Web Search
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Purpose
Web Search uses Linkup to search the public web and return result rows, an answer with sources, or structured output.
When to use it
- Find current public information for a flow.
- Search a small set of domains.
- Give Agent Core a bounded research tool.
Required setup
Normal mode needs a search query, while Agent Core supplies it in Tool Mode. Leave Linkup API Key empty to use the Arkus platform key. If that key is not configured, the run fails. To use your own Linkup account, select a saved Linkup Credential.
How to use it
Tool Mode
- Add Web Search, enable Tool Mode, and connect the tool output to Agent Core.
- Choose the result mode, domains, and result limit that bound the Agent's search.
- Test one specific query.
Normal mode
- Enter or connect a query.
- Keep Results mode for a list of sources, or select Answer or Structured when the task needs them.
- Add date or domain filters when the search needs a narrower source set.
- Connect Search Results to a DataFrame-aware component or Raw Content to a text-based component.
Configuration
| Setting | What it controls | Recommended starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Result Mode | Selects results, answer, or structured. The default is results. | Start with results. |
| Depth | Selects standard or deep search. | Use standard first. |
| Max Results | Limits returned results. The default is 10, or 5 in Agent Tool Mode. | Keep a small limit for focused tasks. |
| Date and domain filters | Narrows the search. | Add trusted domains when source scope matters. |
| Output Schema | Defines the response in Structured mode. | Supply it only for a structured result. |
| Include Images | Requests images and appends their JSON metadata to each result row's content. It is disabled by default. | Enable only when image references matter. |
| Linkup API Key | Uses your Linkup account when set. An empty field uses the Arkus platform key. | Leave empty for Arkus credits, or select a saved Linkup Credential. |
| Timeout | Uses a fixed 90-second provider timeout. It is not configurable. | Narrow the query or filters if searches are too slow. |
Expected result
Search Results always uses the columns title, link, snippet, and content. Results mode returns one row per hit. Answer mode places an Answer row before its source rows. Structured mode returns one Structured Result row. Snippets are capped at 500 characters and content at 12,000 characters.
The component removes single quotes, double quotes, and angle brackets from the query before sending it to Linkup. An empty query after sanitization raises an error. A valid query with no provider result returns an empty result set. Invalid schemas and provider failures return errors. Raw Content formats the same rows as a Message and is the Agent tool output. Platform-keyed success consumes Arkus credits. A personal Linkup key bypasses Arkus web-call metering and may incur Linkup charges.
Reference details
Deep search can use more platform credits. In Tool Mode, limit domains and result counts so the Agent uses a narrow, reviewable source set.
Save credits with your own key
Select a saved Linkup Credential in Linkup API Key to bill Linkup directly instead of using Arkus web-call credits. A deployed flow requires a saved owner Credential. Credential changes apply to subsequent runs; deleting a required Credential prevents the flow from running.
Works well with
Send Search Results to DataFrame Operations for filtering, Parser for formatting, or Split Text for chunking. In Tool Mode, connect the generated tool to Agent Core's tools input.