Introducing Web Search on the Anthropic API
Overview
Anthropic has launched web search capabilities for the Claude API, enabling developers to build AI applications that access current, real-time information from the internet with source citations.
Key Features
Real-Time Information Access Claude can now determine when web search would improve response accuracy and automatically conduct searches. The model generates targeted queries, retrieves results, and provides answers with citations to source materials. Developers can control search behavior through the max_uses parameter.
Agentic Capabilities Claude can conduct multiple progressive searches, using earlier findings to inform subsequent queries for comprehensive research and deeper analysis.
Trust and Control All web-sourced responses include citations for verification. Organizations maintain control through:
- Domain allow lists (approved sources only)
- Domain block lists (restricted content)
- Organization-level administration settings
Practical Applications
Use cases include:
- Financial services: Real-time stock prices and market analysis
- Legal research: Recent court decisions and regulatory updates
- Developer tools: Current API documentation and releases
- Productivity: Company reports and competitive intelligence
Availability and Pricing
Web search is now available on the API for Claude 3.7 Sonnet, upgraded Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Claude 3.5 Haiku at $10 per 1,000 searches, plus standard token costs.
Web search also integrates with Claude Code, assisting developers with current documentation and technical references for evolving frameworks.