web-research

name	web-research
description	Use when the user asks you to research a topic, fact-check a claim, compare options, or gather current information from the web. Guides thorough, multi-source research using the search and web-fetch tools.
version	1.0
license	Apache-2.0

Web research

A method for answering research questions well instead of from a single search.

Method

1. Clarify the question. Identify exactly what's being asked and what a good answer looks like (a fact, a comparison, a recommendation, a summary).
2. Search broadly, then narrow. Run more than one search with different phrasings. Don't stop at the first result — the first hit is often an ad, an SEO page, or out of date.
3. Open the primary sources. Use the web-fetch tool to read the actual pages, not just search snippets. Prefer official docs, original reporting, primary data, and recent dates over aggregators.
4. Cross-check. Confirm any important fact in at least two independent sources. If sources disagree, say so rather than picking one silently.
5. Mind recency. For anything that changes over time (versions, prices, news, "latest"), check the publication date and prefer the most recent reliable source. Note the date in your answer.

Answering

• Lead with the direct answer, then the supporting detail.
• Cite sources — name the site/publication (and link if available) for each key claim so the user can verify.
• Distinguish what you're confident about from what's uncertain or contested.
• If you couldn't verify something, say "I couldn't confirm this" — don't guess.

Pitfalls

• One source ≠ a fact. Single-source claims are leads, not conclusions.
• Snippets lie / lack context — open the page.
• Stale results: a top result can be years old. Check dates.