# git_branch

List Git branches

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `git_branch`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-branch

## Facts

- Tool: `git_branch`
- Server: Git (`@modelcontextprotocol/server-git`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/git.md
- Install: `npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-git`
- Homepage: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/server-git
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade D, identity verified
- 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": "git_branch",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why git_branch is rated Low

This tool lists existing Git branches, which is a read-only operation with no side effects. It retrieves and presents information about the repository's branch structure without creating, modifying, or deleting any data. The low severity reflects minimal risk even if misused by an AI agent.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'git_branch' with description 'List Git branches' indicates a query operation that retrieves information about branches without modifying any data."

## Use case

AI agents call git_branch to retrieve information from Git 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 Git:

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

## Other tools on Git (13)

- `git_checkout` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-checkout.md
- `git_diff` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-diff.md
- `git_diff_staged` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-diff-staged.md
- `git_diff_unstaged` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-diff-unstaged.md
- `git_log` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-log.md
- `git_show` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-show.md
- `git_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-status.md
- `git_add` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-add.md
- `git_clone` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-clone.md
- `git_commit` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-commit.md
- `git_create_branch` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-create-branch.md
- `git_init` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-init.md
- `git_reset` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/git/git-reset.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=git · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/git