# mcp_list_collections

List all collections in the specified database.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `mcp_list_collections`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-list-collections

## Facts

- Tool: `mcp_list_collections`
- Server: Mongo-MCP (`441126098/mongo-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/441126098/mongo-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": "mcp_list_collections",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why mcp_list_collections is rated Low

This tool performs a read-only operation that retrieves structural information about a MongoDB database. It has no side effects, does not execute code, and does not modify or delete data. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an attacker could only enumerate database structure to inform further attacks, but the tool itself causes no damage. This is a straightforward Read category operation.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'list_collections' and description 'List all collections in the specified database' indicate a query operation that retrieves metadata about existing collections without modifying or deleting data."

## Use case

AI agents call mcp_list_collections to retrieve information from Mongo-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 Mongo-MCP:

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

## Other tools on Mongo-MCP (29)

- `mcp_delete_document` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-delete-document.md
- `mcp_drop_collection` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-drop-collection.md
- `mcp_drop_database` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-drop-database.md
- `mcp_drop_index` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-drop-index.md
- `mcp_aggregate_documents` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-aggregate-documents.md
- `mcp_reindex_collection` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-reindex-collection.md
- `mcp_count_documents` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-count-documents.md
- `mcp_distinct_values` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-distinct-values.md
- `mcp_find_documents` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-find-documents.md
- `mcp_find_one_document` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-find-one-document.md
- `mcp_get_collection_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-get-collection-stats.md
- `mcp_get_connection_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-get-connection-details.md
- `mcp_get_database_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-get-database-stats.md
- `mcp_get_replica_set_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-get-replica-set-status.md
- `mcp_get_server_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-get-server-status.md
- `mcp_list_databases` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-list-databases.md
- `mcp_list_indexes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-list-indexes.md
- `mcp_ping_database` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-ping-database.md
- `mcp_test_mongodb_connection` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-test-mongodb-connection.md
- `mcp_create_collection` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-create-collection.md
- `mcp_create_compound_index` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-create-compound-index.md
- `mcp_create_database` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-create-database.md
- `mcp_create_index` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-create-index.md
- `mcp_create_text_index` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-create-text-index.md
- `mcp_insert_document` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-insert-document.md
- `mcp_insert_many_documents` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-insert-many-documents.md
- `mcp_rename_collection` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-rename-collection.md
- `mcp_replace_document` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-replace-document.md
- `mcp_update_document` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/441126098-mongo-mcp/mcp-update-document.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=441126098-mongo-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/441126098-mongo-mcp