serper-search-skill

name	serper-search-skill
description	Search the web using Serper API for Google-powered search results including web, news, images, and places.
allowed-tools	serper_search
metadata	{"author":"opencompany","version":"1.0","category":"search"}

Serper Search Skill

Search the web using the Serper API, which provides Google Search results via a simple API. Supports web search, news, images, and places.

How It Works

This skill provides instructions and context. To execute searches, connect the Serper Search node to the agent's input-tools handle.

serper_search Tool

Search Google via Serper API and get structured results.

Schema Fields

Field	Type	Required	Description
query	string	Yes	Search query to look up on Google

Node Parameters

Additional options configured on the node:

Parameter	Default	Description
maxResults	10	Number of results to return (max 100)
searchType	search	Type: search (web), news, images, places
country	(empty)	Country code for regional results (gl parameter)
language	(empty)	Language code for results (hl parameter)

Response Format

Web search:

{
  "query": "artificial intelligence news",
  "results": [
    {
      "title": "AI Breakthrough in Medical Research",
      "snippet": "Researchers have developed a new AI model...",
      "url": "https://example.com/ai-research",
      "position": 1
    }
  ],
  "result_count": 10,
  "search_type": "search",
  "provider": "serper",
  "knowledge_graph": {
    "title": "Artificial Intelligence",
    "description": "..."
  }
}

News search:

{
  "query": "technology news today",
  "results": [
    {
      "title": "Tech Industry Update",
      "snippet": "Major developments in...",
      "url": "https://example.com/news",
      "date": "2 hours ago",
      "source": "TechCrunch"
    }
  ],
  "search_type": "news",
  "provider": "serper"
}

Images search:

{
  "query": "aurora borealis photos",
  "results": [
    {
      "title": "Northern Lights Over Iceland",
      "imageUrl": "https://example.com/image.jpg",
      "url": "https://example.com/gallery"
    }
  ],
  "search_type": "images",
  "provider": "serper"
}

Places search:

{
  "query": "coffee shops near me",
  "results": [
    {
      "title": "Blue Bottle Coffee",
      "address": "123 Main St, San Francisco, CA",
      "rating": 4.5,
      "url": "https://bluebottlecoffee.com"
    }
  ],
  "search_type": "places",
  "provider": "serper"
}

Examples

Web search:

{
  "query": "Python 3.13 new features"
}

News search (set searchType to "news" on node):

{
  "query": "stock market today"
}

Places search (set searchType to "places" on node):

{
  "query": "Italian restaurants in Manhattan"
}

When to Use Serper Search

• Google-quality results - Powered by Google's search index
• News search - Set searchType to "news" for current headlines with sources and dates
• Image search - Set searchType to "images" for visual content
• Places/Local search - Set searchType to "places" for business listings with ratings
• Knowledge Graph - Includes Google Knowledge Graph data when available

When NOT to Use Serper Search

• AI-powered answers - Use Perplexity instead for synthesized answers
• Privacy-focused search - Use Brave Search instead
• Simple calculations - Use the calculator tool
• Creative tasks - Writing, brainstorming, analysis

Search Query Best Practices

• Use specific, focused queries (under 10 words when possible)
• Include relevant keywords, dates, and context
• Use Google search operators: site:, filetype:, intitle:, -exclude
• Break complex questions into simpler searches

API Details

• API: POST https://google.serper.dev/search (also /news, /images, /places)
• Auth: X-API-KEY header
• Pricing: ~$0.001 per query (one of the cheapest Google SERP APIs)

Setup Requirements

1. Connect this skill to the agent's input-skill handle
2. Connect the Serper Search node to the agent's input-tools handle
3. Add your Serper API key in Credentials > Scrapers