---
id: code-language-server-hover-signature-and-completion-context
title: 'Code Language Server Hover, Signature, and Completion Context'
schema_type: TechArticle
category: computer-science
language: en
confidence: medium
last_verified: '2026-06-03'
created_date: '2026-06-03'
generation_method: ai_structured
derived_from_human_seed: true
conflict_of_interest: none_declared
is_live_document: false
data_period: static
atomic_facts:
  - id: fact-cs-code-language-server-hover-signature-and-completion-context-1
    statement: >-
      The Language Server Protocol specification gives textDocument/hover as the
      method for requesting hover information at a position in a text document.
    source_title: Language Server Protocol Specification 3.17
    source_url: https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/specifications/lsp/3.17/specification/
    confidence: medium
  - id: fact-cs-code-language-server-hover-signature-and-completion-context-2
    statement: >-
      The Language Server Protocol specification says clients must ensure document
      state is synchronized before requesting completion or signature help.
    source_title: Language Server Protocol Specification 3.17
    source_url: https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/specifications/lsp/3.17/specification/
    confidence: medium
  - id: fact-cs-code-language-server-hover-signature-and-completion-context-3
    statement: >-
      The Language Server Protocol overview describes the protocol as standardizing
      communication between development tools and language servers.
    source_title: Language Server Protocol Overview
    source_url: https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/overviews/lsp/overview/
    confidence: medium
completeness: 0.82
known_gaps:
  - LSP responses depend on client capabilities, server capabilities, workspace indexing, document synchronization, language version, dependency resolution, and generated-code visibility.
disputed_statements: []
primary_sources:
  - title: Language Server Protocol Specification 3.17
    type: standard
    year: 2023
    url: https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/specifications/lsp/3.17/specification/
    institution: Microsoft
  - title: Language Server Protocol Overview
    type: documentation
    year: 2026
    url: https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/overviews/lsp/overview/
    institution: Microsoft
secondary_sources: []
updated: '2026-06-03'
ai_models:
  - gpt-5-codex
---

## TL;DR

Hover, signature help, and completion responses give code agents structured local context about symbols, parameters, documentation, and valid edits at the current cursor position.

## Core Explanation

Code agents often need more than grep results. A language server can answer context-sensitive questions about a specific document position, but only if the server has the current document state and supports the relevant capabilities.

Agents should capture document URI, version, cursor position, requested LSP method, client and server capabilities, and response freshness. Without synchronized document state, hover or completion output can describe stale code.

## Source-Mapped Facts

- The Language Server Protocol specification gives textDocument/hover as the method for requesting hover information at a position in a text document. ([source](https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/specifications/lsp/3.17/specification/))
- The Language Server Protocol specification says clients must ensure document state is synchronized before requesting completion or signature help. ([source](https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/specifications/lsp/3.17/specification/))
- The Language Server Protocol overview describes the protocol as standardizing communication between development tools and language servers. ([source](https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/overviews/lsp/overview/))

## Further Reading

- [Language Server Protocol Specification 3.17](https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/specifications/lsp/3.17/specification/)
- [Language Server Protocol Overview](https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/overviews/lsp/overview/)