# Search Tools (Live Search)
Grok provides powerful search tools for accessing real-time information from the web and X (Twitter).
## Web Search Tools
### web_search
Search the web for current information.
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "What are the latest developments in quantum computing?"}
],
tools=[{"type": "web_search"}]
)
```
### web_search_with_snippets
Search the web and return relevant text snippets from results.
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Find articles about climate change solutions"}
],
tools=[{"type": "web_search_with_snippets"}]
)
```
### browse_page
Fetch and read content from a specific URL.
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Summarize the content at https://example.com/article"}
],
tools=[{"type": "browse_page"}]
)
```
## X (Twitter) Search Tools
### x_user_search
Search for X users by name, handle, or description.
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Find AI researchers on X"}
],
tools=[{"type": "x_user_search"}]
)
```
### x_keyword_search
Search X posts by keywords.
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Find recent tweets about the stock market"}
],
tools=[{"type": "x_keyword_search"}]
)
```
### x_semantic_search
Search X posts using semantic/meaning-based matching.
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Find discussions about the future of work"}
],
tools=[{"type": "x_semantic_search"}]
)
```
### x_thread_fetch
Fetch a complete X thread given a post ID.
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Get the full thread from this tweet: [URL]"}
],
tools=[{"type": "x_thread_fetch"}]
)
```
## Citations
### Inline Citations
Markdown-style links embedded directly into the response text at points where the model references sources.
Must be explicitly enabled:
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "What happened in tech news today?"}
],
tools=[{"type": "web_search"}],
tool_options={
"inline_citations": True
}
)
```
### Citation Metadata
Structured metadata is available for each citation, including:
- Source URL
- Title
- Snippet
- Publication date
## Grounding
Search tools provide **grounding** - the model can:
- Cite sources
- Provide up-to-date information beyond training data
- Verify claims with real-time data
## Combining Search Tools
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "What's trending on X about AI and find related news articles"}
],
tools=[
{"type": "web_search"},
{"type": "x_keyword_search"},
{"type": "x_semantic_search"}
]
)
```
## Use Cases
### News Aggregation
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Give me a summary of today's top tech news with sources"}
],
tools=[
{"type": "web_search_with_snippets"}
],
tool_options={"inline_citations": True}
)
```
### Social Media Monitoring
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "What are people saying about [brand] on X?"}
],
tools=[
{"type": "x_semantic_search"},
{"type": "x_keyword_search"}
]
)
```
### Research
```python
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="grok-4",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Find recent research on renewable energy storage"}
],
tools=[
{"type": "web_search"},
{"type": "browse_page"}
]
)
```
## Best Practices
1. **Enable citations**: Use inline citations for verifiable responses
2. **Choose appropriate tools**: Web search for general info, X search for social trends
3. **Combine tools strategically**: Multiple tools can provide comprehensive results
4. **Review sources**: Validate information from search results
5. **Privacy awareness**: X search tools may return public user data
## Limitations
- Search results depend on query quality
- Rate limits apply to search tools
- Some content may be inaccessible (paywalled, private)
- Results are real-time and may change
