# 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/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/ui-read

## Facts

- Tool: `ui_read`
- Server: Iconnect (`iconnect-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect.md
- Install: `npx -y iconnect-mcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/heznpc/iConnect
- 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 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 own 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."

## Use case

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.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Iconnect:

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

## Other tools on Iconnect (278)

- `delete_contact` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-contact.md
- `delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-event.md
- `delete_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-note.md
- `delete_photos` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-photos.md
- `delete_playlist` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-playlist.md
- `delete_reminder` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-reminder.md
- `delete_reminder_list` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-reminder-list.md
- `delete_shortcut` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/delete-shortcut.md
- `memory_forget` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/memory-forget.md
- `move_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/move-note.md
- `remove_from_playlist` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/remove-from-playlist.md
- `semantic_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/semantic-clear.md
- `spotlight_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/spotlight-clear.md
- `trash_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/trash-file.md
- `activate_tab` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/activate-tab.md
- `ai_agent` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/ai-agent.md
- `ai_chat` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/ai-chat.md
- `ai_plan_metrics` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/ai-plan-metrics.md
- `connect_bluetooth` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/connect-bluetooth.md
- `disconnect_bluetooth` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/disconnect-bluetooth.md
- `edit_shortcut` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/edit-shortcut.md
- `event_subscribe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/event-subscribe.md
- `generate_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/generate-image.md
- `generate_text` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/generate-text.md
- `gws_raw` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/gws-raw.md
- `import_shortcut` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/import-shortcut.md
- `keynote_start_slideshow` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/keynote-start-slideshow.md
- `launch_app` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/launch-app.md
- `local_llm_generate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/local-llm-generate.md
- `minimize_window` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect/minimize-window.md
- …and 248 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-heznpc-iconnect.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=io-github-heznpc-iconnect · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-heznpc-iconnect