# list_containers

List Docker containers

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_containers`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/list-containers

## Facts

- Tool: `list_containers`
- Server: Ncp (`@portel/ncp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp.md
- Install: `npx -y @portel/ncp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/portel-dev/ncp
- 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": "list_containers",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_containers is rated Low

This tool performs a read-only query of Docker container metadata. It retrieves information about running or existing containers without side effects, mutations, or code execution. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an AI agent could only enumerate containers, which may expose some infrastructure details but cannot modify state or trigger actions.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'list_containers' and description 'List Docker containers' indicate a retrieval operation that queries container state without modifying or executing anything."

## Use case

AI agents call list_containers to retrieve information from Ncp 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 Ncp:

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

## Other tools on Ncp (274)

- `backup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/backup.md
- `bulk_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/bulk-delete.md
- `delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete.md
- `delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-event.md
- `delete_key` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-key.md
- `delete_memory` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-memory.md
- `purge_cache` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/purge-cache.md
- `remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/remove.md
- `remove_container` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/remove-container.md
- `write_query` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/write-query.md
- `apply` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/apply.md
- `apply_manifest` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/apply-manifest.md
- `build_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/build-image.md
- `build_job` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/build-job.md
- `bulk_operations` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/bulk-operations.md
- `click_element` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/click-element.md
- `clone` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/clone.md
- `connect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/connect.md
- `consume` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/consume.md
- `create_completion` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-completion.md
- `create_context` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-context.md
- `create_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-image.md
- `create_prediction` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-prediction.md
- `create_video` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-video.md
- `deploy` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy.md
- `deploy_project` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-project.md
- `deploy_server` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-server.md
- `deploy_site` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-site.md
- `exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/exec.md
- `exec_async` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/exec-async.md
- …and 244 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp.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-portel-dev-ncp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-portel-dev-ncp