ORCFLO Documentation

Overview

The Web Search tool allows your AI workflows to search the internet for current information on any topic. Powered by Tavily, it returns relevant results with titles, snippets, and source URLs that the AI can use for research, fact-checking, and content creation.

Web search functionality is powered by Tavily, a search API optimized for AI applications. No API key configuration required - it works out of the box.

How It Works

When you enable the Web Search tool for an LLM step, the model can automatically search the web when it needs current information. Simply describe what you need, and the AI will formulate optimal search queries.

Enable the Web Search Tool

Add the Web Search tool to your LLM step from the tool configuration panel.

Describe Your Research Needs

In your prompt, explain what information you need. The AI decides when to search and what queries to use.

AI Processes Results

The AI receives search results and uses them to answer your question or complete your task.

Example Prompt

Research the latest developments in renewable energy technology.
Find recent news, statistics, and expert opinions.
Summarize the top 5 trends in a report format.

Parameters

Configure these parameters in the tool settings panel to customize how web searches are performed. The AI can also control many of these automatically.

Search Settings

Parameter	Description	Default
`query`	Override the search query. Leave empty to use the LLM-generated query.	-
`search_depth`	Basic is faster and cheaper. Advanced is more comprehensive.	basic
`topic`	Category of the search: "general" or "news"	general
`max_results`	Maximum number of search results to return (1-20)	5
`chunks_per_source`	Number of content chunks to return per source (1-10)	-

Time Filters

Filter search results by time to find recent or historical content.

Parameter	Description	Options
`time_range`	Filter results by predefined time range	day, week, month, year
`days`	Number of days to look back (alternative to time_range)	1-365
`start_date`	Start date for date range filter	YYYY-MM-DD
`end_date`	End date for date range filter	YYYY-MM-DD

Content Options

Control what content is included in the search results.

Parameter	Description	Default
`include_answer`	Include an AI-generated answer summary based on search results. Options: true, "basic", or "advanced"	false
`include_images`	Include relevant images in the search results	false
`include_image_descriptions`	Include descriptions for images	false
`include_favicon`	Include favicon URLs for sources	false

Domain Filters

Restrict searches to specific domains or exclude unwanted sources.

Parameter	Description	Example
`include_domains`	Only search within these domains	docs.example.com
`exclude_domains`	Exclude these domains from search results	spam-site.com
`country`	Country code for localized results	US, UK, DE

Prompt Tip

For comprehensive research, ask the AI to "search thoroughly" or "find multiple sources." This signals the AI to use deeper search settings.

Response Format

Search results include titles, URLs, content snippets, and relevance scores. The AI receives this data and incorporates it into its response.

Example Response

{
  "results": [
    {
      "title": "Solar Energy Breakthrough: New Panels Achieve 47% Efficiency",
      "url": "https://example.com/solar-breakthrough",
      "content": "Researchers have developed a new type of solar panel that achieves 47% efficiency, nearly double the current commercial standard...",
      "score": 0.95
    },
    {
      "title": "Wind Power Capacity Doubles in 2025",
      "url": "https://example.com/wind-power-2025",
      "content": "Global wind power capacity has reached record levels, with installations doubling compared to the previous year...",
      "score": 0.89
    }
  ]
}

Result Fields

Field	Description
`title`	The page title from search results
`url`	Direct link to the source
`content`	Relevant excerpt from the page
`score`	Relevance score (0-1)

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines for effective web search in your workflows:

Be specific about what information you need
Ask the AI to cite sources when compiling research
Request multiple searches for comprehensive coverage
Specify time frames when recency matters (e.g., "news from the past week")
Combine with content extraction for deeper analysis of specific pages

Key Takeaways

Web Search finds current information from across the internet
No configuration required - works automatically
Results include source URLs for verification
Best for research, fact-checking, and current events
Use with Content Extract for detailed page analysis