# read_file

Read the complete contents of a file from the file system

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

## Facts

- Tool: `read_file`
- 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": "read_file",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why read_file is rated Low

This tool only retrieves file contents without modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a straightforward read operation with minimal blast radius unless the system contains highly sensitive data that an AI agent should not access, but the tool itself performs no destructive, financial, or executable operations.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name is 'read_file' and description states 'Read the complete contents of a file from the file system' — clearly a retrieval operation with no side effects."

## Use case

AI agents call read_file 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": {
    "read_file": {}
  }
}
```

## 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