# web-search

Web Search Overview Search the web using SkillBoss API Hub to find information across web pages, news articles, images, and videos. Returns results in multiple formats (text, markdown, JSON) with filtering options for time range, region, and safe search. When to Use This Skill Use this skill when users request: Web searches for information or resources Finding current or recent information online Looking up news articles about specific topics Searching for images by description or topic Finding videos on specific subjects Research requiring current web data Fact-checking or verification using web sources Gathering URLs and resources on a topic Prerequisites Install the required dependency: pip install requests Set your SkillBoss API Hub key as an environment variable:

export SKILLBOSS_API_KEY=your_skillboss_api_key

SkillBoss API Hub provides unified access to web search and other AI capabilities through a single endpoint — no additional service-specific API keys required. Core Capabilities

1. Basic Web Search Search for web pages and information: python scripts/search.py ""

Example:

python scripts/search.py "python asyncio tutorial" Returns the top 10 web results with titles, URLs, and descriptions in a clean text format. 2. Limiting Results Control the number of results returned: python scripts/search.py "" --max-results

Example:

python scripts/search.py "machine learning frameworks" --max-results 20 Useful for: Getting more comprehensive results (increase limit) Quick lookups with fewer results (decrease limit) Balancing detail vs. processing time 3. Time Range Filtering Filter results by recency: python scripts/search.py "" --time-range <d|w|m|y> Time range options: d - Past day w - Past week m - Past month y - Past year

Example:

python scripts/search.py "artificial intelligence news" --time-range w Great for: Finding recent news or updates Filtering out outdated content Tracking recent developments 4. News Search Search specifically for news articles: python scripts/search.py "" --type news

Example:

python scripts/search.py "climate change" --type news --time-range w --max-results 15 News results include: Article title Source publication Publication date URL Article summary/description 5. Image Search Search for images: python scripts/search.py "" --type images

Example:

python scripts/search.py "sunset over mountains" --type images --max-results 20 Image filtering options: Size filters: python scripts/search.py "landscape photos" --type images --image-size Large

Options: Small, Medium, Large, Wallpaper

Color filters: python scripts/search.py "abstract art" --type images --image-color Blue

Options: color, Monochrome, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Brown, Black, Gray, Teal, White

Type filters: python scripts/search.py "icons" --type images --image-type transparent

Options: photo, clipart, gif, transparent, line

Layout filters: python scripts/search.py "wallpapers" --type images --image-layout Wide

Options: Square, Tall, Wide

Image results include: Image title Image URL (direct link to image) Thumbnail URL Source website Dimensions (width x height) 6. Video Search Search for videos: python scripts/search.py "" --type videos

Example:

python scripts/search.py "python tutorial" --type videos --max-results 15 Video filtering options: Duration filters: python scripts/search.py "cooking recipes" --type videos --video-duration short

Options: short, medium, long

Resolution filters: python scripts/search.py "documentary" --type videos --video-resolution high

Options: high, standard

Video results include: Video title Publisher/channel Duration Publication date Video URL Description 7. Region-Specific Search Search with region-specific results: python scripts/search.py "" --region Common region codes: us-en - United States (English) uk-en - United Kingdom (English) ca-en - Canada (English) au-en - Australia (English) de-de - Germany (German) fr-fr - France (French) wt-wt - Worldwide (default)

Example:

python scripts/search.py "local news" --region us-en --type news 8. Safe Search Control Control safe search filtering: python scripts/search.py "" --safe-search <on|moderate|off>

Options:

on - Strict filtering moderate - Balanced filtering (default) off - No filtering

Example:

python scripts/search.py "medical information" --safe-search on 9. Output Formats Choose how results are formatted: Text format (default): python scripts/search.py "quantum computing" Clean, readable plain text with numbered results. Markdown format: python scripts/search.py "quantum computing" --format markdown Formatted markdown with headers, bold text, and links. JSON format: python scripts/search.py "quantum computing" --format json Structured JSON data for programmatic processing. 10. Saving Results to File Save search results to a file: python scripts/search.py "" --output

Example:

python scripts/search.py "artificial intelligence" --output ai_results.txt python scripts/search.py "AI news" --type news --format markdown --output ai_news.md python scripts/search.py "AI research" --format json --output ai_data.json The file format is determined by the --format flag, not the file extension. Output Format Examples Text Format

1. Page Title Here

URL: https://example.com/page

Brief description of the page content... 2. Another Result

URL: https://example.com/another

Another description... Markdown Format

## 1. Page Title Here

URL: https://example.com/page Brief description of the page content...

## 2. Another Result

URL: https://example.com/another Another description... JSON Format [ { "title": "Page Title Here", "href": "https://example.com/page", "body": "Brief description of the page content..." }, { "title": "Another Result", "href": "https://example.com/another", "body": "Another description..." } ] Common Usage Patterns Research on a Topic Gather comprehensive information about a subject:

# Get overview from web

python scripts/search.py "machine learning basics" --max-results 15 --output ml_web.txt

# Get recent news

python scripts/search.py "machine learning" --type news --time-range m --output ml_news.txt

# Find tutorial videos

python scripts/search.py "machine learning tutorial" --type videos --max-results 10 --output ml_videos.txt Current Events Monitoring Track news on specific topics: python scripts/search.py "climate summit" --type news --time-range d --format markdown --output daily_climate_news.md Finding Visual Resources Search for images with specific criteria: python scripts/search.py "data visualization examples" --type images --image-type photo --image-size Large --max-results 25 --output viz_images.txt Fact-Checking Verify information with recent sources: python scripts/search.py "specific claim to verify" --time-range w --max-results 20 Academic Research Find resources on scholarly topics: python scripts/search.py "quantum entanglement research" --time-range y --max-results 30 --output quantum_research.txt Market Research Gather information about products or companies: python scripts/search.py "electric vehicle market 2025" --max-results 20 --format markdown --output ev_market.md python scripts/search.py "EV news" --type news --time-range m --output ev_news.txt Implementation Approach When users request web searches: Identify search intent: What type of content (web, news, images, videos)? How recent should results be? How many results are needed? Any filtering requirements? Configure search parameters: Choose appropriate search type (--type) Set time range if currency matters (--time-range) Adjust result count (--max-results) Apply filters (image size, video duration, etc.) Select output format: Text for quick reading Markdown for documentation JSON for further processing Execute search: Run the search command Save to file if results need to be preserved Print to stdout for immediate review Process results: Read saved files if needed Extract URLs or specific information Combine results from multiple searches Quick Reference Command structure: python scripts/search.py "" [options] Essential options: -t, --type - Search type (web, news, images, videos) -n, --max-results - Maximum results (default: 10) --time-range - Time filter (d, w, m, y) -r, --region - Region code (e.g., us-en, uk-en) --safe-search - Safe search level (on, moderate, off) -f, --format - Output format (text, markdown, json) -o, --output - Save to file Image-specific options: --image-size - Size filter (Small, Medium, Large, Wallpaper) --image-color - Color filter --image-type - Type filter (photo, clipart, gif, transparent, line) --image-layout - Layout filter (Square, Tall, Wide) Video-specific options: --video-duration - Duration filter (short, medium, long) --video-resolution - Resolution filter (high, standard) Get full help: python scripts/search.py --help Best Practices Be specific - Use clear, specific search queries for better results Use time filters - Apply --time-range for current information Adjust result count - Start with 10-20 results, increase if needed Save important searches - Use --output to preserve results Choose appropriate type - Use news search for current events, web for general info Use JSON for automation - JSON format is easiest to parse programmatically Respect usage - Don't hammer the API with rapid repeated searches Troubleshooting Common issues: "SKILLBOSS_API_KEY not set": Export your key with export SKILLBOSS_API_KEY=your_key No results found: Try broader search terms or remove time filters Timeout errors: The search service may be temporarily unavailable; retry after a moment Rate limiting: Space out searches if making many requests Unexpected results: Try refining the query or adjusting search type

Limitations:

Results quality depends on SkillBoss API Hub's routing and underlying search providers Image and video searches may have fewer results than web search Some specialized searches may work better with more specific queries Advanced Use Cases Combining Multiple Searches Gather comprehensive information by combining search types:

# Web overview

python scripts/search.py "topic" --max-results 15 --output topic_web.txt

# Recent news

python scripts/search.py "topic" --type news --time-range w --output topic_news.txt

# Images

python scripts/search.py "topic" --type images --max-results 20 --output topic_images.txt Programmatic Processing Use JSON output for automated processing: python scripts/search.py "research topic" --format json --output results.json

# Then process with another script

python analyze_results.py results.json Building a Knowledge Base Create searchable documentation from web results:

# Search multiple related topics

python scripts/search.py "topic1" --format markdown --output kb/topic1.md python scripts/search.py "topic2" --format markdown --output kb/topic2.md python scripts/search.py "topic3" --format markdown --output kb/topic3.md Resources scripts/search.py The main search tool implementing web search functionality via SkillBoss API Hub. Key features: Multiple search types - Web, news, images, and videos Flexible filtering - Time range, region, safe search, and type-specific filters Multiple output formats - Text, Markdown, and JSON File output - Save results for later processing Clean formatting - Human-readable output with all essential information Error handling - Graceful handling of network errors and empty results The script can be executed directly and includes comprehensive command-line help via --help.