WebSearch Tool - Claude Code
Perform web searches and return ranked results with snippets.
WebSearch runs a search query and returns ranked results with titles, URLs, and snippets. It's the first step when Claude needs to find something on the open web.
What it does
You pass a query and WebSearch returns a list of results - similar to what you'd see on a search engine page - trimmed to what's useful for follow-up work. Claude typically pairs it with WebFetch: search, pick the best link, fetch, read. Results include a mix of docs, articles, and issue threads depending on the query.
When to use it
- Finding the current version of an API or library.
- Looking up recent news, outages, or announcements.
- Discovering a doc URL you don't have on hand.
- Comparing multiple sources before committing to an answer.
Gotchas
- Snippets are short. Always WebFetch the top result if you need real content.
- Results can be region-biased depending on the backend.
- WebSearch is not as precise as a vendor-specific doc search. For library docs, prefer a dedicated source.
Official docs: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/tools-reference.md
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