# roam_search_by_text

Search for blocks containing specific text across all pages or within a specific page. Use

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

## Facts

- Tool: `roam_search_by_text`
- 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_by_text",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why roam_search_by_text is rated Low

This tool performs a search query that retrieves matching blocks but does not create, modify, delete, or execute any operations. It has no side effects and returns data only. The blast radius is minimal as misuse would only result in information disclosure, not data corruption or loss.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states 'Search for blocks containing specific text across all pages or within a specific page.' The verb 'search' and the readonly nature of querying text content without modification confirm this is a retrieval operation."

## Use case

AI agents call roam_search_by_text 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_by_text": {}
  }
}
```

## 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_block_refs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/2b3pro-roam-research-mcp/roam-search-block-refs.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_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`

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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
