search_web
A local OpenClaw tool that performs internet searches using a self-hosted SearXNG instance.
This skill connects an OpenClaw agent to a running SearXNG server so the agent can retrieve recent information from the internet. It sends a search query to the SearXNG HTTP API and returns structured results containing titles and URLs.
Why this skill exists
Language models often need information that may be newer than their training data. By connecting the agent to a self-hosted SearXNG instance, the system can retrieve fresh results from the web while remaining privacy-friendly and avoiding proprietary APIs.
Typical agent use cases
An agent should call this tool when it needs to:
- find recent news or research
- check documentation for a technology
- verify facts from external sources
- gather links for further reading
- retrieve current information about blockchain, AI, or cybersecurity
Parameters
query (string)
The search query that will be sent to the SearXNG search endpoint.
Example query:
latest blockchain security research
Output format
The tool returns JSON containing the top search results.
Example output:
[ { "title": "Example article title", "url": "https://example.com/article" } ]
Requirements
- SearXNG running locally
- Default endpoint: http://localhost:8080/search
- JSON response enabled
This skill is designed for self-hosted environments where the user wants a private and customizable web search capability inside their OpenClaw agent.