Unsplash MCP Server

The Unsplash MCP Server bridges the gap between AI assistants and the vast image library of Unsplash. By exposing a standard MCP interface, it allows an assistant to query, filter, and retrieve high‑resolution photos on demand without needing direct API calls or authentication handling within the client. This abstraction simplifies integration for developers who want to enrich their conversational agents with visual content, enabling the assistant to generate image‑based responses, browse galleries, or embed photos into documents.

At its core, the server implements a set of resource endpoints that mirror Unsplash’s search and retrieval capabilities. Clients can request images by keyword, author, or collection ID, and the server handles pagination, rate limiting, and API key management internally. The value proposition lies in this encapsulation: developers no longer need to manage OAuth tokens or parse Unsplash’s JSON responses; instead, they interact with a clean MCP schema that aligns with the rest of their AI workflow.

Key features include:

• Search & filtering: Query images by tags, color, orientation, and more, returning structured metadata that the assistant can use to craft contextual replies.
• Pagination support: Seamlessly navigate large result sets with cursor‑based pagination, allowing assistants to present “next” or “previous” images without extra logic.
• Rate‑limit handling: The server respects Unsplash’s usage limits, automatically throttling requests and providing informative errors when limits are reached.
• Environment‑based authentication: By reading the from environment variables, developers keep credentials out of source code and version control.

Typical use cases involve creative writing assistants that suggest illustrations for stories, design tools that fetch mock‑up images, or educational bots that provide visual examples during explanations. In a workflow where an AI assistant generates text and then needs to source relevant imagery, the Unsplash MCP Server acts as a single point of contact, reducing boilerplate and ensuring consistent data handling across multiple assistants.

What sets this server apart is its implementation in Go using the library, which offers high performance and low latency. The rewrite from the original repository brings improved type safety, better error handling, and compatibility with newer MCP specifications. For developers already using the Cursor editor or similar MCP‑compatible platforms, adding this server is as simple as configuring a single entry in the file—no additional code or API wrappers required.