# press_key

Press a key or key combination. Use this when other input methods like fill() cannot be used (e.g., keyboard shortcuts, navigation keys, or special key combinations).

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `press_key`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/press-key

## Facts

- Tool: `press_key`
- Server: Chrome Devtools (`@async23/chrome-devtools-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp.md
- Install: `npx -y @async23/chrome-devtools-mcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/Async23/chrome-devtools-mcp
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

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

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

## Why press_key is rated High

Pressing keys triggers browser actions whose effects depend entirely on the arguments and current context — e.g., pressing Enter could submit a form, Delete could remove content, or Ctrl+W could close a tab. This is an external operation with context-dependent side effects, placing it in Execute.

From the tool's own definition: "Press a key or key combination... keyboard shortcuts, navigation keys, or special key combinations"

## Use case

AI agents invoke press_key to trigger actions in Chrome Devtools. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Chrome Devtools:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "press_key": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "press_key_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Chrome Devtools (49)

- `close_heapsnapshot` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/close-heapsnapshot.md
- `close_page` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/close-page.md
- `uninstall_extension` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/uninstall-extension.md
- `click` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/click.md
- `click_at` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/click-at.md
- `drag` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/drag.md
- `emulate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/emulate.md
- `evaluate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/evaluate.md
- `evaluate_script` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/evaluate-script.md
- `execute_3p_developer_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/execute-3p-developer-tool.md
- `execute_webmcp_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/execute-webmcp-tool.md
- `fill_form` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/fill-form.md
- `handle_dialog` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/handle-dialog.md
- `hover` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/hover.md
- `install_extension` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/install-extension.md
- `lighthouse_audit` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/lighthouse-audit.md
- `navigate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/navigate.md
- `performance_start_trace` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/performance-start-trace.md
- `performance_stop_trace` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/performance-stop-trace.md
- `reload_extension` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/reload-extension.md
- `resize_page` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/resize-page.md
- `screencast_stop` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/screencast-stop.md
- `select_page` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/select-page.md
- `trigger_extension_action` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/trigger-extension-action.md
- `type_text` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/type-text.md
- `wait_for` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/wait-for.md
- `compare_heapsnapshots` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/compare-heapsnapshots.md
- `get_console_message` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-console-message.md
- `get_heapsnapshot_class_nodes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-heapsnapshot-class-nodes.md
- `get_heapsnapshot_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-heapsnapshot-details.md
- …and 19 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp.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=async23-chrome-devtools-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/async23-chrome-devtools-mcp