home / skills / jwynia / agent-skills / web-search
This skill helps you fetch up-to-date information from the web using a built-in search tool to verify facts and research topics.
npx playbooks add skill jwynia/agent-skills --skill web-searchReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
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:
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
This skill lets the agent search the web using its built-in WebSearch tool without requiring external API keys. It is optimized for finding current information, verifying facts, and researching topics that fall outside the agent's static knowledge. Use it to pull URLs, summarize findings, and cross-check claims in real time.
Invoke the built-in WebSearch tool with a concise query string; the tool returns relevant web results that the agent can read and synthesize. After results arrive, the agent should cite source URLs, combine information from multiple pages, and note publication dates for time-sensitive material. Iterative searches are supported to refine results or find corroborating sources.
Do I need an API key to use this search?
No. The built-in WebSearch tool works without external API keys.
Can it access paywalled or login-protected content?
No. The tool cannot retrieve content behind paywalls or requiring authentication.
How should results be presented?
Cite URLs, note publication dates, synthesize multiple sources, and clearly mark uncertainty when sources conflict.