[Node] Add onElicitationRequest Callback for Elicitation Provider Support

Author: MRayermannMSFT

nodejs/README.md

@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ Create a new conversation session.
 - `provider?: ProviderConfig` - Custom API provider configuration (BYOK - Bring Your Own Key). See [Custom Providers](#custom-providers) section.
 - `onPermissionRequest: PermissionHandler` - **Required.** Handler called before each tool execution to approve or deny it. Use `approveAll` to allow everything, or provide a custom function for fine-grained control. See [Permission Handling](#permission-handling) section.
 - `onUserInputRequest?: UserInputHandler` - Handler for user input requests from the agent. Enables the `ask_user` tool. See [User Input Requests](#user-input-requests) section.
+- `onElicitationRequest?: ElicitationHandler` - Handler for elicitation requests dispatched by the server. Enables this client to present form-based UI dialogs on behalf of the agent or other session participants. See [Elicitation Requests](#elicitation-requests) section.
 - `hooks?: SessionHooks` - Hook handlers for session lifecycle events. See [Session Hooks](#session-hooks) section.
 
 ##### `resumeSession(sessionId: string, config?: ResumeSessionConfig): Promise<CopilotSession>`
@@ -293,6 +294,8 @@ if (session.capabilities.ui?.elicitation) {
 }
 ```
 
+Capabilities may update during the session. For example, when another client joins or disconnects with an elicitation handler. The SDK automatically applies `capabilities.changed` events, so this property always reflects the current state.
+
 ##### `ui: SessionUiApi`
 
 Interactive UI methods for showing dialogs to the user. Only available when the CLI host supports elicitation (`session.capabilities.ui?.elicitation === true`). See [UI Elicitation](#ui-elicitation) for full details.
@@ -505,9 +508,9 @@ Commands are sent to the CLI on both `createSession` and `resumeSession`, so you
 
 ### UI Elicitation
 
-When the CLI is running with a TUI (not in headless mode), the SDK can request interactive form dialogs from the user. The `session.ui` object provides convenience methods built on a single generic `elicitation` RPC.
+When the session has elicitation support — either from the CLI's TUI or from another client that registered an `onElicitationRequest` handler (see [Elicitation Requests](#elicitation-requests)). The SDK can request interactive form dialogs from the user. The `session.ui` object provides convenience methods built on a single generic `elicitation` RPC.
 
-> **Capability check:** Elicitation is only available when the host advertises support. Always check `session.capabilities.ui?.elicitation` before calling UI methods.
+> **Capability check:** Elicitation is only available when at least one connected participant advertises support. Always check `session.capabilities.ui?.elicitation` before calling UI methods — this property updates automatically as participants join and leave.
 
 ```ts
 const session = await client.createSession({ onPermissionRequest: approveAll });
@@ -899,6 +902,41 @@ const session = await client.createSession({
 });
 ```
 
+## Elicitation Requests
+
+Register an `onElicitationRequest` handler to let your client act as an elicitation provider — presenting form-based UI dialogs on behalf of the agent. When provided, the server dispatches `elicitation.request` RPCs to your client whenever a tool or MCP server needs structured user input.
+
+```typescript
+const session = await client.createSession({
+    model: "gpt-5",
+    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
+    onElicitationRequest: async (request, invocation) => {
+        // request.message - Description of what information is needed
+        // request.requestedSchema - JSON Schema describing the form fields
+        // request.mode - "form" (structured input) or "url" (browser redirect)
+        // request.elicitationSource - Origin of the request (e.g. MCP server name)
+
+        console.log(`Elicitation from ${request.elicitationSource}: ${request.message}`);
+
+        // Present UI to the user and collect their response...
+        return {
+            action: "accept", // "accept", "decline", or "cancel"
+            content: { region: "us-east", dryRun: true },
+        };
+    },
+});
+
+// The session now reports elicitation capability
+console.log(session.capabilities.ui?.elicitation); // true
+```
+
+When `onElicitationRequest` is provided, the SDK sends `requestElicitation: true` during session create/resume, which enables `session.capabilities.ui.elicitation` on the session.
+
+In multi-client scenarios:
+- If no connected client was previously providing an elicitation capability, but a new client joins that can, all clients will receive a `capabilities.changed` event to notify them that elicitation is now possible. The SDK automatically updates `session.capabilities` when these events arrive.
+- Similarly, if the last elicitation provider disconnects, all clients receive a `capabilities.changed` event indicating elicitation is no longer available.
+- The server fans out elicitation requests to **all** connected clients that registered a handler — the first response wins.
+
 ## Session Hooks
 
 Hook into session lifecycle events by providing handlers in the `hooks` configuration:

nodejs/src/client.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import { getTraceContext } from "./telemetry.js";
 import type {
     ConnectionState,
     CopilotClientOptions,
+    ElicitationRequest,
+    ElicitationResult,
     ForegroundSessionInfo,
     GetAuthStatusResponse,
     GetStatusResponse,
@@ -647,6 +649,9 @@ export class CopilotClient {
         if (config.onUserInputRequest) {
             session.registerUserInputHandler(config.onUserInputRequest);
         }
+        if (config.onElicitationRequest) {
+            session.registerElicitationHandler(config.onElicitationRequest);
+        }
         if (config.hooks) {
             session.registerHooks(config.hooks);
         }
@@ -688,6 +693,7 @@ export class CopilotClient {
                 provider: config.provider,
                 requestPermission: true,
                 requestUserInput: !!config.onUserInputRequest,
+                requestElicitation: !!config.onElicitationRequest,
                 hooks: !!(config.hooks && Object.values(config.hooks).some(Boolean)),
                 workingDirectory: config.workingDirectory,
                 streaming: config.streaming,
@@ -769,6 +775,9 @@ export class CopilotClient {
         if (config.onUserInputRequest) {
             session.registerUserInputHandler(config.onUserInputRequest);
         }
+        if (config.onElicitationRequest) {
+            session.registerElicitationHandler(config.onElicitationRequest);
+        }
         if (config.hooks) {
             session.registerHooks(config.hooks);
         }
@@ -810,6 +819,7 @@ export class CopilotClient {
                 provider: config.provider,
                 requestPermission: true,
                 requestUserInput: !!config.onUserInputRequest,
+                requestElicitation: !!config.onElicitationRequest,
                 hooks: !!(config.hooks && Object.values(config.hooks).some(Boolean)),
                 workingDirectory: config.workingDirectory,
                 configDir: config.configDir,
@@ -1597,6 +1607,18 @@ export class CopilotClient {
                 await this.handleUserInputRequest(params)
         );
 
+        this.connection.onRequest(
+            "elicitation.request",
+            async (params: {
+                sessionId: string;
+                requestId: string;
+                message: string;
+                requestedSchema?: unknown;
+                mode?: "form" | "url";
+                elicitationSource?: string;
+            }): Promise<ElicitationResult> => await this.handleElicitationRequest(params)
+        );
+
         this.connection.onRequest(
             "hooks.invoke",
             async (params: {
@@ -1704,6 +1726,34 @@ export class CopilotClient {
         return result;
     }
 
+    private async handleElicitationRequest(params: {
+        sessionId: string;
+        requestId: string;
+        message: string;
+        requestedSchema?: unknown;
+        mode?: "form" | "url";
+        elicitationSource?: string;
+    }): Promise<ElicitationResult> {
+        if (!params || typeof params.sessionId !== "string" || typeof params.message !== "string") {
+            throw new Error("Invalid elicitation request payload");
+        }
+
+        const session = this.sessions.get(params.sessionId);
+        if (!session) {
+            throw new Error(`Session not found: ${params.sessionId}`);
+        }
+
+        return await session._handleElicitationRequest(
+            {
+                message: params.message,
+                requestedSchema: params.requestedSchema as ElicitationRequest["requestedSchema"],
+                mode: params.mode,
+                elicitationSource: params.elicitationSource,
+            },
+            params.sessionId
+        );
+    }
+
     private async handleHooksInvoke(params: {
         sessionId: string;
         hookType: string;

nodejs/src/index.ts

@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ export type {
     CopilotClientOptions,
     CustomAgentConfig,
     ElicitationFieldValue,
+    ElicitationHandler,
     ElicitationParams,
+    ElicitationRequest,
     ElicitationResult,
     ElicitationSchema,
     ElicitationSchemaField,

nodejs/src/session.ts

@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ import { createSessionRpc } from "./generated/rpc.js";
 import { getTraceContext } from "./telemetry.js";
 import type {
     CommandHandler,
+    ElicitationHandler,
     ElicitationParams,
     ElicitationResult,
+    ElicitationRequest,
     InputOptions,
     MessageOptions,
     PermissionHandler,
@@ -77,6 +79,7 @@ export class CopilotSession {
     private commandHandlers: Map<string, CommandHandler> = new Map();
     private permissionHandler?: PermissionHandler;
     private userInputHandler?: UserInputHandler;
+    private elicitationHandler?: ElicitationHandler;
     private hooks?: SessionHooks;
     private transformCallbacks?: Map<string, SectionTransformFn>;
     private _rpc: ReturnType<typeof createSessionRpc> | null = null;
@@ -414,6 +417,9 @@ export class CopilotSession {
                 args: string;
             };
             void this._executeCommandAndRespond(requestId, commandName, command, args);
+        } else if ((event as { type: string }).type === "capabilities.changed") {
+            const data = (event as { data: Partial<SessionCapabilities> }).data;
+            this._capabilities = { ...this._capabilities, ...data };
         }
     }
 
@@ -581,6 +587,30 @@ export class CopilotSession {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Registers the elicitation handler for this session.
+     *
+     * @param handler - The handler to invoke when the server dispatches an elicitation request
+     * @internal This method is typically called internally when creating/resuming a session.
+     */
+    registerElicitationHandler(handler?: ElicitationHandler): void {
+        this.elicitationHandler = handler;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handles an elicitation.request RPC callback from the server.
+     * @internal
+     */
+    async _handleElicitationRequest(
+        request: ElicitationRequest,
+        sessionId: string
+    ): Promise<ElicitationResult> {
+        if (!this.elicitationHandler) {
+            throw new Error("Elicitation requested but no handler registered");
+        }
+        return await this.elicitationHandler(request, { sessionId });
+    }
+
     /**
      * Sets the host capabilities for this session.
      *

nodejs/src/types.ts

@@ -409,6 +409,30 @@ export interface ElicitationParams {
     requestedSchema: ElicitationSchema;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Request payload passed to an elicitation handler callback.
+ * Extends ElicitationParams with optional metadata fields.
+ */
+export interface ElicitationRequest {
+    /** Message describing what information is needed from the user. */
+    message: string;
+    /** JSON Schema describing the form fields to present. */
+    requestedSchema?: ElicitationSchema;
+    /** Elicitation mode: "form" for structured input, "url" for browser redirect. */
+    mode?: "form" | "url";
+    /** The source that initiated the request (e.g. MCP server name). */
+    elicitationSource?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Handler invoked when the server dispatches an elicitation request to this client.
+ * Return an {@link ElicitationResult} with the user's response.
+ */
+export type ElicitationHandler = (
+    request: ElicitationRequest,
+    invocation: { sessionId: string }
+) => Promise<ElicitationResult> | ElicitationResult;
+
 /**
  * Options for the `input()` convenience method.
  */
@@ -1082,6 +1106,13 @@ export interface SessionConfig {
      */
     onUserInputRequest?: UserInputHandler;
 
+    /**
+     * Handler for elicitation requests from the agent.
+     * When provided, the server calls back to this client for form-based UI dialogs.
+     * Also enables the `elicitation` capability on the session.
+     */
+    onElicitationRequest?: ElicitationHandler;
+
     /**
      * Hook handlers for intercepting session lifecycle events.
      * When provided, enables hooks callback allowing custom logic at various points.
@@ -1167,6 +1198,7 @@ export type ResumeSessionConfig = Pick<
     | "reasoningEffort"
     | "onPermissionRequest"
     | "onUserInputRequest"
+    | "onElicitationRequest"
     | "hooks"
     | "workingDirectory"
     | "configDir"

nodejs/test/client.test.ts

@@ -897,5 +897,51 @@ describe("CopilotClient", () => {
                 })
             ).rejects.toThrow(/not supported/);
         });
+
+        it("sends requestElicitation flag when onElicitationRequest is provided", async () => {
+            const client = new CopilotClient();
+            await client.start();
+            onTestFinished(() => client.forceStop());
+
+            const rpcSpy = vi.spyOn((client as any).connection!, "sendRequest");
+
+            const session = await client.createSession({
+                onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
+                onElicitationRequest: async () => ({
+                    action: "accept" as const,
+                    content: {},
+                }),
+            });
+
+            const createCall = rpcSpy.mock.calls.find((c) => c[0] === "session.create");
+            expect(createCall).toBeDefined();
+            expect(createCall![1]).toEqual(
+                expect.objectContaining({
+                    requestElicitation: true,
+                })
+            );
+            rpcSpy.mockRestore();
+        });
+
+        it("does not send requestElicitation when no handler provided", async () => {
+            const client = new CopilotClient();
+            await client.start();
+            onTestFinished(() => client.forceStop());
+
+            const rpcSpy = vi.spyOn((client as any).connection!, "sendRequest");
+
+            const session = await client.createSession({
+                onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
+            });
+
+            const createCall = rpcSpy.mock.calls.find((c) => c[0] === "session.create");
+            expect(createCall).toBeDefined();
+            expect(createCall![1]).toEqual(
+                expect.objectContaining({
+                    requestElicitation: false,
+                })
+            );
+            rpcSpy.mockRestore();
+        });
     });
 });