🔍 SearXNG MCP Server

A privacy-focused Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides Claude with web search capabilities through SearXNG metasearch engine.

✨ Features

• 🔒 Privacy-first - No tracking, no data collection via SearXNG

• 🌐 Multi-engine - Aggregates results from Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave, and more

• 🎯 Specialized search - Web, images, videos, and news search

• ⚡ Fast - Optimized with minimal tool set (4 tools)

• 🐳 Docker included - SearXNG instance setup included

• 🛠️ Easy setup - Python-based with UV package manager

📦 Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10 or higher

• Docker and Docker Compose

• Git

Quick Install

1. Clone repository:

2. Configure SearXNG:

Edit the following files with your settings:

• docker-compose.yml - Replace YOUR_IP with your server's IP address

• docker-compose.yml - Replace CHANGE_THIS_SECRET_KEY with a secret key

• searxng/settings.yml - Replace CHANGE_THIS_TO_YOUR_OWN_SECRET_KEY with the same secret key

• searxng-config/config.json - Replace YOUR_IP with your server's IP address

Generate a secret key:

3. Start SearXNG instance:

SearXNG will be available at http://YOUR_IP:8080

4. Install MCP server (using UV - recommended):

5. Verify installation:

⚙️ Configuration

MCP Client Setup

Add to your MCP settings (e.g., Claude Desktop config):

SearXNG Configuration

The SearXNG instance is configured via searxng/settings.yml:

• Default engines: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Wikipedia, YouTube

• JSON API enabled for MCP access

• Privacy features enabled (no tracking)

• Accessible on your LAN at YOUR_IP:8080

IMPORTANT: Before starting Docker, replace the following in your config files:

1. docker-compose.yml: Replace YOUR_IP and CHANGE_THIS_SECRET_KEY

2. searxng/settings.yml: Replace CHANGE_THIS_TO_YOUR_OWN_SECRET_KEY

3. searxng-config/config.json: Replace YOUR_IP

Generate secret key: openssl rand -hex 32

MCP Server Configuration

Edit searxng-config/config.json (replace YOUR_IP with your server's IP):

🔧 Available Tools

The server provides 3 optimized tools designed for efficient research:

1. search - Quick Web/News Search

Quick single search for web or news content.

Use when:

• Need quick information or simple lookup

• User asks for a basic web search

• Looking for news on a topic

Parameters:

• query* - What to search for

• category - "general" (default) or "news"

• engines - Optional: Specific engines (e.g., "google,bing")

• max_results - Number of results (default: 10, max: 50)

Example:

2. search_media - Images & Videos

Search for images or videos.

Use when:

• User wants to find images or photos

• Looking for video content

• "show me pictures of..." or "find videos about..."

Parameters:

• query* - What to find

• media_type - "images" (default) or "videos"

• engines - Optional: Specific engines

• max_results - Number of results (default: 10, max: 50)

Example:

3. research_topic - Deep Research ⭐

Multi-search research with automatic analysis and synthesis.

Use when:

• User wants comprehensive research or briefing

• Need to validate information across multiple sources

• User asks to "research", "investigate", or "analyze"

• Creating detailed reports with cross-referenced sources

What it does:

• Runs 2-6 searches automatically using different strategies

• Searches multiple engines (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Wikipedia)

• Combines general web + news sources

• Deduplicates results across all searches

• Returns 15-50 UNIQUE sources

• Instructs Claude to analyze and synthesize (not just list sources)

Critical behavior: After gathering sources, Claude is instructed to:

1. Read and analyze ALL sources

2. Cross-reference claims across sources

3. Identify high-confidence facts (confirmed by many sources)

4. Note contradictions or single-source claims

5. Create comprehensive briefing with executive summary

6. Assess source quality and credibility

Parameters:

• query* - Research topic or question

• depth - Research thoroughness:

  • "quick" - 2 searches, ~15 unique sources

  • "standard" - 4 searches, ~30 unique sources (recommended)

  • "deep" - 6 searches, ~50 unique sources

Example:

💡 Usage Examples

General search:

Image search:

Video search:

News search:

🐳 Docker Management

Start SearXNG:

Stop SearXNG:

View logs:

Rebuild:

🛠️ Development

Run tests:

Format code:

Type checking:

Lint:

🎯 Why Only 4 Tools?

This MCP server is optimized for efficiency:

1. Focused functionality - Each tool has a clear, distinct purpose

2. LLM-friendly - Tool descriptions include "Use this when..." guidance

3. Low context - Minimal tool set reduces token usage

4. Privacy-first - SearXNG aggregates without tracking

Unlike direct search engine APIs, SearXNG provides:

• Privacy protection (no tracking)

• Multi-engine aggregation

• Self-hosted control

• No API keys needed

📁 Project Structure

📄 License

MIT License

🙏 Credits

• SearXNG - Privacy-respecting metasearch engine

• Model Context Protocol - MCP specification

• Built with FastMCP