Get the hierarchical structure of page elements with parent-child relationships
AI agents call getElementHierarchy to retrieve information from PlayMCP Browser Automation Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves DOM hierarchy data for inspection purposes only. It has no side effects, does not execute code or scripts, does not modify page state, and does not interact with external systems. It is a passive read operation similar to other Read-category tools on this server like 'getElementContent', 'getLinks', and 'getImages'.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'getElementHierarchy' and description 'Get the hierarchical structure of page elements with parent-child relationships' indicate a retrieval operation that queries and returns DOM structure information without modifying or executing actions.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access getElementHierarchy gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and PlayMCP Browser Automation Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for getElementHierarchy:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"getElementHierarchy": {}
}
}getElementHierarchy is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get the hierarchical structure of page elements with parent-child relationships. It is categorised as a Read tool in the PlayMCP Browser Automation Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the PlayMCP Browser Automation Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for getElementHierarchy: 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 PlayMCP Browser Automation Server. Nothing to install.
getElementHierarchy 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 getElementHierarchy 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 getElementHierarchy. 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.
getElementHierarchy is provided by the PlayMCP Browser Automation Server MCP server (jomon003/playmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from PlayMCP Browser Automation Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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38 PlayMCP Browser Automation Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.