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