Web Search

jwynia/agent-skills/skills/general/research/tools/web-search

by jwyniae02ec7e226a6MIT168 starsListed Oct 8, 2026Updated Oct 8, 2026Repository updated 7 months ago

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.

Instructions onlyResearch & Analysis
AI-generated overview

Guides agents in using their built-in WebSearch tool for current information, fact verification and topic research.

What it does
This skill provides instructions for searching the web through the agent's built-in WebSearch tool, with no external API key. It covers when to search, query-writing strategies such as adding context and the year, and when to run iterative searches. It also describes how to handle results: citing sources, synthesizing across results, verifying claims and checking publication dates. It ships no scripts and produces no files; the deliverable is guidance for search-based answers.
When to use it
Use it when information is not in the agent's training data, when the user asks about recent events or updates, or when facts need verification against sources. It is not intended for local files or code, or when advanced filtering is required.
Requirements
An agent with built-in WebSearch capability; no API key, packages or scripts are required.

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:

  1. Initial results are too broad → Refine with more specific terms
  2. Looking for multiple perspectives → Search different phrasings
  3. Verifying facts → Search for corroborating sources
  4. Deep research → Start broad, then drill into specifics

Output Handling

After receiving search results:

  1. Cite sources - Always include URLs when sharing information
  2. Synthesize - Combine information from multiple results
  3. Verify - Cross-reference claims across sources
  4. 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

Source and attribution

Source:jwynia/agent-skillsinskills/general/research/tools/web-searchat commite02ec7e

License: MIT

Content belongs to its original authors. SourceWeft indexes it from a public repository.

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