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