> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://nevermined.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# list_categories

> Catalog MCP tool: list the categories and sub-categories of paid services in the Nevermined Agent Services Catalog, with a count each.

List the Catalog's categories and sub-categories, each with a count. **Discovery only — free, no credential, nothing charged.** See the [overview](/docs/mcp/catalog-mcp/overview) for transport and conventions.

**Auth:** free · **Charges:** nothing

## Arguments

None.

## Returns

An array of categories, each with its sub-categories:

```json theme={null}
[
  {
    "category": "AI & Media",
    "count": 18,
    "subCategories": [
      { "subCategory": "Media generation", "count": 5 },
      { "subCategory": "LLM inference", "count": 1 }
    ]
  },
  {
    "category": "Crypto & Blockchain",
    "count": 29,
    "subCategories": [
      { "subCategory": "Crypto market data", "count": 8 },
      { "subCategory": "Blockchain data", "count": 5 }
    ]
  }
]
```

<Note>
  The category names returned here are **not** stored as tags. Passing one as the `category` filter of [`search_services`](/docs/mcp/catalog-mcp/search-services) or [`route_by_intent`](/docs/mcp/catalog-mcp/route-by-intent) matches nothing — put a category name in `query` / `intent` instead. The `category` filter matches a listing's `tags`.
</Note>

## Try it

**Ask your assistant:**

> Using the Nevermined connector, list the catalog categories.

**Call it directly** (discovery is free — no credential needed):

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://mcp.live.nevermined.app/mcp \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"list_categories","arguments":{}}}'
```


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