compact

Compact the session history.

SERVEROpenClaw SOURCEopenclaw

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity verified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/openclaw/compact.md

WHAT IT DOES

What compact does on OpenClaw

AI agents use compact to create or update resources in OpenClaw, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your OpenClaw environment.

RISK

Why compact is rated Medium

The tool modifies session history (a form of data) by compacting it, which is a reversible operation that reduces size or reorganizes records without deletion. This aligns with Write category behavior. Severity is low because session history compaction is unlikely to cause significant harm—it's a maintenance operation with limited blast radius if misused by an agent.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'compact' with description 'Compact the session history' indicates modification of existing session data through consolidation or optimization.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs compact safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and OpenClaw, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For compact, this is the rule to start with:

compact Rate-limited

compact stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "compact": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "compact_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect OpenClaw, apply this rule, and every compact call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about compact

What does the compact tool do? +

Compact the session history. It is categorised as a Write tool in the OpenClaw MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on compact? +

Register the OpenClaw MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for compact: 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 OpenClaw. Nothing to install.

What risk level is compact? +

compact is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit compact? +

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

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

compact is provided by the OpenClaw MCP server (openclaw). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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