> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cassidyai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Web search

> Enable Agents to search the web for real-time information during conversations.

The Web Search capability lets your [Agent](/agents/overview) search the internet for current information during a conversation. When a user asks a question that requires up-to-date data — like recent news, market prices, or competitor information — the Agent automatically searches the web and incorporates the results into its response.

## Enable Web Search

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select your Agent">
    Navigate to **Agents**, find the Agent you want to configure, click **...** and select **Edit**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ/images/agents/web-search-select-agent.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ&q=85&s=71af3e349b9ee92ff877c62c32d841d2" alt="Agent card context menu showing Edit option" width="650" height="484" data-path="images/agents/web-search-select-agent.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Capabilities">
    In the **Setup** tab, scroll to the **Capabilities** section.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ/images/agents/web-search-capabilities.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ&q=85&s=96bee27cede4d7a49b13f9eb15b5562f" alt="Agent Setup tab showing the Capabilities section" width="2828" height="734" data-path="images/agents/web-search-capabilities.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Web Search">
    Click **+ Add Capabilities** and click **+ Add** on the **Web Search** option.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ/images/agents/web-search-add.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ&q=85&s=aa42706decfe4d0ccbdf1d9e28a71e0d" alt="Capabilities dialog showing Web Search with Add button" width="1984" height="1254" data-path="images/agents/web-search-add.png" />
    </Frame>

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ/images/agents/web-search-added.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6HI-XY8TzVf6JPEQ&q=85&s=064dff91c35c666619c34f46380b5b1a" alt="Capabilities section showing Web Search added to the Agent" width="2294" height="406" data-path="images/agents/web-search-added.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish your Agent">
    Click **Publish** to make the capability available in conversations.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How it works

Once Web Search is enabled, the Agent intelligently decides when to search the web based on the question asked. If the Agent determines it already has enough information from its instructions and [Knowledge Base](/knowledge-base/overview), it skips the web search and responds directly. This ensures you get the most relevant and timely responses without unnecessary searches.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/k1fD1PPJz98taSFv/images/agents/web-search-result.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=k1fD1PPJz98taSFv&q=85&s=6d898148416dfe6387dcaa3175f0af83" alt="Agent response showing web search results with numbered source citations" width="2552" height="2078" data-path="images/agents/web-search-result.png" />
</Frame>

<Tip>Web Search is best for questions about current events, recent data, or topics outside your Knowledge Base. For questions about your company's internal documents, the Agent uses its connected Knowledge Base instead.</Tip>

You can also toggle Web Search on or off for any individual chat session using the **Tools** picker, without changing the Agent's permanent configuration. See [Use the tools picker](/guides/chatting-with-an-agent#use-the-tools-picker) for details.

## Web Search vs. Browser Use

| Feature          | Web Search                                      | [Browser Use](/agents/capabilities/browser-use)             |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Best for**     | Quick lookups and simple page reading           | Interactive web tasks (filling forms, clicking, navigating) |
| **How it works** | Searches and reads publicly available web pages | Opens a live browser session and interacts with pages       |
| **Speed**        | Fast                                            | Slower (requires browser rendering)                         |

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Browser Use" icon="browser" href="/agents/capabilities/browser-use">
    Automate interactive web tasks with a live browser.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Deep Research" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/agents/deep-research">
    Run multi-step research combining web search and your Knowledge Base.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>