How do I install the Perplexity Search skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/perplexity-search-3 in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

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Which AI agents work with Perplexity Search?

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Is Perplexity Search free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Perplexity Search?

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Perplexity Search by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Perplexity Search
Author: tomevault-io

File contents

Perplexity AI Search

Web search with AI-powered answers, deep research, and chain-of-thought reasoning.

When to Use

Direct web search for ranked results (no AI synthesis)
AI-synthesized research with citations
Chain-of-thought reasoning for complex decisions
Deep comprehensive research on topics

Models (2025)

Model	Purpose
`sonar`	Lightweight search with grounding
`sonar-pro`	Advanced search for complex queries
`sonar-reasoning-pro`	Chain of thought reasoning
`sonar-deep-research`	Expert-level exhaustive research

Usage

Quick question (AI answer)

uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --ask "What is the latest version of Python?"

Direct web search (ranked results, no AI)

uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --search "SQLite graph database patterns" \
    --max-results 5 \
    --recency week

AI-synthesized research

uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --research "compare FastAPI vs Django for microservices"

Chain-of-thought reasoning

uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --reason "should I use Neo4j or SQLite for small graph under 10k nodes?"

Deep comprehensive research

uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --deep "state of AI agent observability 2025"

Parameters

Parameter	Description
`--ask`	Quick question with AI answer (sonar)
`--search`	Direct web search - ranked results without AI synthesis
`--research`	AI-synthesized research (sonar-pro)
`--reason`	Chain-of-thought reasoning (sonar-reasoning-pro)
`--deep`	Deep comprehensive research (sonar-deep-research)

Search-specific options

Parameter	Description
`--max-results N`	Number of results (1-20, default: 10)
`--recency`	Filter: `day`, `week`, `month`, `year`
`--domains`	Limit to specific domains

Mode Selection Guide

Need	Use	Why
Quick fact	`--ask`	Fast, lightweight
Find sources	`--search`	Raw results, no AI overhead
Synthesized answer	`--research`	AI combines multiple sources
Complex decision	`--reason`	Chain-of-thought analysis
Comprehensive report	`--deep`	Exhaustive multi-source research

Examples

# Find recent sources on a topic
uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --search "OpenTelemetry AI agent tracing" \
    --recency month --max-results 5

# Get AI synthesis
uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --research "best practices for AI agent logging 2025"

# Make a decision
uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --reason "microservices vs monolith for startup MVP"

# Deep dive
uv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \
    --deep "comprehensive guide to building feedback loops for autonomous agents"

API Key Required

Requires PERPLEXITY_API_KEY in environment or ~/.claude/.env.

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: perplexity-search-3description: AI-powered web search, research, and reasoning via Perplexity Use when this capability is needed.---# Perplexity AI SearchWeb search with AI-powered answers, deep research, and chain-of-thought reasoning.## When to Use- Direct web search for ranked results (no AI synthesis)- AI-synthesized research with citations- Chain-of-thought reasoning for complex decisions- Deep comprehensive research on topics## Models (2025)| Model | Purpose ||-------|---------|| `sonar` | Lightweight search with grounding || `sonar-pro` | Advanced search for complex queries || `sonar-reasoning-pro` | Chain of thought reasoning || `sonar-deep-research` | Expert-level exhaustive research |## Usage### Quick question (AI answer)```bashuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --ask "What is the latest version of Python?"```### Direct web search (ranked results, no AI)```bashuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --search "SQLite graph database patterns" \ --max-results 5 \ --recency week```### AI-synthesized research```bashuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --research "compare FastAPI vs Django for microservices"```### Chain-of-thought reasoning```bashuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --reason "should I use Neo4j or SQLite for small graph under 10k nodes?"```### Deep comprehensive research```bashuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --deep "state of AI agent observability 2025"```## Parameters| Parameter | Description ||-----------|-------------|| `--ask` | Quick question with AI answer (sonar) || `--search` | Direct web search - ranked results without AI synthesis || `--research` | AI-synthesized research (sonar-pro) || `--reason` | Chain-of-thought reasoning (sonar-reasoning-pro) || `--deep` | Deep comprehensive research (sonar-deep-research) |### Search-specific options| Parameter | Description ||-----------|-------------|| `--max-results N` | Number of results (1-20, default: 10) || `--recency` | Filter: `day`, `week`, `month`, `year` || `--domains` | Limit to specific domains |## Mode Selection Guide| Need | Use | Why ||------|-----|-----|| Quick fact | `--ask` | Fast, lightweight || Find sources | `--search` | Raw results, no AI overhead || Synthesized answer | `--research` | AI combines multiple sources || Complex decision | `--reason` | Chain-of-thought analysis || Comprehensive report | `--deep` | Exhaustive multi-source research |## Examples```bash# Find recent sources on a topicuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --search "OpenTelemetry AI agent tracing" \ --recency month --max-results 5# Get AI synthesisuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --research "best practices for AI agent logging 2025"# Make a decisionuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --reason "microservices vs monolith for startup MVP"# Deep diveuv run python scripts/mcp/perplexity_search.py \ --deep "comprehensive guide to building feedback loops for autonomous agents"```## API Key RequiredRequires `PERPLEXITY_API_KEY` in environment or `~/.claude/.env`.---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/parcadei) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

Frequently asked questions

Perplexity Search