publicapis_search
Search the Public APIs directory for free APIs by name or category.
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-malamutemayhem-unclick-mcp-server/publicapis-search.md
What publicapis_search does on UnClick
AI agents call publicapis_search to retrieve information from UnClick 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
auth | string | — | Auth type filter: apiKey, OAuth, or empty for none |
https | boolean | — | Filter HTTPS-only APIs |
title | string | — | API name to search for |
category | string | — | Category filter (use publicapis_categories for list) |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why publicapis_search is rated Low
This tool performs a read-only search operation against a directory of public APIs. It retrieves data based on search parameters (name or category) but has no side effects, cannot modify state, and poses minimal risk if misused by an AI agent. The worst outcome would be retrieving information the agent shouldn't have access to, but that is not inherent to the tool itself.
From the tool's definition Tool name includes 'search' and description states 'Search the Public APIs directory for free APIs by name or category' — a query-only operation that retrieves information without modification.
Risk signalsHandles credentials or secrets (auth)
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs publicapis_search safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and UnClick, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For publicapis_search, this is the rule to start with:
publicapis_search 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 UnClick, apply this rule, and every publicapis_search call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about publicapis_search
Search the Public APIs directory for free APIs by name or category. It is categorised as a Read tool in the UnClick MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
publicapis_search accepts 4 parameters: auth, https, title, category. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the UnClick MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for publicapis_search: 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 UnClick. Nothing to install.
publicapis_search 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 publicapis_search 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 publicapis_search. 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.
publicapis_search is provided by the UnClick MCP server (@unclick/mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
More on UnClick, and thousands of servers like it.
This server
Across the catalogue