minhngoc25a Tavily MCP search
Use mcp__tavily-mcp__tavily_search for web search when you do not already have a specific URL.
When to use
- The user asks for current or external web information.
- You need to discover pages before extracting content.
- You need recent results, source candidates, or domain-filtered search results.
For specific known URLs, use tavily-mcp-extract instead. For deep synthesis, use tavily-mcp-research instead.
Parameters
| Parameter | Use |
|---|---|
query |
Search query. Keep it concise and under 400 characters when possible. |
search_depth |
ultra-fast, fast, basic, or advanced. Use basic by default and advanced for higher precision. |
max_results |
Number of results, 5-20. Use fewer results for quick lookups. |
topic |
Local MCP search supports general. |
time_range |
day, week, month, or year for recency. |
start_date, end_date |
Date bounds in YYYY-MM-DD format. |
include_domains |
Restrict results to trusted domains. |
exclude_domains |
Exclude domains the user does not want. |
country |
Boost results from a named country. |
exact_match |
Require exact quoted phrases from the query. |
include_raw_content |
Include cleaned page content in each result when snippets are insufficient. |
include_images |
Include image results. |
include_image_descriptions |
Include AI-generated descriptions for image results. |
include_favicon |
Include favicon URLs. |
Search depth selection
| Depth | Best for |
|---|---|
ultra-fast |
Low-latency checks where broad relevance is acceptable. |
fast |
Fast searches with good relevance. |
basic |
General-purpose search. |
advanced |
Specific facts, high precision, or important research leads. |
Patterns
Quick lookup
Use basic depth and 5 results.
Recent news or updates
Set time_range to day, week, month, or year.
Trusted-source search
Use include_domains when the user names source constraints or when authoritative sources matter.
Search then read
Use search to identify promising URLs, then use mcp__tavily-mcp__tavily_extract on the best sources when more detail is needed.
Tips
- Break complex research questions into multiple focused searches.
- Do not use search when the user provided exact URLs and only wants their content.
- Use
include_raw_contentonly when you need full content from result pages; otherwise snippets are cheaper and easier to inspect. - If results are too broad, add domain filters, date filters, or a more specific query.