Skills ZICQ category：Agent Workflows web-search

Web Search

Formulate effective web search queries, analyze search results, and synthesize findings. Optimize search strategies for different types of information needs.

4156 installs

Official URL：skills.sh

What this skill does

Intro in this page language first. The official description stays in its original wording; we do not rewrite SKILL.md.

What it does

Formulate effective web search queries, analyze search results, and synthesize findings. Optimize search strategies for different types of information needs.

When to use it

[Scenario]

How agents load it

Per Agent Skills progressive disclosure: name and description load at startup (~100 tokens); the full SKILL.md body loads when the skill activates; scripts/, references/, and assets/ load only as needed. This file's sections: Web Search Skill; Overview; How to Use Me; Step 1: Describe Your Information Need; Step 2: Get Search Strategy; Step 3: Evaluate Results. It includes spec-recommended sections: step-by-step instructions.

File analysis

File analysis: instruction-only skill (SKILL.md). The agent loads the full body when activated.

Web Search SkillOverviewHow to Use MeStep 1: Describe Your Information NeedStep 2: Get Search StrategyStep 3: Evaluate ResultsSearch Query OptimizationGoogle Search OperatorsQuery Formulation TechniquesSpecialized Search EnginesSource Evaluation FrameworkCRAAP Test

· License：MIT

Source category：skills.sh agent-skill

Sources & links

Market sources：skills.sh

Full package on GitHub

OSS Skill ranking

SKILL.md & Agent activation

Official spec ↗

name: web-search
description: Formulate effective web search queries, analyze search results, and synthesize findings. Optimize search strategies for different types of information needs.
License: MIT

DiscoverThe client exposes names and descriptions to the agent.
ActivateYour request or the task context selects the skill and loads its instructions.
Load resourcesReferenced scripts, documentation and assets are used when needed.

Invocation syntax and available tools depend on your Agent client. Client integration guide ↗

Install this skill

Skills CLI ↗

Choose the target agent and installation scope, keep referenced package files, then verify the skill appears in the client's catalog.

Ask your Agent to install

Copy these instructions to a compatible agent and confirm the target directory matches your client.

Install the agent skill "web-search" into my project. The full SKILL.md and official description are at https://zicq.com/en/skills/skl-6339ab7904d18483-Web-Search.html
Save it as .cursor/skills/web-search/SKILL.md or .claude/skills/web-search/SKILL.md and keep the frontmatter name and description exactly as-is.

Full package on GitHub ↗

Install from the terminal · Skills CLI

Requires Node.js and npx. First inspect the repository's skill list to confirm the name.

npx skills add 'https://github.com/claude-office-skills/skills' --list

npx skills add 'https://github.com/claude-office-skills/skills' --skill 'web-search'

The CLI lets you choose the agent interactively. The default scope is the project; use -g for user scope. Confirm package availability with the discovery command, then use npx skills list to inspect installed skills.

SKILL.md source Copy freely; the source file is unchanged

---
# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
# CLAUDE OFFICE SKILL - Web Search
# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

name: web-search
description: "Formulate effective web search queries, analyze search results, and synthesize findings. Optimize search strategies for different types of information needs."
version: "1.0.0"
author: claude-office-skills
license: MIT

category: research
tags:
  - search
  - web
  - information-retrieval
  - query-optimization
  - research
department: Research

models:
  recommended:
    - claude-sonnet-4
    - claude-opus-4
  compatible:
    - claude-3-5-sonnet
    - gpt-4
    - gpt-4o

mcp:
  server: office-mcp
  tools:
    - create_docx

capabilities:
  - query_formulation
  - search_strategy
  - result_analysis
  - source_evaluation
  - information_synthesis

languages:
  - en
  - zh

related_skills:
  - deep-research
  - academic-search
  - news-monitor
---

# Web Search Skill

## Overview

I help you formulate effective web search queries and strategies to find the information you need. I can optimize search queries, suggest alternative approaches, evaluate sources, and synthesize findings.

**What I can do:**
- Formulate optimized search queries
- Suggest search operators and techniques
- Recommend specialized search engines
- Analyze and evaluate search results
- Identify reliable sources
- Synthesize information from multiple sources

**What I cannot do:**
- Execute actual web searches (need external tools)
- Access real-time search results
- Access paywalled content
- Guarantee source accuracy

---

## How to Use Me

### Step 1: Describe Your Information Need

Tell me:
- What you're trying to find
- Why you need this information
- What you've already tried
- Any constraints (time period, source type, language)

### Step 2: Get Search Strategy

I'll provide:
- Optimized search queries
- Alternative query formulations
- Recommended search engines/tools
- Search operators to use

### Step 3: Evaluate Results

If you share results, I can:
- Assess source reliability
- Extract key information
- Identify gaps
- Suggest follow-up searches

---

## Search Query Optimization

### Google Search Operators

| Operator | Usage | Example |
|----------|-------|---------|
| `"exact phrase"` | Exact match | `"climate change policy"` |
| `site:` | Search within site | `site:reddit.com AI tools` |
| `filetype:` | Find specific files | `filetype:pdf annual report` |
| `-word` | Exclude term | `apple -fruit` |
| `OR` | Either term | `startup OR entrepreneur` |
| `intitle:` | Word in title | `intitle:guide python` |
| `inurl:` | Word in URL | `inurl:blog marketing` |
| `before:` | Before date | `AI before:2023-01-01` |
| `after:` | After date | `ChatGPT after:2024-01-01` |
| `*` | Wildcard | `"how to * in python"` |
| `related:` | Similar sites | `related:techcrunch.com` |

### Query Formulation Techniques

#### 1. Start Broad, Then Narrow
```
Broad: electric vehicles
Narrow: electric vehicle battery technology 2024
More narrow: solid-state battery EV range comparison 2024
```

#### 2. Use Synonyms and Variations
```
Original: AI writing tools
Variations:
- artificial intelligence writing software
- AI content generator
- machine learning writing assistant
- GPT writing tool
```

#### 3. Question-Based Queries
```
How: "how to implement SSO"
What: "what is zero trust security"
Why: "why companies use kubernetes"
Best: "best practices API design"
Compare: "AWS vs Azure vs GCP comparison"
```

#### 4. Source-Specific Queries
```
Academic: site:edu OR site:ac.uk [topic]
Government: site:gov [topic]
News: [topic] site:reuters.com OR site:bbc.com
Forum: [topic] site:reddit.com OR site:stackoverflow.com
```

---

## Specialized Search Engines

| Search Engine | Best For | URL |
|---------------|----------|-----|
| Google Scholar | Academic papers | scholar.google.com |
| Semantic Scholar | AI-powered paper search | semanticscholar.org |
| PubMed | Medical/biomedical | pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
| arXiv | Preprints (CS, physics) | arxiv.org |
| Perplexity | AI-powered research | perplexity.ai |
| Wolfram Alpha | Computations, data | wolframalpha.com |
| Statista | Statistics | statista.com |
| Crunchbase | Company data | crunchbase.com |
| Product Hunt | New products | producthunt.com |
| GitHub | Code/projects | github.com |
| Stack Overflow | Programming Q&A | stackoverflow.com |

---

## Source Evaluation Framework

### CRAAP Test

| Criterion | Questions to Ask |
|-----------|-----------------|
| **Currency** | When was it published? Updated? |
| **Relevance** | Does it relate to your topic? Audience? |
| **Authority** | Who is the author? Credentials? |
| **Accuracy** | Is it supported by evidence? Verifiable? |
| **Purpose** | Why was it written? Bias? |

### Source Reliability Tiers

| Tier | Source Type | Reliability |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| Tier 1 | Peer-reviewed journals, official statistics | Highest |
| Tier 2 | Quality news (Reuters, AP), industry reports | High |
| Tier 3 | Company blogs, trade publications | Medium |
| Tier 4 | Social media, forums, wikis | Verify required |
| Tier 5 | Anonymous sources, content farms | Low |

---

## Output Format

```markdown
# Web Search Strategy: [Topic]

**Information Need**: [What you're looking for]
**Search Date**: [Date]

---

## Recommended Search Queries

### Primary Query
```
[Optimized search query with operators]
```
**Rationale**: [Why this query works]

### Alternative Queries
1. `[Alternative query 1]`
   - Use when: [Scenario]
2. `[Alternative query 2]`
   - Use when: [Scenario]
3. `[Alternative query 3]`
   - Use when: [Scenario]

---

## Recommended Search Engines

| Engine | Why | Query Modification |
|--------|-----|-------------------|
| [Engine 1] | [Reason] | [Any modifications] |
| [Engine 2] | [Reason] | [Any modifications] |

---

## Search Strategy

### Step 1: [First search approach]
- Query: `[query]`
- Expected results: [What to look for]

### Step 2: [Second search approach]
- Query: `[query]`
- Expected results: [What to look for]

### Step 3: [Third search approach]
- Query: `[query]`
- Expected results: [What to look for]

---

## Expected Source Types

| Source Type | What to Look For |
|-------------|-----------------|
| [Type 1] | [Specifics] |
| [Type 2] | [Specifics] |

---

## Verification Strategy

1. [How to verify finding 1]
2. [How to verify finding 2]

---

## Potential Challenges

- [Challenge 1]: [How to address]
- [Challenge 2]: [How to address]

---

*Use multiple sources and cross-reference findings for accuracy.*
```

---

## Example Use Cases

### Case 1: Finding Recent Statistics
**Need**: Latest global EV sales figures
**Strategy**:
```
Query: global electric vehicle sales 2024 statistics
Operators: after:2024-01-01 (filetype:pdf OR site:statista.com)
Sources: IEA, Bloomberg NEF, industry reports
```

### Case 2: Technical How-To
**Need**: How to implement OAuth 2.0
**Strategy**:
```
Query: "OAuth 2.0" implementation tutorial
Site-specific: site:stackoverflow.com OR site:auth0.com
Filter: Look for official docs, recent posts
```

### Case 3: Competitive Intelligence
**Need**: Information about a competitor's product
**Strategy**:
```
Query: "[Company name]" product launch OR announcement
Sources: Press releases, news, Product Hunt
Social: site:twitter.com OR site:linkedin.com "[Company]"
```

---

## Tips for Better Results

1. **Start with the end in mind** - know what type of answer you need
2. **Use quotes** for exact phrases
3. **Combine operators** for precision
4. **Try multiple query variations**
5. **Check source dates** - information expires
6. **Cross-reference** findings across sources
7. **Use specialized engines** for specific content types

---

## Limitations

- Cannot execute actual searches
- Cannot access real-time results
- Cannot access paywalled content
- Search engines change their algorithms
- Results vary by location and personalization

---

*Built by the Claude Office Skills community. Contributions welcome!*

Readable layout

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

CLAUDE OFFICE SKILL - Web Search

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

name: web-search description: "Formulate effective web search queries, analyze search results, and synthesize findings. Optimize search strategies for different types of information needs." version: "1.0.0" author: claude-office-skills license: MIT

category: research tags:

search
web
information-retrieval
query-optimization
research department: Research

models: recommended: - claude-sonnet-4 - claude-opus-4 compatible: - claude-3-5-sonnet - gpt-4 - gpt-4o

mcp: server: office-mcp tools: - create_docx

capabilities:

query_formulation
search_strategy
result_analysis
source_evaluation
information_synthesis

languages:

related_skills:

deep-research
academic-search
news-monitor

Web Search Skill

Overview

What I can do:

Formulate optimized search queries
Suggest search operators and techniques
Recommend specialized search engines
Analyze and evaluate search results
Identify reliable sources
Synthesize information from multiple sources

What I cannot do:

Execute actual web searches (need external tools)
Access real-time search results
Access paywalled content
Guarantee source accuracy

How to Use Me

Step 1: Describe Your Information Need

Tell me:

What you're trying to find
Why you need this information
What you've already tried
Any constraints (time period, source type, language)

Step 2: Get Search Strategy

I'll provide:

Optimized search queries
Alternative query formulations
Recommended search engines/tools
Search operators to use

Step 3: Evaluate Results

If you share results, I can:

Assess source reliability
Extract key information
Identify gaps
Suggest follow-up searches

Search Query Optimization

Google Search Operators

| Operator | Usage | Example | |----------|-------|---------| | "exact phrase" | Exact match | "climate change policy" | | site: | Search within site | site:reddit.com AI tools | | filetype: | Find specific files | filetype:pdf annual report | | -word | Exclude term | apple -fruit | | OR | Either term | startup OR entrepreneur | | intitle: | Word in title | intitle:guide python | | inurl: | Word in URL | inurl:blog marketing | | before: | Before date | AI before:2023-01-01 | | after: | After date | ChatGPT after:2024-01-01 | | * | Wildcard | "how to * in python" | | related: | Similar sites | related:techcrunch.com |

Query Formulation Techniques

1. Start Broad, Then Narrow

Broad: electric vehicles
Narrow: electric vehicle battery technology 2024
More narrow: solid-state battery EV range comparison 2024

2. Use Synonyms and Variations

Original: AI writing tools
Variations:
- artificial intelligence writing software
- AI content generator
- machine learning writing assistant
- GPT writing tool

3. Question-Based Queries

How: "how to implement SSO"
What: "what is zero trust security"
Why: "why companies use kubernetes"
Best: "best practices API design"
Compare: "AWS vs Azure vs GCP comparison"

4. Source-Specific Queries

Academic: site:edu OR site:ac.uk [topic]
Government: site:gov [topic]
News: [topic] site:reuters.com OR site:bbc.com
Forum: [topic] site:reddit.com OR site:stackoverflow.com

Specialized Search Engines

| Search Engine | Best For | URL | |---------------|----------|-----| | Google Scholar | Academic papers | scholar.google.com | | Semantic Scholar | AI-powered paper search | semanticscholar.org | | PubMed | Medical/biomedical | pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | | arXiv | Preprints (CS, physics) | arxiv.org | | Perplexity | AI-powered research | perplexity.ai | | Wolfram Alpha | Computations, data | wolframalpha.com | | Statista | Statistics | statista.com | | Crunchbase | Company data | crunchbase.com | | Product Hunt | New products | producthunt.com | | GitHub | Code/projects | github.com | | Stack Overflow | Programming Q&A | stackoverflow.com |

Source Evaluation Framework

CRAAP Test

| Criterion | Questions to Ask | |-----------|-----------------| | Currency | When was it published? Updated? | | Relevance | Does it relate to your topic? Audience? | | Authority | Who is the author? Credentials? | | Accuracy | Is it supported by evidence? Verifiable? | | Purpose | Why was it written? Bias? |

Source Reliability Tiers

| Tier | Source Type | Reliability | |------|-------------|-------------| | Tier 1 | Peer-reviewed journals, official statistics | Highest | | Tier 2 | Quality news (Reuters, AP), industry reports | High | | Tier 3 | Company blogs, trade publications | Medium | | Tier 4 | Social media, forums, wikis | Verify required | | Tier 5 | Anonymous sources, content farms | Low |

Output Format

# Web Search Strategy: [Topic]

**Information Need**: [What you're looking for]
**Search Date**: [Date]

---

## Recommended Search Queries

### Primary Query

[Optimized search query with operators]

**Rationale**: [Why this query works]

### Alternative Queries
1. `[Alternative query 1]`
   - Use when: [Scenario]
2. `[Alternative query 2]`
   - Use when: [Scenario]
3. `[Alternative query 3]`
   - Use when: [Scenario]

---

## Recommended Search Engines

| Engine | Why | Query Modification |
|--------|-----|-------------------|
| [Engine 1] | [Reason] | [Any modifications] |
| [Engine 2] | [Reason] | [Any modifications] |

---

## Search Strategy

### Step 1: [First search approach]
- Query: `[query]`
- Expected results: [What to look for]

### Step 2: [Second search approach]
- Query: `[query]`
- Expected results: [What to look for]

### Step 3: [Third search approach]
- Query: `[query]`
- Expected results: [What to look for]

---

## Expected Source Types

| Source Type | What to Look For |
|-------------|-----------------|
| [Type 1] | [Specifics] |
| [Type 2] | [Specifics] |

---

## Verification Strategy

1. [How to verify finding 1]
2. [How to verify finding 2]

---

## Potential Challenges

- [Challenge 1]: [How to address]
- [Challenge 2]: [How to address]

---

*Use multiple sources and cross-reference findings for accuracy.*

Example Use Cases

Case 1: Finding Recent Statistics

Need: Latest global EV sales figures Strategy:

Query: global electric vehicle sales 2024 statistics
Operators: after:2024-01-01 (filetype:pdf OR site:statista.com)
Sources: IEA, Bloomberg NEF, industry reports

Case 2: Technical How-To

Need: How to implement OAuth 2.0 Strategy:

Query: "OAuth 2.0" implementation tutorial
Site-specific: site:stackoverflow.com OR site:auth0.com
Filter: Look for official docs, recent posts

Case 3: Competitive Intelligence

Need: Information about a competitor's product Strategy:

Query: "[Company name]" product launch OR announcement
Sources: Press releases, news, Product Hunt
Social: site:twitter.com OR site:linkedin.com "[Company]"

Tips for Better Results

Start with the end in mind - know what type of answer you need
Use quotes for exact phrases
Combine operators for precision
Try multiple query variations
Check source dates - information expires
Cross-reference findings across sources
Use specialized engines for specific content types

Limitations

Cannot execute actual searches
Cannot access real-time results
Cannot access paywalled content
Search engines change their algorithms
Results vary by location and personalization

Built by the Claude Office Skills community. Contributions welcome!

Related skills

Agent Workflows

Web Search

What this skill does

What it does

When to use it

How agents load it

File analysis

SKILL.md & Agent activation

Install this skill

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

CLAUDE OFFICE SKILL - Web Search

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Web Search Skill

Overview

How to Use Me

Step 1: Describe Your Information Need

Step 2: Get Search Strategy

Step 3: Evaluate Results

Search Query Optimization

Google Search Operators

Query Formulation Techniques

1. Start Broad, Then Narrow

2. Use Synonyms and Variations

3. Question-Based Queries

4. Source-Specific Queries

Specialized Search Engines

Source Evaluation Framework

CRAAP Test

Source Reliability Tiers

Output Format

Example Use Cases

Case 1: Finding Recent Statistics

Case 2: Technical How-To

Case 3: Competitive Intelligence

Tips for Better Results

Limitations

Related skills

Skill Creator

Clawdhub

Agent Team Orchestration

Superpowers