# ui_read

Read the accessibility tree of the frontmost app (or specified app). Returns structured data about all visible UI elements including their roles, names, values, positions, and hierarchy. Use this to understand what UI elements are available before interacting with them. Requires Accessibility permissions.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `ui_read`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/ui-read

## Facts

- Tool: `ui_read`
- Server: AirMCP (`airmcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp.md
- Install: `npx -y airmcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/heznpc/AirMCP
- 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": "ui_read",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why ui_read is rated Low

This tool retrieves and queries data about the current state of UI elements (roles, names, values, positions, hierarchy) without modifying, creating, deleting, or executing actions. It is strictly informational and serves as a prerequisite for understanding the UI before interaction. The blast radius is minimal—it only exposes what is already visually accessible to the user.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name is 'ui_read' and description explicitly states it 'Read[s] the accessibility tree' and 'Returns structured data about all visible UI elements' with 'no side effects' implied by the read-only nature of querying UI state."

## Use case

AI agents call ui_read to retrieve information from AirMCP 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 AirMCP:

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

## Other tools on AirMCP (278)

- `close_tab` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/close-tab.md
- `delete_contact` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-contact.md
- `delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-event.md
- `delete_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-note.md
- `delete_photos` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-photos.md
- `delete_playlist` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-playlist.md
- `delete_reminder` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-reminder.md
- `delete_reminder_list` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-reminder-list.md
- `delete_shortcut` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-shortcut.md
- `memory_forget` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/memory-forget.md
- `move_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/move-note.md
- `quit_app` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/quit-app.md
- `remove_from_playlist` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/remove-from-playlist.md
- `semantic_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/semantic-clear.md
- `semantic_index` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/semantic-index.md
- `spotlight_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/spotlight-clear.md
- `system_power` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/system-power.md
- `trash_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/trash-file.md
- `activate_tab` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/activate-tab.md
- `ai_agent` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/ai-agent.md
- `ai_chat` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/ai-chat.md
- `ai_plan_metrics` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/ai-plan-metrics.md
- `connect_bluetooth` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/connect-bluetooth.md
- `disconnect_bluetooth` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/disconnect-bluetooth.md
- `drop_pin` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/drop-pin.md
- `duplicate_shortcut` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/duplicate-shortcut.md
- `edit_shortcut` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/edit-shortcut.md
- `event_subscribe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/event-subscribe.md
- `generate_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/generate-image.md
- `generate_structured` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/generate-structured.md
- …and 248 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp.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`

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Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=heznpc-airmcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/heznpc-airmcp