compare_items
Compare two products, services, or options and get a structured comparison with verdict. Use this for buying decisions, feature comparisons, or evaluating alternatives. Returns pros/cons for each, comparison points across key aspects, and a final verdict on which is better and why. Parameters: it...
This record as markdown: /tools/com-gadgethumans-swarm-x402-middleware/compare-items.md
What compare_items does on X402 Middleware
AI agents call compare_items to retrieve information from X402 Middleware without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
item_a | string | Yes | |
item_b | string | Yes |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why compare_items is rated Low
This tool retrieves and analyzes information to help make decisions but does not create, modify, delete, or charge money. It is purely informational/analytical in nature, making it a Read category risk with low severity since misuse would only result in receiving unhelpful or misleading comparison data.
From the tool's definition Tool performs comparison and analysis of two products/services, returning 'pros/cons for each, comparison points across key aspects, and a final verdict.' No modification, deletion, or financial transaction occurs.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs compare_items safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and X402 Middleware, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For compare_items, this is the rule to start with:
compare_items is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect X402 Middleware, apply this rule, and every compare_items call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about compare_items
Compare two products, services, or options and get a structured comparison with verdict. Use this for buying decisions, feature comparisons, or evaluating alternatives. Returns pros/cons for each, comparison points across key aspects, and a final verdict on which is better and why. Parameters: item_a — First item to compare (e.g. "Herman Miller Aeron"). item_b — Second item to compare (e.g. "Steelcase Gesture"). It is categorised as a Read tool in the X402 Middleware MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
compare_items accepts 2 parameters: item_a, item_b. Required: item_a, item_b. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the X402 Middleware MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for compare_items: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches X402 Middleware. Nothing to install.
compare_items is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the compare_items rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for compare_items. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
compare_items is provided by the X402 Middleware MCP server (@gadgethumans/x402). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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