# explain_sql

Explain a SQL query in plain English

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `explain_sql`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/explain-sql

## Facts

- Tool: `explain_sql`
- Server: Metabase MCP (`1luvc0d3/metabase-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/1luvc0d3/metabase-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": "explain_sql",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why explain_sql is rated Low

This tool performs query analysis and explanation only—a retrieval and informational operation. It does not execute SQL, modify data, or trigger side effects. The worst-case misuse would be explaining sensitive queries to reveal their structure, but this is a read-only information disclosure risk rather than a data manipulation or execution risk. Severity is low because explanation alone cannot alter system state.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'explain_sql' and description 'Explain a SQL query in plain English' indicates this tool analyzes and describes existing SQL queries without executing them or modifying any data."

## Use case

AI agents call explain_sql to retrieve information from Metabase MCP 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 Metabase MCP:

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

## Other tools on Metabase MCP (29)

- `delete_card` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/delete-card.md
- `delete_dashboard` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/delete-dashboard.md
- `remove_card_from_dashboard` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/remove-card-from-dashboard.md
- `ask_data` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/ask-data.md
- `batch_execute` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/batch-execute.md
- `execute_card` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/execute-card.md
- `execute_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/execute-query.md
- `nlq_to_sql` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/nlq-to-sql.md
- `run_workflow` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/run-workflow.md
- `compare_metrics` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/compare-metrics.md
- `generate_insights` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/generate-insights.md
- `get_card` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/get-card.md
- `get_collections` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/get-collections.md
- `get_dashboard` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/get-dashboard.md
- `get_database_schema` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/get-database-schema.md
- `list_cards` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/list-cards.md
- `list_dashboards` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/list-dashboards.md
- `list_databases` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/list-databases.md
- `optimize_sql` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/optimize-sql.md
- `search_content` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/search-content.md
- `trend_analysis` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/trend-analysis.md
- `validate_sql` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/validate-sql.md
- `add_card_to_dashboard` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/add-card-to-dashboard.md
- `create_card` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/create-card.md
- `create_collection` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/create-collection.md
- `create_dashboard` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/create-dashboard.md
- `move_to_collection` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/move-to-collection.md
- `update_card` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/update-card.md
- `update_dashboard` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp/update-dashboard.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=1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/1luvc0d3-metabase-mcp