---
source_url: "https://github.github.com/gh-aw/reference/web-search/"
title: "Web Search | GitHub Agentic Workflows"
mirrored_at: 2026-08-14T03:33:33.656Z
host: github.github.com
cited_in_42a: true
mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/github.github.com/gh-aw/reference/web-search/index"
---

> **Original source:** https://github.github.com/gh-aw/reference/web-search/

Use the Tavily Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to add web search to workflows. Alternatives such as Exa, SerpAPI, and Brave Search also exist, but this page covers Tavily.

[Tavily](https://tavily.com/) provides structured JSON search results, news search, and an MCP server at [@tavily/mcp](https://github.com/tavily-ai/tavily-mcp).

```
---on: issuesengine: copilotmcp-servers:  tavily:    command: npx    args: ["-y", "@tavily/mcp"]    env:      TAVILY_API_KEY: "${{ secrets.TAVILY_API_KEY }}"    allowed: ["search", "search_news"]---# Search and RespondSearch the web for information about: ${{ github.event.issue.title }}Use the tavily search tool to find recent information.
```

Sign up at [tavily.com](https://tavily.com/) to get an API key, then add it as a repository secret:

```
gh aw secrets set TAVILY_API_KEY --value "<your-api-key>"
```

Review the [Tavily Terms of Service](https://tavily.com/terms), then test the workflow with `gh aw mcp inspect <workflow>`.

Inspect the workflow to see which Tavily tools are available:

```
# Inspect the MCP server in your workflowgh aw mcp inspect my-workflow --server tavily# List tools with detailsgh aw mcp list-tools tavily my-workflow --verbose
```

## Network Permissions

[Section titled “Network Permissions”](#network-permissions)

Agentic workflows require explicit network permissions for MCP servers:

```
network:  allowed:    - defaults    - "*.tavily.com"
```

-   [MCP Integration](https://github.github.com/gh-aw/guides/mcps/) - Complete MCP server guide
-   [Tools](https://github.github.com/gh-aw/reference/tools/) - Tool configuration reference
-   [AI Engines](https://github.github.com/gh-aw/reference/engines/) - Engine capabilities and limitations
-   [CLI Commands](https://github.github.com/gh-aw/setup/cli/) - CLI commands including `mcp inspect`
-   [Model Context Protocol Specification](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/specification)
-   [Tavily MCP Server](https://github.com/tavily-ai/tavily-mcp)
-   [Tavily Documentation](https://tavily.com/)