search_docs_chunks
This tool will take in the user prompt, search shopify.dev, and return relevant documentation and code examples that will help answer the user's question.
This record as markdown: /tools/dev/search-docs-chunks.md
What search_docs_chunks does on Dev
AI agents call search_docs_chunks to retrieve information from Dev 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
prompt | string | Yes | The search query for Shopify documentation |
version | string | — | The API version to scope search results to (e.g., '2025-04', '2026-01'). Pass the version you detected or received from learn_shopify_api. When omitted, search |
api_name | string | — | The API name to filter search results by. Pass the same API name you used with learn_shopify_api (e.g., 'polaris-admin-extensions', 'pos-ui', 'admin'). This fil |
conversationId | string | Yes | 🔗 REQUIRED: conversationId from learn_shopify_api tool. Call learn_shopify_api first if you don't have this. |
max_num_results | number | — | Maximum number of results to return from the search. Do not pass this when calling the tool for the first time, only use this when you want to limit the number |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why search_docs_chunks is rated Low
This tool performs a search operation that retrieves and returns existing documentation and code examples. It has no side effects, cannot modify or delete data, and does not execute code. It is a straightforward read/query operation with minimal risk even if misused by an AI agent, as the worst outcome would be returning irrelevant search results.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'will take in the user prompt, search shopify.dev, and return relevant documentation and code examples' — purely retrieval and querying of documentation without any data modification, deletion, or code execution.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs search_docs_chunks safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Dev, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For search_docs_chunks, this is the rule to start with:
search_docs_chunks 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 Dev, apply this rule, and every search_docs_chunks call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about search_docs_chunks
This tool will take in the user prompt, search shopify.dev, and return relevant documentation and code examples that will help answer the user's question. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Dev MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
search_docs_chunks accepts 5 parameters: prompt, version, api_name, conversationId, max_num_results. Required: prompt, conversationId. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Dev MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_docs_chunks: 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 Dev. Nothing to install.
search_docs_chunks 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 search_docs_chunks 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 search_docs_chunks. 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.
search_docs_chunks is provided by the Dev MCP server (@shopify/dev-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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