MCPInstall

tavily

by intellectronicaBackend & APIs

Use this skill for web search, extraction, mapping, crawling, and research via Tavily’s REST API when web searches are needed and no built-in tool is available, or when Tavily’s LLM-friendly format is beneficial.

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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/intellectronica/agent-skills --skill tavily
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads tavily automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Tavily

Purpose

Provide a curl-based interface to Tavily’s REST API for web search, extraction, mapping, crawling, and optional research. Return structured results suitable for LLM workflows and multi-step investigations.

When to Use

  • Use when a task needs live web information, site extraction, mapping, or crawling.
  • Use when web searches are needed and no built-in tool is available, or when Tavily’s LLM-friendly output (summaries, chunks, sources, citations) is beneficial.
  • Use when a task requires structured search results, extraction, or site discovery from Tavily.

Required Environment

  • Require TAVILY_API_KEY in the environment.
  • If TAVILY_API_KEY is missing, prompt the user to provide the API key before proceeding.

Base URL and Auth

  • Base URL: https://api.tavily.com
  • Authentication: Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY
  • Content type: Content-Type: application/json
  • Optional project tracking: add X-Project-ID: <project-id> if project attribution is needed.

Tool Mapping (Tavily REST)

1) search → POST /search

Use for web search with optional answer and content extraction.

Recommended minimal request:

curl -sS -X POST "https://api.tavily.com/search" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "query": "<query>",
    "search_depth": "basic",
    "max_results": 5,
    "include_answer": true,
    "include_raw_content": false,
    "include_images": false
  }'

Key parameters (all optional unless noted):

  • query (required): search text
  • search_depth: basic | advanced | fast | ultra-fast
  • chunks_per_source: 1–3 (advanced only)
  • max_results: 0–20
  • topic: general | news | finance
  • time_range: day|week|month|year|d|w|m|y
  • start_date, end_date: YYYY-MM-DD
  • include_answer: false | true | basic | advanced
  • include_raw_content: false | true | markdown | text
  • include_images: boolean
  • include_image_descriptions: boolean
  • include_favicon: boolean
  • include_domains, exclude_domains: string arrays
  • country: country name (general topic only)
  • auto_parameters: boolean
  • include_usage: boolean

Expected response fields:

  • answer (if requested), results[] with title, url, content, score, raw_content (optional), favicon (optional)
  • response_time, usage, request_id

2) extract → POST /extract

Use for extracting content from specific URLs.

curl -sS -X POST "https://api.tavily.com/extract" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "urls": ["https://example.com/article"],
    "query": "<optional intent for reranking>",
    "chunks_per_source": 3,
    "extract_depth": "basic",
    "format": "markdown",
    "include_images": false,
    "include_favicon": false
  }'

Key parameters:

  • urls (required): array of URLs
  • query: rerank chunks by intent
  • chunks_per_source: 1–5 (only when query provided)
  • extract_depth: basic | advanced
  • format: markdown | text
  • timeout: 1–60 seconds
  • include_usage: boolean

Expected response fields:

  • results[] with url, raw_content, images, favicon
  • failed_results[], response_time, usage, request_id

3) map → POST /map

Use for generating a site map (URL discovery only).

curl -sS -X POST "https://api.tavily.com/map" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://docs.tavily.com",
    "max_depth": 1,
    "max_breadth": 20,
    "limit": 50,
    "allow_external": true
  }'

Key parameters:

  • url (required)
  • instructions: natural language guidance (raises cost)
  • max_depth: 1–5
  • max_breadth: 1+
  • limit: 1+
  • select_paths, select_domains, exclude_paths, exclude_domains: arrays of regex strings
  • allow_external: boolean
  • timeout: 10–150 seconds
  • include_usage: boolean

Expected response fields:

  • base_url, results[] (list of URLs), response_time, usage, request_id

4) crawl → POST /crawl

Use for site traversal with built-in extraction.

curl -sS -X POST "https://api.tavily.com/crawl" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://docs.tavily.com",
    "instructions": "Find all pages about the Python SDK",
    "max_depth": 1,
    "max_breadth": 20,
    "limit": 50,
    "extract_depth": "basic",
    "format": "markdown",
    "include_images": false
  }'

Key parameters:

  • url (required)
  • instructions: optional; raises cost and enables chunks_per_source
  • chunks_per_source: 1–5 (only with instructions)
  • max_depth, max_breadth, limit: same as map
  • extract_depth: basic | advanced
  • format: markdown | text
  • include_images, include_favicon, allow_external
  • timeout: 10–150 seconds
  • include_usage: boolean

Expected response fields:

  • base_url, results[] with url, raw_content, favicon
  • response_time, usage, request_id

Optional Research Workflow (Deep Investigation)

Use when a query needs multi-step analysis and citations.

create research task → POST /research

curl -sS -X POST "https://api.tavily.com/research" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "input": "<research question>",
    "model": "auto",
    "stream": false,
    "citation_format": "numbered"
  }'

Expected response fields:

  • request_id, created_at, status (pending), input, model, response_time

get research status → GET /research/{request_id}

curl -sS -X GET "https://api.tavily.com/research/<request_id>" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY"

Expected response fields:

  • status: completed
  • content: report text or structured object
  • sources[]: { title, url, favicon }

streaming research (SSE)

Set "stream": true in the POST body and use curl with -N to stream events:

curl -N -X POST "https://api.tavily.com/research" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAVILY_API_KEY" \
  -d '{"input":"<question>","stream":true,"model":"pro"}'

Handle SSE events (tool calls, tool responses, content chunks, sources, done).

Usage Notes

  • Treat search, extract, map, and crawl as the primary endpoints for discovery and content retrieval.
  • Return structured results with URLs, titles, and summaries for easy downstream use.
  • Default to conservative parameters (search_depth: basic, max_results: 5) unless deeper recall is needed.
  • Reuse consistent request bodies across calls to keep results predictable.

Error Handling

  • If any request returns 401/403, prompt for or re-check TAVILY_API_KEY.
  • If timeouts occur, reduce max_depth/limit or use search_depth: basic.
  • If responses are too large, lower max_results or chunks_per_source.

FAQ

What does the tavily skill do?

Use this skill for web search, extraction, mapping, crawling, and research via Tavily’s REST API when web searches are needed and no built-in tool is available, or when Tavily’s LLM-friendly format is beneficial.

How do I install tavily?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/intellectronica/agent-skills --skill tavily in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/tavily/ (personal) or .claude/skills/tavily/ (project).

Which AI agents can use tavily?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is tavily safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains tavily?

It is published by intellectronica in intellectronica/agent-skills. It has 627 recorded installs.

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