| name | web-search |
| description | Search the web using the agent's built-in WebSearch tool. Use when you need to find current information, verify facts, or research topics. No API key required. Keywords: search, web, internet, lookup, find, research, current events, facts. |
| license | MIT |
| compatibility | Works with any agent that has WebSearch capability |
| metadata | {"author":"jwynia","version":"1.0","type":"utility","mode":"generative","domain":"research"} |
Web Search
Search the web using the agent's built-in WebSearch capability. No external API keys required.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- You need to find current information not in your training data
- The user asks about recent events, news, or updates
- You need to verify facts or find sources
- Research requires real-time web data
Do NOT use this skill when:
- Information is already in your knowledge base
- You're working with local files or code
- You need advanced filtering (use
web-search-tavily instead)
- A more specific research skill applies
How to Search
Use the agent's built-in WebSearch tool directly. The tool accepts a query string and returns relevant web results.
Basic Search
Simply invoke WebSearch with your query:
Query: "React 19 new features"
Effective Query Strategies
Be specific and include context:
- Bad: "react hooks"
- Good: "React 19 useActionState hook tutorial"
Include the year for current information:
- Bad: "best TypeScript practices"
- Good: "TypeScript best practices 2025"
Use domain-specific terms:
- Bad: "how to make website fast"
- Good: "web performance optimization Core Web Vitals"
When to Search Multiple Times
Search iteratively when:
- Initial results are too broad → Refine with more specific terms
- Looking for multiple perspectives → Search different phrasings
- Verifying facts → Search for corroborating sources
- Deep research → Start broad, then drill into specifics
Output Handling
After receiving search results:
- Cite sources - Always include URLs when sharing information
- Synthesize - Combine information from multiple results
- Verify - Cross-reference claims across sources
- Date-check - Note publication dates for time-sensitive information
Source Attribution Format
When sharing information from search results:
According to [Source Name](URL), ...
Sources:
- [Title 1](url1)
- [Title 2](url2)
Limitations
- Results depend on the agent's WebSearch implementation
- Cannot access paywalled or login-required content
- May not have the most recent information (depends on indexing)
- No domain filtering or relevance scoring (use
web-search-tavily for these features)
Related Skills
- web-search-tavily - Advanced search with API key, domain filtering, and relevance scores
- research-workflow - Structured research with planning and synthesis
- fact-check - Verify specific claims against sources
- claim-investigation - Investigate viral claims and social media content
