx>Output
{
"type": "Symbols",
"symbols": [
{
"name": "gpx",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 2,
"column": 2,
"byte_offset": 40
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 2,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 43
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "metadata",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 3,
"column": 4,
"byte_offset": 84
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 3,
"column": 12,
"byte_offset": 92
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "name",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 4,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 99
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 4,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 103
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "time",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 5,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 139
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 5,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 143
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "trk",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 7,
"column": 4,
"byte_offset": 189
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 7,
"column": 7,
"byte_offset": 192
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "name",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 8,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 199
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 8,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 203
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "trkseg",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 9,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 236
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 9,
"column": 12,
"byte_offset": 242
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "trkpt",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 10,
"column": 8,
"byte_offset": 251
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 10,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 256
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "ele",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 11,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 297
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 11,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 300
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "time",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 12,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 321
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 12,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 325
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "trkpt",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 14,
"column": 8,
"byte_offset": 376
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 14,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 381
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "ele",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 15,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 422
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 15,
"column": 13,
"byte_offset": 425
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "time",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 16,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 446
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 16,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 450
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "wpt",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 20,
"column": 4,
"byte_offset": 520
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 20,
"column": 7,
"byte_offset": 523
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "name",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 21,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 560
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 21,
"column": 10,
"byte_offset": 564
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "ele",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 22,
"column": 6,
"byte_offset": 592
},
"end": {
"file": "trail.xml",
"line": 22,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 595
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
}
]
}symbols reports the same sixteen elements as class declarations in document order, including the repeated name, ele, and time tags from each trkpt and the wpt waypoint.
Query
18 query tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/query-tools.
callers control_flow data_flow definition diagnostics effect_closure effect_summary fix_auto get_type graph import_organize interface mutations references repo_outline skeleton symbols symbols_batch