search_symbols

ServerKiCAD-MCP-Server
CategoryRead

WHAT IT DOES

What search_symbols does on KiCAD-MCP-Server

AI agents call search_symbols 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 search_symbols needs a policy

This tool performs a read-only search operation on local KiCAD symbol libraries. It queries existing data by name, ID, description, manufacturer, MPN, or category and returns references without creating, modifying, or deleting any symbols or data. There are no side effects or irreversible actions.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'search_symbols' and description states it 'Search for symbols in local KiCAD symbol libraries' and 'Returns symbol references'. The verbs 'search', 'find', and 'returns' indicate query/retrieval operations with no modification of state.

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

POLICY

How to control search_symbols

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 search_symbols:

policy.json

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

search_symbols 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.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

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 →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about search_symbols

What does the search_symbols tool do? +

Search for symbols in local KiCAD symbol libraries. Searches by: symbol name, LCSC ID, description, manufacturer, MPN, category. Use this to find components already in your local libraries (e.g., JLCPCB-KiCad-Library). Returns symbol references that can be used directly in schematics. 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 search_symbols? +

Register the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_symbols: 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 search_symbols? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_symbols? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_symbols 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 search_symbols completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_symbols. 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 search_symbols? +

search_symbols 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.

CHECK YOUR STACK →

Free to start. No card required.

157 KiCAD-MCP-Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.