Resolve a name or partial name to an OpenAlex ID. Returns up to 10 matches with disambiguation hints. ALWAYS use this before filtering by entity — names are ambiguous, IDs are not. Also accepts DOIs directly for quick lookup. Response time ~200ms.
Risk signalsAccepts freeform code/query input (query)
Part of the Openalex server.
Free to start. No card required.
AI agents use openalex_resolve_name to create or modify resources in Openalex. Write operations carry medium risk because an autonomous agent could trigger bulk unintended modifications. Rate limits prevent a single agent session from making hundreds of changes in rapid succession. Argument validation ensures the agent passes expected values.
Without a policy, an AI agent could call openalex_resolve_name repeatedly, creating or modifying resources faster than any human could review. PolicyLayer's rate limiting ensures write operations happen at a controlled pace, and argument validation catches malformed or unexpected inputs before they reach Openalex.
Write tools can modify data. A rate limit prevents runaway bulk operations from AI agents.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"openalex_resolve_name": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "openalex_resolve_name_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}See the full Openalex policy for all 3 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access openalex_resolve_name gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other write tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: rate-limit and validate the arguments.
Resolve a name or partial name to an OpenAlex ID. Returns up to 10 matches with disambiguation hints. ALWAYS use this before filtering by entity — names are ambiguous, IDs are not. Also accepts DOIs directly for quick lookup. Response time ~200ms.. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Openalex MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Openalex MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for openalex_resolve_name: 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 Openalex. Nothing to install.
openalex_resolve_name is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the openalex_resolve_name 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 openalex_resolve_name. 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.
openalex_resolve_name is provided by the Openalex MCP server (cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 3 Openalex tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
4,600+ MCP servers and 31,000+ tools scanned and risk-classified.