# roam_search_block_refs

Search for block references within a page or across the entire graph. Can search for references to a specific block, a page title, or find all block references.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `roam_search_block_refs`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-search-block-refs

## Facts

- Tool: `roam_search_block_refs`
- Server: Roam Research (`2b3pro/roam-research-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/2b3pro/roam-research-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade D, 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": "roam_search_block_refs",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why roam_search_block_refs is rated Low

The tool retrieves or queries existing block reference data across the Roam Research graph without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a pure read/search function with no side effects. The low severity reflects that searching for references poses minimal risk even if misused by an AI agent, as it only exposes existing information that the user has access to.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool performs search operations for block references without modifying data. Description explicitly states it 'search[es] for block references' and 'find[s] all block references' - retrieval operations only."

## Use case

AI agents call roam_search_block_refs to retrieve information from Roam Research 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 Roam Research:

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

## Other tools on Roam Research (21)

- `roam_datomic_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-datomic-query.md
- `roam_fetch_block` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-fetch-block.md
- `roam_fetch_page_by_title` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-fetch-page-by-title.md
- `roam_fetch_page_full_view` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-fetch-page-full-view.md
- `roam_find_pages_modified_today` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-find-pages-modified-today.md
- `roam_get_subpages` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-get-subpages.md
- `roam_markdown_cheatsheet` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-markdown-cheatsheet.md
- `roam_recall` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-recall.md
- `roam_search_by_date` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-search-by-date.md
- `roam_search_by_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-search-by-status.md
- `roam_search_by_text` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-search-by-text.md
- `roam_search_for_tag` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-search-for-tag.md
- `roam_search_hierarchy` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-search-hierarchy.md
- `roam_add_todo` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-add-todo.md
- `roam_create_outline` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-create-outline.md
- `roam_create_page` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-create-page.md
- `roam_import_markdown` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-import-markdown.md
- `roam_move_block` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-move-block.md
- `roam_remember` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-remember.md
- `roam_rename_page` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-rename-page.md
- `roam_update_page_markdown` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-update-page-markdown.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=2b3pro-roam-research-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp