Elicitation Hook - Claude Code

The Elicitation hook intercepts when an MCP server asks the user a question. The hook can provide the answer automatically or pass through to a prompt.

What it does

MCP servers sometimes need additional input - a confirmation, a choice, a free-text value. Normally Claude surfaces the request as a dialog. The Elicitation hook can answer it programmatically based on the question, the server, or the current state, skipping the dialog and keeping the session flowing.

When to use it

• Auto-answering routine MCP confirmations in a trusted context.
• Keeping headless sessions from hanging on MCP prompts.
• Team policies where a specific MCP server's questions have a canonical answer.
• Integrating MCP workflows with your own approval backend.

Gotchas

• Auto-answering without care defeats the MCP server's safety intent. Scope carefully.
• Not every elicitation has a sensible automated response. Some must reach a human.
• Logging answers is important for audit - you're effectively speaking for the user.

Official docs: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/hooks.md#elicitation