# describe_element

Get detailed information about a DOM element. Args: node_id: Node ID of the element depth: Depth of child nodes to include Returns: Detailed element description including tag, attributes, and children

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `describe_element`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/describe-element

## Facts

- Tool: `describe_element`
- Server: Chrome Devtools (`benjaminr/chrome-devtools-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/benjaminr/chrome-devtools-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": "describe_element",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why describe_element is rated Low

This is a retrieval operation with no side effects. It queries and returns information about the DOM structure without modifying, executing code, or affecting any state. The return value is purely informational data about element properties and children. This fits the 'Read' category as a query/get operation.

From the tool's own definition: "The tool 'describe_element' retrieves detailed information about a DOM element by querying node properties, attributes, and hierarchy."

## Use case

AI agents call describe_element to retrieve information from Chrome Devtools 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 Chrome Devtools:

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

## Other tools on Chrome Devtools (46)

- `clear_all_cookies` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/clear-all-cookies.md
- `clear_storage_for_origin` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/clear-storage-for-origin.md
- `clear_console` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/clear-console.md
- `connect_to_browser` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/connect-to-browser.md
- `evaluate_in_all_frames` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/evaluate-in-all-frames.md
- `execute_javascript` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/execute-javascript.md
- `focus_element` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/focus-element.md
- `inspect_console_object` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/inspect-console-object.md
- `navigate_to_url` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/navigate-to-url.md
- `override_storage_quota` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/override-storage-quota.md
- `start_chrome` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/start-chrome.md
- `start_chrome_and_connect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/start-chrome-and-connect.md
- `start_css_coverage_tracking` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/start-css-coverage-tracking.md
- `track_indexeddb` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/track-indexeddb.md
- `disconnect_from_browser` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/disconnect-from-browser.md
- `collect_css_class_names` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/collect-css-class-names.md
- `get_all_cookies` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-all-cookies.md
- `get_background_colors` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-background-colors.md
- `get_computed_styles` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-computed-styles.md
- `get_connection_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-connection-status.md
- `get_console_error_summary` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-console-error-summary.md
- `get_console_logs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-console-logs.md
- `get_cookies` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-cookies.md
- `get_document` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-document.md
- `get_element_at_position` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-element-at-position.md
- `get_element_attributes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-element-attributes.md
- `get_element_box_model` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-element-box-model.md
- `get_element_outer_html` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-element-outer-html.md
- `get_inline_styles` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-inline-styles.md
- `get_matched_styles` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp/get-matched-styles.md
- …and 16 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/benjaminr-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=benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/benjaminr-chrome-devtools-mcp