# list_snapshots

Lists all saved render snapshots with their timestamps.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_snapshots`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/list-snapshots

## Facts

- Tool: `list_snapshots`
- Server: Why Did You Render (`0x1f320/why-did-you-render-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/0x1f320/why-did-you-render-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "list_snapshots",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_snapshots is rated Low

This tool queries and returns a list of existing snapshots with metadata (timestamps). It performs no write, execute, destructive, or financial operations. The action is purely informational retrieval, making it a Read category tool with low severity since it only accesses diagnostic performance data without altering system state.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'list_snapshots' and description 'Lists all saved render snapshots' indicate a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects."

## Use case

AI agents call list_snapshots to retrieve information from Why Did You Render without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Why Did You Render:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_snapshots": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Why Did You Render (13)

- `clear_renders` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/clear-renders.md
- `delete_snapshot` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/delete-snapshot.md
- `pause_renders` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/pause-renders.md
- `wait_for_renders` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/wait-for-renders.md
- `compare_snapshots` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/compare-snapshots.md
- `get_commits` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/get-commits.md
- `get_projects` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/get-projects.md
- `get_render_summary` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/get-render-summary.md
- `get_renders` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/get-renders.md
- `get_renders_by_commit` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/get-renders-by-commit.md
- `get_tracked_components` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/get-tracked-components.md
- `resume_renders` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/resume-renders.md
- `save_snapshot` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/save-snapshot.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp