Web Search
The Web Search tool allows the AI to search the web and retrieve relevant results. It is used automatically when the AI determines that current or specific information is needed to answer your question.
What It Does
Section titled “What It Does”- Submits a search query and returns a list of relevant results
- Each result includes the page title, URL, and a snippet
- The AI can follow up with Web Fetch to read full page content
When It’s Used
Section titled “When It’s Used”The AI uses Web Search when:
- You ask about current events, prices, or real-time data
- You request comparisons of tools, products, or services
- You need specific, verifiable information the model doesn’t have in its training data
Example
Section titled “Example”“What are the most popular Rust web frameworks in 2025?”
The AI will invoke Web Search with a refined query, review the results, and may use Web Fetch to read specific documentation or comparison pages before answering.
Supported Search Engines
Section titled “Supported Search Engines”ChatShell supports multiple search engines:
- DuckDuckGo — Default, good privacy
- Baidu — For Chinese language queries
- Yahoo — Additional option
You can configure the default search engine in Settings → Tools → Web Search.
Privacy
Section titled “Privacy”Search queries are sent directly to the configured search provider. ChatShell does not log or store your search queries beyond the current conversation.