diff --git a/internal/server/features_test.go b/internal/server/features_test.go
index 5c9b07a..0248fa0 100644
--- a/internal/server/features_test.go
+++ b/internal/server/features_test.go
@@ -150,6 +150,69 @@ func TestASTQueryFormatLocation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestASTQuerySkipsDependencyDirs verifies ast_query excludes node_modules/vendor
+// by default (they flood results with third-party code) but still searches them
+// when the caller targets one explicitly via paths (the walk root is never skipped).
+func TestASTQuerySkipsDependencyDirs(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, tmpDir := newFeaturesServer(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	deps := map[string]string{
+		"node_modules": "NodeModulesDep",
+		"vendor":       "VendorDep",
+	}
+	for dir, fn := range deps {
+		full := filepath.Join(tmpDir, dir)
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(full, 0o750); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		src := "package dep\n\nfunc " + fn + "() string { return \"\" }\n"
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(full, "dep.go"), []byte(src), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Default: workspace-root query must skip the dependency dirs.
+	req := mcp.CallToolRequest{}
+	req.Params.Arguments = map[string]interface{}{
+		"pattern":  "func $NAME() string",
+		"language": "go",
+		"paths":    []interface{}{tmpDir},
+		"format":   "location",
+	}
+	res, err := srv.handleASTQuery(ctx, req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("default query error: %v", err)
+	}
+	// location format prints file:line, so assert on paths.
+	text := res.Content[0].(mcp.TextContent).Text
+	if !strings.Contains(text, "a.go") {
+		t.Errorf("default query should find top-level a.go, got:\n%s", text)
+	}
+	for dir := range deps {
+		if strings.Contains(text, dir+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+			t.Errorf("default query must skip %s, got:\n%s", dir, text)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Explicit target: querying inside node_modules must still find its code.
+	req2 := mcp.CallToolRequest{}
+	req2.Params.Arguments = map[string]interface{}{
+		"pattern":  "func $NAME() string",
+		"language": "go",
+		"paths":    []interface{}{filepath.Join(tmpDir, "node_modules")},
+		"format":   "location",
+	}
+	res2, err := srv.handleASTQuery(ctx, req2)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit-target query error: %v", err)
+	}
+	text2 := res2.Content[0].(mcp.TextContent).Text
+	if !strings.Contains(text2, "node_modules"+string(filepath.Separator)+"dep.go") {
+		t.Errorf("explicit node_modules target must find node_modules/dep.go, got:\n%s", text2)
+	}
+}
+
 // ---- Feature 3 (ast_query): pagination cursor ----
 
 func TestASTQueryPaginationCursor(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/server/handlers_ast.go b/internal/server/handlers_ast.go
index 8865c5f..f629454 100644
--- a/internal/server/handlers_ast.go
+++ b/internal/server/handlers_ast.go
@@ -131,7 +131,10 @@ func (s *Server) runASTQueryWalk(ctx context.Context, p *astQueryParams, exts []
 				return nil
 			}
 			if info.IsDir() {
-				if strings.HasPrefix(info.Name(), ".") {
+				// Skip hidden and dependency dirs (third-party code that would
+				// flood results), but never the walk root itself — the caller
+				// explicitly targeted it, e.g. paths:["vendor/foo"].
+				if path != searchPath && (strings.HasPrefix(info.Name(), ".") || isDependencyDir(info.Name())) {
 					return filepath.SkipDir
 				}
 				return nil
@@ -172,6 +175,19 @@ func (s *Server) runASTQueryWalk(ctx context.Context, p *astQueryParams, exts []
 	return allResults
 }
 
+// isDependencyDir reports whether name is a well-known third-party dependency
+// directory that ast_query skips by default. These hold vendored/installed code,
+// not the caller's source, and parsing them wastes time and floods results with
+// irrelevant matches. Target one explicitly via paths to query inside it.
+func isDependencyDir(name string) bool {
+	switch name {
+	case "node_modules", "vendor", "bower_components":
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
 // hasAnySuffix reports whether path ends with any of the given suffixes.
 func hasAnySuffix(path string, suffixes []string) bool {
 	for _, ext := range suffixes {
diff --git a/internal/server/help_content.go b/internal/server/help_content.go
index 1414609..33ddc7c 100644
--- a/internal/server/help_content.go
+++ b/internal/server/help_content.go
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ const helpASTQuery = "# ast_query — flags and examples\n\n" +
 	"Captured `$VAR` values appear in output but do not constrain which nodes match.\n\n" +
 	"For precise selection, combine the pattern with `name_exact`, `name_matches`, and/or `kind_in` — " +
 	"these ARE applied as filters.\n\n" +
+	"## Scope\n\n" +
+	"The walk skips hidden directories (dot-prefixed) and dependency directories " +
+	"(`node_modules`, `vendor`, `bower_components`) — these hold third-party code that would " +
+	"flood results. To query inside one, name it explicitly in `paths` (e.g. `\"paths\": [\"vendor/foo\"]`); " +
+	"the targeted root is never skipped. Note: unlike file_search, ast_query does not consult .gitignore.\n\n" +
 	"## Examples\n\n" +
 	"```json\n" +
 	"// All Go functions/methods (the 'error' return is NOT enforced — add name_/kind_in to narrow)\n" +
diff --git a/internal/server/server.go b/internal/server/server.go
index 72324dc..d6e554a 100644
--- a/internal/server/server.go
+++ b/internal/server/server.go
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ func (s *Server) registerTools() {
 		mcp.NewTool("ast_query",
 			mcp.WithDescription("Search for AST patterns in code files. Use code patterns with $VAR placeholders to match and capture code structures like functions, classes, and types. "+
 				"Matching is keyword/kind-based, not fully structural: argument and return-type constraints in the pattern are not enforced — use name_exact/name_matches/kind_in to filter precisely. "+
+				"Hidden dirs and dependency dirs (node_modules, vendor, bower_components) are skipped unless targeted explicitly via paths. "+
 				"See resource filepuff://help/ast_query for flags and examples."),
 			mcp.WithReadOnlyHintAnnotation(true),
 			mcp.WithString("pattern",