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 per...

SERVERIconnect SOURCEiconnect-mcp
Low RISK CLASS
Category Read
Parameters 00 required
Recommended Allowedsee the rule below
Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/ui-read.md

What ui_read does on Iconnect

AI agents call ui_read to retrieve information from Iconnect without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Why ui_read is rated Low

This tool retrieves structural information about UI elements from the macOS accessibility tree. It is purely informational—it does not modify, execute, delete, or transfer anything. The accessible data (UI element roles, names, positions) poses minimal direct risk when read.

From the tool's definition Tool 'ui_read' explicitly 'Read the accessibility tree' and 'Returns structured data about all visible UI elements' with 'no side effects' characteristic of read operations that retrieve information without modification.

Questions about ui_read

What does the ui_read tool do? +

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. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Iconnect MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on ui_read? +

Register the Iconnect MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ui_read: 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 Iconnect. Nothing to install.

What risk level is ui_read? +

ui_read is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit ui_read? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the ui_read 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.

How do I block ui_read completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for ui_read. 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.

What MCP server provides ui_read? +

ui_read is provided by the Iconnect MCP server (iconnect-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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