find_overlapping_elements

Detect spatially overlapping symbols, wires, and labels in the schematic. Finds duplicate power symbols at the same position, collinear overlapping wires, and labels stacked on top of each other.

ServerKiCAD-MCP-Server
CategoryRead

How to control find_overlapping_elements ↓

WHAT IT DOES

What find_overlapping_elements does on KiCAD-MCP-Server

AI agents call find_overlapping_elements to retrieve information from KiCAD-MCP-Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why find_overlapping_elements needs a policy

This tool retrieves or queries the state of the schematic to identify spatial overlaps. It has no side effects, creates no modifications, and does not execute external operations or manipulate data. It is a read-only inspection tool suitable for validation and debugging of circuit designs.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'find_overlapping_elements' and description 'Detect spatially overlapping symbols, wires, and labels' — performs analysis and detection without modifying the schematic. Uses verbs like 'Detect' and 'Finds' indicating inspection/query operations.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access find_overlapping_elements gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control find_overlapping_elements

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and KiCAD-MCP-Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for find_overlapping_elements:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "find_overlapping_elements": {}
  }
}

find_overlapping_elements is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register KiCAD-MCP-Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More KiCAD-MCP-Server tools

Destructive delete_component Remove a component from the PCB by its reference designator. Destructive delete_schematic_component Remove a placed symbol from a KiCAD schematic (.kicad_sch). This removes the symbol insta Destructive delete_schematic_net_label Remove a net label from the schematic. Destructive delete_schematic_wire Remove a wire from the schematic by start and end coordinates. Destructive delete_symbol Remove a symbol from a .kicad_sym library file. Destructive delete_trace Delete traces from the PCB. Can delete by UUID, position, or bulk-delete all traces on a n Destructive remove_schematic_component_property Remove a single custom property from a placed schematic symbol. Built-in fields (Referenc Execute autoroute Run Freerouting autorouter on the current PCB. Exports to Specctra DSN, runs Freerouting C

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
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FAQ

Questions about find_overlapping_elements

What does the find_overlapping_elements tool do? +

Detect spatially overlapping symbols, wires, and labels in the schematic. Finds duplicate power symbols at the same position, collinear overlapping wires, and labels stacked on top of each other. It is categorised as a Read tool in the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on find_overlapping_elements? +

Register the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for find_overlapping_elements: 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 KiCAD-MCP-Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is find_overlapping_elements? +

find_overlapping_elements is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit find_overlapping_elements? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the find_overlapping_elements 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.

How do I block find_overlapping_elements completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for find_overlapping_elements. 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.

What MCP server provides find_overlapping_elements? +

find_overlapping_elements is provided by the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server (mixelpixx/kicad-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every KiCAD-MCP-Server tool call.

Start from KiCAD-MCP-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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